News / Arts
A cinematic Selfie
Will Self opened the 20th edition of the Encounters Short Film & Animation Festival by taking part in Desert Island Flicks, choosing the following films to take to a desert island:
- Solaris, directed by Andrei Tarkovsky – “I still find it amazing that at the age of 12 I toddled off to see a Russian sci-fi epic… I had been so involved and drawn into the performances that I came out convinced I could speak Russian.”
- Mulholland Drive, David Lynch
- London, Patrick Keiller – “The closest thing on celluloid to an epic poem.”
- Crash, David Cronenberg
- Synecdoche, New York; Charlie Kaufman
- The Thin Red Line, Terrence Malick – “The most perfect war film ever made.”
- Flytopia, Karni and Saul (a short film made by two Bristol filmmakers, based on a Will Self short story and funded by Creative England)
“The festival is the last place where we can get the collective enjoyment of the art form that we love,” Self told the audience at the Arnolfini.
Today’s Encounters highlights include a preview of 20,000 Days on Earth and a live satellite event with Nick Cave; the UK premiere of the film version of Vinyl Requiem, originally a performance in 1993 at the Union Chapel in London and featured 180 Dansette record players; and an interactive cinema forum at the Watershed.
For the full festival programme, visit www.encounters-festival.org.uk.
EatDrink24/7 Launch Party is back on July 8 2026!
Exclusive collabs from Bristol’s favourite food vendors, available for one night only. Be first to grab your free copy of the EatDrink24/7 guide – plus every ticket comes with a free limited-edition beer can.
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