Encounters: Day Two

The second day of the Encounters festival brings another packed programme. Full listings are below. Note that features in the Shorts2Features strand, the Animation Masterclass with Pierre Coffin and Desert Island Flicks with Michael Dudok De Wit are all listed separately. Remember too that admission to all standard screenings is pegged at just £5.

09:30 Best of Croatian Animation at Animafest Zagreb 2017

Watershed Cinema 3

This was a record year for Croatian film at the World Festival of Animated Film – Animafest Zagreb, with six Croatian films (including 4 minority Croatian productions) in the Grand Competition and three films that competed in Student Film Competition. Their quality has been confirmed by the awards – Grand Prix for Nighthawk and the Audience Award for Hedgehog´s Home.

10:00 Short Film 4: In Transit

Watershed Cinema 1

As they say, it is all about the journey, not the destination. The characters in this selection of short films from France, Brazil, The Netherlands and Peru boo, learn important life-lessons while in transit. Neither here, nor there, it is in the nowhere-land of their travels behind the wheel that they find themselves transformed.

10:00 VR 2: Excursions

Waterside 3

Pack your bag and immerse yourself into unfamiliar environments – sometimes flying solo, sometimes with a former VP.

10:30 BFI NETWORK presents Standing out from the Crowd

Waterside 2

10:30 Cartoon d’Or

Watershed Cinema 2

The Cartoon d’Or is a pan-European award for animation short films. It has each year rewarded the best of the best since only prize-winning films from partner festivals can compete. Amongst this short list, a jury selected 5 films that were screened during the Cartoon Forum (in order to promote 5 filmmakers each year) and the winner was “Yùl and the Snake” by Gabriel Harel.

11:30 Q&A Short Film Competition 4

Waterside 1

11:30 Random Acts 2

Watershed Cinema 3

An exciting selection of short films by young artist filmmakers aged 16-24 in cinemas across England. From animation and comedy to dance and spoken word – these bold and creative short films reflect the mosaic of contemporary life through the lens of young artists

11:30 VR 3: Scenario

Waterside 3

The world around us is dictated by what we know and what we see, this programme explores what happens when this is challenged.

12:00 Animation 3: Life’s Journey

Watershed Cinema 1

Animation is all about bringing things to life and is often used to tell stories about life itself. Each of these films tells a tale of life; from distant memories to everyday observations and obsessions.

12:30 EFA Short Matters 2

Watershed Cinema 2

12:30 Random Acts Panel: Short Film Opportunities and Funding in the UK

Waterside 2

13:00 NFTS Masterclass

Waterside 3

13:00 Polish Shorts: Close Ties

Watershed Cinema 3

The attention in the Polish Voices programmes is focused on women, who take the protagonism on both sides of the camera. At the same time, we wish to present Polish filmmaking as widely and diversely as possible, hoping to arouse the audience’s curiosity and appetite for more.

13:30 Q&A Animated Competition 3

Waterside 1

14:00 Short Film 5: Me, Myself & I

Watershed Cinema 1

What defines who we are? Is the idea of an immutable self just an illusion? Notions of personal, physical, mental, sexual and racial identity are explored in these short films capturing characters in search of themselves. Displaying insight and flair without a drop of judgment, these sensitive stories delve into the lives of people questioning who they really are or have become

14:00 Chris Shepherd Edna Welthorpe Show and Tell

Waterside 2

14:00 London Film Academy presents: Ideas & Development

The Forge

14:30 Polish Documentary

Watershed Cinema 2

14:30 Shorts2Features panel

Waterside 3

15:00 Chris Shepherd Retrospective

Watershed Cinema 3

This a rare chance to see a selection of films by the multi-award winning director Chris Shepherd. From his early comedy work such as the 43rd World Stareout Championship (1998) for BBC’s Big Train, to his latest film Yours Faithfully, Edna Welthorpe (Mrs) (2017). In addition to comedy we will show his stunning dramas; such as his father and son story The Ringer (2013), a story about his aunty, Bad Night For The Blues (2010), and his BAFTA nominated hybrid classic Dad’s Dead (2003) and its new sequel Johnno’s Dead (2016).

15:30 London Film Academy presents: VR Masterclass with filmmaker Avril Furness

Waterside 2

15:30 Q&A Short Film Competition 5

Waterside 1

16:00 Short Film 6: Child’s Pose

Watershed Cinema 1

A person is a person, no matter how small. The filmmakers in this programme have turned their gaze to children and their world. Free from stereotypical representations, the inspiring young protagonists of these diverse stories deal with the struggles and the complexity of life with, courage, creativity and arresting truthfulness.

16:00 VR 1: Electric Relaxation

Waterside 3

From your final hours of this lifetime to soul soothing meditation, this programme explores headspaces in a variety of scenarios…sometimes whilst riding a flying fish

16:30 ‘Women in Puppetry And Puppet Animation’ Bristol Festival of Puppetry Showcase

Watershed Cinema 2

This showcase celebrates the talent of female directors, animators, puppeteers and other filmmaking creatives, in front of and behind the camera. From alternative leading ladies to female views on sexuality, conflict and relationships – this recent short film collection reflects the expertise and experiences of women working in puppetry today.

17:00 Guiding Lights: Connecting Talent

Waterside 2

17:30 Q&A Short Film Competition 6

Waterside 1

17:30 VR 2: Excursions

Waterside 3

Pack your bag and immerse yourself into unfamiliar environments – sometimes flying solo, sometimes with a former VP.

18:00 Animation 4: Heartstrings

Watershed Cinema 1

This programme plays with emotional states; from love, anxiety and attraction to desire, sadness and hate. How does the movement on screen move you emotionally?

18:30 Polish Reception

Watershed Cafe/Bar

19:00 VR Lates: Together

Waterside 3

One of VR’s most exciting qualities is its powerful ability to foster feelings of intimacy. In her Together strand, guest curator Catherine Allen sets out to reclaim intimacy in VR from commercial VR porn’s male gaze. Experience work at the cutting edge of VR culture that takes you through different stages of a relationship. In curating Together Catherine sets out to demonstrate what VR is capable of in terms of showing the nuances of human relationships, sensuality and sexuality.

19:30 Q&A Animated Competition 4

Waterside 1

20:00 Comedy: Fun Rides

Watershed Cinema 1

A delightful selection of ridiculously entertaining short films which will lift your spirits and provide a healthy dose of giggles and rib-tickling fun at the festival.

20:30 VR: Another Gaze

Waterside 3

VR is a brand new medium, and with it comes the opportunity to subvert norms and challenge assumptions. Guest curator Catherine Allen invites you to submerge yourself in a series of boundary-pushing VR experiences that will introduce you to a range of refreshingly different perspectives on the world. From challenging an urban-centric outlook, to whole-heartedly representing the female experience, Another Gaze will draw attention to the creative importance of the world view that VR creators come with

22:00 Comedy: Love Bites

Watershed Cinema 1

Ah, l’amour… In the upbeat short films of this late night screening, romance takes centre stage. From blossoming teenage love to online dating at 80, these charming stories remind us of the magic of love and relationships and how deeply they shape our lives.

22:30 Best of Bar Shorts

The Forge