Next Animation Festivals
Current animation festival listings. For the current deadlines, go to our Next Deadlines list.
Encounters Film Festival 2026
Category
ANIMATION & FILM FESTIVALS
Dates
23/09/2026 - 27/09/2026
City
Bristol, UK
Email
Website
Edition
31
Final submission deadline
2026-05-18
Submission/Registration Fee
Yes
Festival Description: Encounters Film Festival stages one of the world’s leading international competitions for the short film, animation, and immersive moving image work. The international competition is an official gateway to the world’s most prestigious awards; the Academy Awards®, BAFTAs, and the European Film Awards. Its mission is to provide an international platform for new and emerging talent in filmmaking. For over a quarter of a century, Encounters Film Festival has welcomed guests from all around the world, connecting filmmakers with the wider industry, our wonderful audiences, and, of course, each other.
Encounters Film Festival Call for Entries
Festival call for entries - Currently not open. Submission details will be reported here when announced by the festival.
(Archive)
The festival is open to short films of all production techniques, including animation, documentary, experimental or artists' films and hybrid work from low to high budgets. Films completed after 1st January 2024 will be eligible for the 2026 festival. The maximum eligible duration is 40 minutes (including credits). Encounters does not require any premiere status, including online.
Awards and Categories
\\\ INTERNATIONAL GRAND PRIX ////
- Brief Encounters Grand Prix for Live Action Fiction Short Film
- Animated Encounters Grand Prix for Animated Short Film
- Documentary Encounters Grand Prix for Documentary Short Film
The Grand Prix winners are considered to be the best in their category by our international juries.
\\\ NATIONAL PRIZES ///
Best of British Awards in the categories of:
- Live Action Fiction Short Film
- Animated Short Film
\\\ DEPICT ///
DepicT! is our long-running, FREE to enter micro-shorts competition. Entries must be 90 seconds or less in TOTAL duration (including all credits), and submissions over 90 seconds will be automatically disqualified.
Important information
- Regular deadline: 31 December 2025 Early Bird deadline, 16 March 2026 Spring deadline, 4 May 2026 Late deadline, 18 May 2026 Final deadline
- Rules and Submission via Filmfreeway
Previous Festival Coverage
2019
Event Dates
- From 23/09/2026 to 27/09/2026
Info is regularly updated, but we are only responsible for the information we receive in a timely manner from the corresponding festivals and events. A festival/event listing does not automatically imply festival/event endorsement.
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