Festivals

This year the five day festival has attracted more than 1,700 entries from a record 66 countries, including, for the first time, Belarus, Ecuador, Ghana, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Uruguay, Western Sahara and Zambia - and many have a dark theme running through them.

Festival managing director, Sue Lion, said: “In choosing the finalists for Encounters 2007, our selectors have picked 187 films that tell very different stories - funny, tragic, scary, dramatic, shocking - and in a broad mix of styles, from live action thrillers to charming animation. 

"But what is also fascinating is how the entries provide a barometer to the mood and preoccupations of the world today.

"Despite the number of entries seen, and the huge diversity of countries, cultures and styles represented, there’s a thread of darkness running through many of films. Loss, the threat of violence, anxiety about change and the things that may go bump in the night are themes that occur again and again.

"Even the comedies often have a hint of black humour about them.”

Of the more than 300 films that will be screened at Bristol's Watershed centre when the festival takes place, from 21-25 November 2007, over 120 will be UK or international premieres.

Other attractions at Encounters 2007 include:

• A major debate on animation training, exploring whether UK schools are
equipping graduates to work in the global industry.

• The unveiling of the UK’s list of contenders for an international list of the all-time best short films

• Interviews/talks with Frank Cottrell Boyce, Shane Meadows, visual effects guru Henry LaBounta and the star of SE Asian cinema, Royston Tan

More details of the developing programme, the short-listed films and booking arrangements can be found at: www.encounters-festival.org.uk