Animated Encounters Awards 'Hag', 'I Have A' and 'Ducks'

Encounters Film Festival, based in Bristol, England, is home to the UK's most prestigious international short film competition. Established back in 1995 to mark the centenary year of the invention of cinema, it grew to become one of the most important film events in the country. The festival screens over 140 films chosen from 5000 films that were submitted by filmmakers from around the world. Animation has been a component of the festival since 2001, when Animated Encounters was established. This year's festival ran from September 23-27.

At the awards ceremony that concludes the festival each year, the winners were announced. The Brief Encounters Grand Prix was awarded to the live-action short Hyena, while the Best Of British ( Live-Action) went to Paper Plane, directed by the (very Irish) actor Saoirse Ronan. The Special Mention went to The Seeing Eye Dog Who Saw Too Much.

In Animated Encounters, three awards were doled out. The Animated Encounters Grand Prix this year went to the short Hag from Anna Ginsburg. The film was praised for its confident storytelling and original aesthetic that the jury said was an “insightful and funny take on women’s ageing in contemporary society.” Ginsberg said “Team HAG are absolutely delighted!!! Wow! What a win!”

Best Of British (Animation) went to I Have A from director Rory Waudby‑Tolley. Described as a touching and relatable portrait of modern life, the jury declared it to be "well‑written, original and unexpectedly moving."

The Special Mention (Animation) went to A.J. Jefferies' short Ducks, which was praised for its inventive, hilarious and frightening mix of comedy and horror.

Encounters is a qualifying festival for BAFTA, BIFA and the Canadian Screen Awards.

The Animated Encounters Jury was comprised of Rayna Denison, Professor of Film and Digital Arts at the University Of Bristol and the author of two books on anime, Joanna Hepworth, Creative Director at Bristol animation studio A Productions and Grant Orchard, the BAFTA-winning, Oscar-nominated creator of Hey Duggee

One of the festival's regular sponsors is legendary animation studio Aardman, who are also based in Bristol. This year they brought the not-so-brief Shaun the Sheep: The Beast Of Mossy Bottom for a screening and Q&A.

Encounters will return in September 2027.