Encounters Calls on Filmmakers to Submit to Major New Strand For 2016 Festival
Encounters Short Film and Animation Festival returns on 20th to 25th September 2016 and has announced ‘Widening the Lens’ as a major new strand to the festival programme, presenting alternative stories, viewpoints and characters from minority groups.
The strand includes screenings and discussions examining Disability, LGBTQ, Gender and BAME representation on screen. Partners the festival is working with on developing the screenings and events as part of the strand include The Iris Prize, Film Fatales and B3 Media.
Widening the Lens will place minority groups centre stage at this major international film festival, with films that tackle stereotypes through unique stories and characters.
Alice Cabanas, Festival Director explains;
“As the conversation around Diversity within the film industry gains ground we know now is an important time to produce a selection of special guest programmes that explore and challenge the frequent contemporary stereotypes audiences still encounter on screen. We will look to continue this into our competitive programmes, and our curation team will be programming a strong selection to prompt reflection and discussion around diversity on screen and the film sector itself.”
Organisers are actively encouraging applications from filmmakers from under-represented groups, to submit films for the 2016 International Competition programme.
The festival is currently open for entries and will be shortlisting over 200 films into is programme, submitted from all over the world in both its live action and animation categories.
David Sproxton, Board member for Encounters explains;
“As the UK’s leading short film and animation festival screening brand new short form work from across the globe, Encounters Festival is perfectly placed to encourage discussion and debate amongst the next generation of filmmakers on the subject of Diversity on and off screen. The Women in Film strand introduced at the 2015 festival started a debate about under-represented groups on screen. The response demonstrated the need to open up this topic in a more expansive way, and the Festival is committed to representing a much greater variety of viewpoints in its selection of films and to continue the debate.”
“Encounters Festival is also working to help improve industry access and opportunities within the sector, working with the Independent Cinema Office to recruit a new member of the festival team via a FEDS training scheme from under-represented groups. The team will provide a paid placement and mentoring scheme for this young person trying to break into the Film Industry.
