About

DepicT! is Watershed’s international short film competition that, since its creation by Brief Encounters in 1998, has been challenging filmmakers to create 90 second ultra-short masterpieces.

The cinematic Trojan horse returns, smuggling short film-makers into the big league, even more so now it’s a qualifying festival for the Oscars and Baftas.
The Guardian on Encounters International Festival 2011

Every year we receive hundreds of films of every genre from dozens of countries all around the world all competing for our great range of prizes and industry exposure. The teams of judges who deliberate over the entries have included some superstar names – such as Peter Jackson, Pete Postlethwaite and Damien O’Donnell.

The shortlisted DepicT! filmmakers, often in that crucial early stage in their career, are invited to the Encounters Short Film & Animation Festival and offered a prime industry platform. The festival is a priceless opportunity for filmmakers to promote their work and make contact with a broad range of international industry professionals from distributors and producers to funding bodies and exhibitors, as well as other filmmakers and, of course, enthusiastic short film fans.

With a host of talented UK and international short film-makers mingling with buyers, producers and industry bigwigs, it felt like a great place to make contacts, talk business and spot potential stars of tomorrow…

Sarah Cooper, Screen International, DepicT! Jury 2011

All the shortlisted DepicT! films are screened at the extremely popular (and consistently sold out) DepicT! showcase, where the winners are announced in front of the audience. Winning films have regularly gone on to be screened at other international film festivals and been picked up by commercial distributors while DepicT! filmmakers have gone on to carve themselves successful careers in the film industry – some DepicT! alumni have even been named Stars of Tomorrow by industry mag Screen International.

Even when Encounters has wrapped up and the prizes have been collected DepicT! films continue to enjoy a life of their own through the DepicT! online archive. We’re proud of our rich history of films and talent at DepicT! and work hard to make sure your films are watched by films fans from Dubai to Detroit, Glasgow to Geneva, for years to come.

Presented by

  • Embedded in Bristol’s creative ecology Watershed invites people of all backgrounds and abilities to engage with our cross-artform programme and seeks to generate exemplary cultural experiences and maximise the talent and creativity of everyone it works with.
  • Encounters Bristol International Film Festival presents a major celebration and leading competitive showcase of short film from around the globe. A unique forum for emerging talent and established industry alike designed to nurture creativity and innovation.

Sponsors

  • Based in Bristol, UK, Aardman Animations was founded in 1972 by David Sproxton and Peter Lord. From legendary clay character Morph and the Oscar(R) winning Creature Comforts, to favourites Wallace and Gromit, Aardman’s imagination and innovation have made it the world’s leading model animation studio.
  • Films@59 provides award winning pre- and post-production services worldwide and have always been actively involved in the promotion of new talent through festivals such as Encounters and Cannes. Its sponsorship of DepicT! continues that commitment to nurturing innovation and bringing fresh creative blood into the industry.
  • The Royal Photographic Society has a rich and diverse heritage. Through our distinctions, workshops, lectures, exhibitions and funding opportunities we bring an international, creative community together with one aim – to promote the art and science of photography and image making. Membership is open to everyone throughout the world, be they amateur or professional, artist or scientist. rps.org

Supporters

  • Arts Alliance Media

    Arts Alliance Media

    Arts Alliance Media is Europe’s leading provider of digital film distribution services to the cinema, to the home, and to the film industry.

  • BAFTA

    BAFTA – The British Academy of Film and Television Arts supports, develops and promotes the art forms of the moving image, by identifying and rewarding excellence, inspiring practitioners and benefiting the public. To learn more sign up to our newsletter at bafta.org. BAFTA is delighted to be able to support new British talent with the DepicT! ‘10 British Special Mention Award.

  • British Council Film Department

    The British Council Film Department promotes contemporary and innovative UK film to audiences around the world, and collaborates with artists and other cultural organisations to build skills, capacity and cultural awareness, create access to audiences and markets, and promote international partnership and creative exchange.

  • Channel 4 / Random Acts

    Random Acts forms part of Channel 4’s on-going commitment to risk-taking and innovation and to supporting and providing a platform for all kinds of new talent. Channel 4 has teamed up with DepicT to introduce a new Special Mention, which offer a unique opportunity for one of the shortlisted filmmakers to win a slot on Random Acts, Channel 4’s short-form arts strand that airs every weeknight.

  • National Film and Television School

    The National Film and Television School is the UK’s national centre of excellence for education in film and television programme making. The NFTS has turned out numerous world-class, award-winning film and television programme makers in its 37 years and its reputation extends worldwide.

  • Shooting People

    A catalyst for change, growth and innovation, Shooting People helps members get their films made and find the audiences they deserve through a community of filmmakers, sharing resources, skills and experience.

Associates

  • Independent Cinema Office

    Established in July 2003, the Independent Cinema Office is a national organisation that aims to develop and support independent film exhibition throughout the UK. The ICO works in association with independent cinemas, film festivals, film societies and the regional and national screen agencies.