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 focus is on uncovering emerging international filmmaking talent, which shows originality, imagination and the ability to engage in just a minute and a half.
Bristol-set Encounters Film Festival prides itself on celebrating excellence in short and animation filmmaking… There is a world of inspiration to be found here…
BFI Network Online 2020
Encounters Short Film & Animation Festival threatens to push your popcorn consumption to even higher levels… the festival offers six jam-packed days of film screenings, events, masterclasses, parties and networking with industry professionals
Time Out 2015
Depict Jury 2015
The shortlisted DepicT! filmmakers, often in that crucial early stage in their career, are invited to the Encounters Film Festival and offered a prime industry platform. A gateway to the world’s most prestigious awards: The Oscars®, BAFTAs, European Film Awards and Cartoon d’Or, 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.
Can’t spell DepicT! without epic. Fantastic way to spend 90 seconds.
Cinematographer Robbie Ryan, BSC, DepicT! 2014 Jury
Winning films have regularly gone on to be screened at other international film festivals and cinemas across the UK and regularly get picked up by commercial distributors while many of the DepicT! filmmakers have gone on to carve themselves successful creative careers in the film industry and beyond.
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 Lithuania 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 Short Film & Animation 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.
Sponsored by:
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
Random Acts is home to the world’s most innovative and creative short form content. This exciting partnership between Channel 4 and Arts Council England has created a strand that showcases original short form creative content from artists from a multitude of different practices. From visual arts, performance, music, animation, spoken word or an amalgamation of the above, we show work from as diverse a range of creative people as we can find from across the UK and beyond, giving breaks to new talents and premiering work by established creatives as well.
Aardman, based in Bristol (UK) and co-founded in 1976 by Peter Lord and David Sproxton, is an independent and multi-award-winning studio. It produces feature films, series, advertising, games and interactive entertainment. The studio runs the Aardman Academy which has a commitment to nurturing talent by delivering excellence in film and animation training and mentoring. The Aardman Academy offers a variety of courses from intensive one-day workshops teaching production skills and storyboarding, to comprehensive 12 week courses for professionals in craft-based subjects from model making to animation.
Supported by:
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.
BFI Network – Made possible through National Lottery funding, BFI Network exists to discover and support talented writers, directors and producers at the start of their careers. They collaborate with film organisations and leading cultural venues across the UK to provide funding for short films, support for the development of first features, as well as a range of professional and creative development programmes.
Find out more and watch supported work: network.bfi.org.uk
IMDbPro – the essential resource for entertainment industry professionals. The membership service includes comprehensive information and tools that are designed to help members of the entertainment industry find success throughout all stages of their career. There’s detailed contact and representation information, IMDb profile management tools, comprehensive and expanded data from IMDb, a casting service to post breakdowns and apply to roles, and so much more. Learn about all of the benefits, tools, and services included with an IMDbPro membership.
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.
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.
Promoted by:
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.
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.
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.
