Encounters Film Festival | 2025 Animated Award Winners
Skwigly
The award winners of the 30th edition of Bristol’s Encounters Film Festival, which took place across the city’s Watershed, Beacon and Arnolfini, have been announced. As the festival comes to a close, it is proud to have welcomed 2000 guests, 650 industry delegates, across 80+ screenings and events, featuring 200 films and a stellar lineup of talent, including Charlie Kaufman and Michel Gondry.
ANIMATED ENCOUNTERS GRAND PRIX
The Animated Encounters Grand Prix is the top international award for animation short films at the Encounters Film Festival. The winning film receives a £2,000 cash prize.
Winner: Two Black Boys in Paradise, dir. Baz Sells | United Kingdom
Animated Encounters Grand Prix jury statement:
A bold and beautiful film that bravely dives into layered thematic waters while also managing the logistical challenge of stop-motion animating bonking on a boat. The peeping peacock was a favourite playful flourish in a work that’s both daring and tender.
Special Mention: Hurikán dir. Jan Saska | Czech Republic, France, Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Animated Encounters Grand Prix jury statement:
Hilariously delightful narrative and crisp design. Through a complete belief in its language of choice, the fully realised characters speak multitudes without uttering a single word. With that said, Na Zdravi!
BEST OF BRITISH ANIMATION
The Best of British Animation Award is the top national award for animated short films at the Encounters Film Festival. The winning filmmaker will receive a £500 cash prize.
Winner: Dédé (Ancestor) dir. Yasmine Djedje-Fisher-Azoume | United Kingdom
Jury statement:
This fresh exploration of the divine feminine within the artist’s Bété ancestry was an invigorating blend of analogue and digital techniques. The use of copper relief engravings – echoing the metalwork of the Ivory Coast – was particularly exciting to see, a rare technique executed beautifully.
AUDIENCE AWARD
The Audience Award is the only award voted for by the Encounters Film Festival audience. This year, 3143 ballots were recorded. The winning filmmaker will receive a £500 cash prize.
Winner: Hunting dir. Lea Favre | Switzerland
DEPICT AWARD
Depict is a super-short film competition running since 1998 as part of Encounters Film Festival. It challenges filmmakers to create 90-second films. The winning filmmaker will receive a £500 cash prize.
Winner: Full of Sh*t dir. Clarissa Kumala | United Kingdom
The live-action recipients of the 2025 Encounters awards are: The Last People by Nicolás Pindeus (Brief Encounters Grand Prix), Bill Morrison’s Incident (Documentary Encounters Grand Prix), There Will Come Soft Rains by Elham Ehsas (Best of British Live Action) and Notes From Planet Three by Simon Ellis (Children’s Jury winner).
Encounters is a globally renowned short film festival that takes place each September in Bristol, a UNESCO City of Film. Encounters is a qualifying festival for BAFTA, BIFA and the European Film Awards. It provides an international platform for celebrating talent and innovation in film, animation and TV.