Bristol’s Encounters Film Festival returns 23-27 September with one of its most ambitious programmes yet, bringing 140 films to the city - including 18 world premieres and headline screenings such as Saoirse Ronan’s directorial debut Paper Plane and Paul Wright’s Mission, produced by Bristol’s own Early Day Films and featuring Rosy McEwen and George Mackay.

The festival opens with a spectacular 360° planetarium screening at We The Curious, kicking off a week of bold, imaginative and audience‑first cinema. Across Watershed, Prospect Building, We The Curious and Wake The Tiger, Encounters transforms Bristol into a meeting point for film lovers, emerging creators and visiting talent, offering a rare chance to see new work, meet filmmakers and dive into the city’s creative culture.

This year’s programme also launches screenPLAY, a new youth strand exploring gaming, filmmaking, animation and digital creativity. Music is a major thread throughout the festival, with the UK premiere of Sirat Live - an audiovisual collaboration between filmmaker Oliver Laxe and electronic artist Kangding Ray - plus an in‑conversation event with Kangding Ray and Portishead’s Geoff Barrow. Audiences can also catch a curated selection of Warp Records music videos on Bristol’s Megascreen before a late‑night party at Wake The Tiger featuring special guest artists.

Animation fans can enjoy Adult Swim showcases, masterclasses and new work from both international and regional creators, alongside a special hometown screening of Aardman’s new Shaun the Sheep film, The Beast of Mossy Bottom.

Whether you’re a dedicated cinephile, a casual film‑goer or simply curious about Bristol’s creative scene, Encounters offers a vibrant mix of screenings, conversations, music events and immersive experiences across the city.