The 13th annual Encounters Short Film Festival takes place in Bristol next week from Wednesday 21st to Sunday 25th November. Aardman’s very first animated character Morph celebrates his 30th birthday at a launch party with Phil Jupitus on Sunday 18th November, kicking off a festival with over 300 screenings at 50 special events staged at the Watershed, the Arnolfini and Bordeaux Quay. A full diary of events can be found at www.encounters-festival.org.uk but below is a selection of highlights.

The first screening starts on Wednesday 21st November at 6.30pm with a selection of films from this year’s 1,750 entries to have caught the eye of the distinguised panel of judges. Entries have come from a record 66 countries this year including Denmark, Russia, Poland, Norway, Spain and Sweden, giving the festival a truly international feel.

There are also two opportunities to see the work of some of our colleagues in the South West Showcase and contenders for this year’s Award include The Pearce Sisters, an animated film that has already collected four major international prizes which was written by Luis Cook from Bristol.

On Friday 23rd November Richard Eyre talks to broadcaster Mark Kermode about the influences and aspirations that have informed his career leading to his roleas Artistic Director at the National Theatre and working with actors such as Cate Blanchett, Jim Broadbent, Dame Judi Dench and Kate Winslet. Did you know Devon born Richard Eyre first fell in love with the theatre when he visited Bristol’s Theatre Royal at the age of 16 to see Peter O’Toole in Hamlet?

Saturday 24th is the day to bring your children to see six new Thomas the Tank Engine stories, visits by The Fat Controller and Sponge Bob Square Pants, a choice of two Aardman Animations model-making workshops and the chance to be amongst the first in the country to see Nickelodeon’s UK premiere of Wayside High which doesn’t air on televison until mid 2008.

The nail biting awards ceremony takes place on Saturday 24th at 7.30pm. The festival began with 1,750 entries which have been reduced to 187 finalists and tonight we hear which of those finalists become winners with a share of the £20,000 prize money.

Finally on Sunday Bristol Media is pleased to be sponsoring the Best of Fest – a chance to see the winning films from last night in all their glory. There is also a chance to meet some of the film makers and get an industry perspective on why the jury felt the films were winners.

For full details on dates, times and ticket prices go to "www.encounters-festival.org.uk ":http://www.encounters-festival.org.uk or you can call the box office on 0117 927 5100