Britain’s biggest international festival of short film and animation – Encounters – returns to Bristol for the 14th year running from 18 to 23 November.

This year, more than 1,000 animated or live action shorts from 60+ countries entered the quest for prizes that include a BBC comedy show commission and the right to represent Britain in the Cartoon d’Or competition.

Other highlights include an interview with the Oscar-nominated actor Paddy Considine ( In America, Hot Fuzz, The Bourne Ultimatum, My Summer of Love, Cinderella Man, A Room for Romeo Brass) about his recent entry into directing with his short film Dog Altogether, his long partnership with Shane Meadows, and their latest screen venture, Le Dunk; a look back at the pioneering, pre 1908, animations by a star of Russia’s Imperial Ballet; DepicT the contest to find the best 90-second movie; insights into editing with the Encounters Film School, CGI, and how games, mobile technology and the Internet are creating new opportunities for short film and animation and a spotlight on Collision’s music videos for bands such as Franz Ferdinand, The Killers, Scissor Sisters and Radiohead.

For more details see the encounters web site.

Tickets go on sale on 30th September, telephone 0117 927 5100.