Record entries for Bristol’s Brief Encounters

Brief Encounters, the Bristol Short Film Festival, has received a record number of entries, with pre-selection juries currently considering through over 1,400 international films submitted from 48 countries.
The number of entries from UK-based filmmakers has leapt dramatically, showing a 25 per cent rise on 2003. Over half the entries, 712 films, are from British directors, including an impressive 136 films from South West filmmakers.
Brief Encounters Managing Director Sue Lion said: "We are absolutely bowled over by the response from filmmakers this year, not only in the huge number of entries but also by the high calibre of work around. We are anticipating that this year’s 10th festival will be the best yet, and are planning a terrific showcase to do justice to the wonderful world of short filmmaking."
Filmmakers will be competing for a range of prizes. The overall winner, awarded The International Jury Award, will receive £3,000, while the BBC Three and BBC Talent will announce the BBC New Film Makers Award through which a new British director will receive £5,000 and a production deal from BBC Three. There are also awards for Best British entry with The Momentum Best of British Award and Best South West film, the ITV West Award provides a prize of £1,000 and new for 2004 is the UK Film Council Audience Award.
In addition to the DepicT! Award for films of under 90 seconds, which carries a cash prize of £3,000, Brief Encounters is pleased to announce the all-new Orange DepicT! Audience Award.
(GB)