Encounters 2026 Award Winners

Encounters 2026 Award Winners

BRIEF ENCOUNTERS

Grand Prix: HYENA dir. Altay Ulan Yang
Our jury said: "A visual treat and a brilliant allegory showcasing the descent into mob mentality, which was superbly crafted."

Best of British: PAPER PLANE dir. Saoirse Ronan
Our jury said: "It grew on us as it played out and ended in a satisfyingly ambiguous way, and it had central performances that really elevated the piece."

Special Mention: THE SEEING EYE DOG WHO SAW TOO MUCH dir. Eric Jackowitz
Our jury said: "A playful and tongue-in-cheek parody of a beloved genre in film history."

ANIMATED ENCOUNTERS

Grand Prix: HAG dir. Anna Ginsburg
Our jury said: "Chosen for its confident storytelling and original aesthetic vision. An insightful and funny take on women's aging in contemporary society."

Best of British: I HAVE A dir. Rory Waudby-Tolley
Our jury said: "A touching and relatable vision of modern life, this film was well-written, original and surprisingly moving."

Special Mention: DUCKS dir. AJ Jefferies
Our jury said: "Inventive, well-paced, hilarious and terrifying."

DOCUMENTARY ENCOUNTERS

Grand Prix: UNCLE FILMI dir. Nazgol Kashani
Our jury said: "We were blown away by this beautiful animated documentary about family hair removal and VHS Hollywood bootlegs in post-revolutionary Iran. We loved the imaginative rendering of archive and animation and the careful proximity between tragedy and humour. A wonderfully playful film about laughter, resistance and resilience in dark times."

Special Mention: FORGOTTEN SPACEMAN dir. Elham Ehsas
Our jury said: "A thoughtful, reflective film about Abdul Ahad Momand, the first Afghan astronaut, and the impact of exile. We were deeply moved by the story and how it was handled with restraint through its epistolary voiceover and a desktop-archive aesthetic. This was a delicate film which raised questions about time, space and mobility, and that navigated the personal and political with complexity and care."

SOUTH WEST SHOWCASE
LOVELY dir. Jasmine Blackborow

AUDIENCE AWARD
THE DEVIL IS IN ME dir. Tia Salisbury

CHILDREN'S JURY
UNCLE ARTOO dir. Zoë Whittaker