screenPLAY: a new programming strand for families
screenPLAY is Encounters' new strand for families and young people. It's about the good side of screens: watching together, playing together, making together.
Everything happens on Saturday 26 September at Watershed, Bristol. Here's what's on:
Kids Shorts (5+)
10:00, Cinema 1. U. From £2.50
Eight animated shorts from around the world. Your children are the jury: they watch the films, talk about them, and their vote decides who wins the Children's Jury Award. Their opinion matters and it counts.
Book tickets
Kids Shorts (10+)
11:30, Cinema 1. PG. From £2.50
Seven international shorts for older kids, including Nosferatu as a foster carer and Death's new apprentice who turns out to be rather good at the job. Same deal: the kids are the jury and their vote decides the winner.
Book tickets
Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom + Q&A
13:30, Cinema 1. U. From £6.50
Halloween Eve at Mossy Bottom Farm. The Farmer ruins the pumpkin patch, Shaun tries to fix it with science, and a wild beast appears in the woods. Stay after the film for a chance to hear about the behind-the-scenes story with Shaun the Sheep producer Richard Beek.
Book tickets
Family Gaming Room
10:00 to 17:00, Waterside 3. Free, drop in, all ages
Hosted by Andy Robertson and the Family Gaming Database. Unlike other video game stands, this isn't just a bunch of game kiosks for kids to play. It's a hosted, calm, welcoming space where families play together, discover new games, and learn about Parental Controls and Family Settings. Trained hosts will find the right games for you and your children, a bit like arriving at a restaurant and being shown to your table. Experts are on hand for parents and carers who haven't played much before.
More info
Clay Stop Motion Workshop: Ages 8-12
11:00 to 13:00, Waterside 1. £15 per participant
A hands-on introduction to stop motion with Maraike Kraemer, an award-winning animator whose credits include Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget and the eagerly anticipated upcoming Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch'd & Pichu. Sculpt your own clay characters and bring them to life.
Book tickets
Clay Stop Motion Workshop: Ages 13-17
14:00 to 16:00, Waterside 1. £15 per participant
A stop motion workshop designed for teenagers, pitched at their level rather than a repeat of the younger session. Aardman animator Maraike Kraemer (Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, Pokémon Tales) covers more advanced character building, movement and timing, and participants create their own short animated sequence.
Book tickets
Super 8 Filmmaking Workshop: Ages 16-18
10:30 to 12:30, Waterside 2. £20 per person
Hosted by Niyaz Saghari. Use colour, pens, scratching and other techniques to transform found footage and disused Super 8 film into something new, then edit and project the results.
Book tickets
In Conversation: Geoff Barrow and Kangding Ray
13:00, Cinema 3. £8
Portishead's Geoff Barrow talks to electronic artist Kangding Ray about composing for film, the space between club music and cinema, and the score for Cannes Jury Prize-winning Sirāt. A good one for older teenagers into music.
Book tickets
Also at the festival
Digital play expert Andy Robertson and Blue Zoo's Grace Lane talk about good, healthy screen content for children and young people, launching Blue Zoo's Kids Content for Good Manifesto.