How to Fest

Using Your Pass

Passholders should arrive at least 5 minutes before the start of the screening for guaranteed access. Though not required, passholders are highly encouraged to reserve their tickets online in advance in order to ensure entry. Any passholder that arrives after this time may be granted entry subject to the availability of remaining seats.

No longer able to make it to a particular screening or event? Please release your ticket so it can be reserved by someone else. Head to My Tickets and click on “Manage” next to the relevant ticket. Tickets can be released up to 1hr before the listed start time.

For our special events at The Prospect Building and Wake The Tiger, holders of a Festival Pass or Industry Pass may reserve up to one free ticket each. Discovery Passholders do not have access to these events and must purchase individual tickets separately (£20 + fees).

Individual Tickets

No Pass? No Problem! Individual tickets are available for all screenings and many of our events at £8 in advance, or free with a pass. Tickets can be ordered online through this website or at our festival box office which will be located at Watershed and open during the dates of the festival: 23–27 September.

Ticketing Policy

Encounters guarantees entry to all ticketholders until 5 minutes prior to the start of the presentation. Ticketholders not scanned for entry 5 minutes prior to entry may be considered not present and their seat may be re-sold as a standby ticket. If a ticketholder arrives less than 5 minutes prior to the start of the presentation, they may be granted entry subject to the availability of remaining seats.

Standby Queue Tickets

For any sold out screenings and events at Watershed we will operate a standby queue. Standby tickets will be issued on a first come, first serve basis. Passholders in the standby queue will access the event by having the QR code on their pass scanned so please have this ready. For events with individual tickets these will be sold at a standard price of £10 in the standby queue.

Refund Policy

Encounters does not offer refunds for any paid pass or ticket sales, and any exceptions will be at the discretion of the Box Office Manager. Refunds or exchanges for technical difficulties may be possible at the discretion of the Box Office Manager.

Safe Spaces Policy

Encounters values diversity and inclusion and strives to provide a safe space for all festival participants to enjoy their festival experience free from discrimination, harassment, violence, threats, intimidation and abuse. This policy extends to all staff, volunteers, sponsors, delegates, and other benefactors as well as audience members. Encounters reserves the right to remove or ban entry to any person or persons found to be in violation of this policy. Decisions will be made on a case by case basis. Any violations of the safer spaces policy can be made by reporting to any of our festival staff or reports may be made anonymously via email.

Pass Pick-up

Passes can be picked up daily during the festival from the pass pickup point located in Watershed's Waterside 2 space, open from 9.30am on Weds 23rd, Thurs 24th, Fri 25th and Sat 26th Sept.

Box Office Hours

To purchase individual tickets in person please visit the festival box office which will be open 15 minutes before the first ticketed event of the day and is located downstairs at Watershed. The Box Office will close after the final event of the night begins.

Voting

Don’t forget to cast a vote for your favourite films in our Audience Awards! In order to keep things strictly above board, only ticketholders are eligible to vote in each screening. Ticketholders can vote directly from your My Tickets page. You’ll also automatically receive email reminders about how to vote after the screening.

Venues

Getting between venues: Our harbourside venues (Watershed, Arnolfini, Bristol Megascreen, Planetarium) are all within a 5–10 minute walk of each other. The Prospect Building and Wake The Tiger are further out. We’d recommend using a Dott e-scooter or e-bike (available across Bristol via the Dott app), hopping on a bus, or grabbing a taxi. If you have time on your hands, the Bristol Ferry Boat runs from the harbourside to Temple Meads, which is a short walk from the Prospect Building and a 5-minute taxi from Wake The Tiger.

Getting to our venues

By bike: There are many cycle parking locations at the front and back of our harbourside venues. You can find many more parking locations across The Centre nearby.

By bus: The nearest bus stops to the main festival venues are on ‘The Centre’, no more than a 2 minute walk away. Plan your journey by bus at travelwest.info

By ferry: There is a ferry stop just along from Watershed with regular Bristol Ferry Boat services running from Bristol Temple Meads, Hotwells and around the city centre. Additional services from No7 Boats run at weekends.

By train: The nearest station to the festival is Bristol Temple Meads which is approximately 15 mins walk from the main festival venues. Why not arrive in style and get a ferry directly from Temple Meads?

By car: The closest car parks are Millennium Square Car Park and Trenchard Street NCP parking.

Watershed

Address: 1 Canon’s Road, Bristol BS1 5TX

Amenities: Fully licensed Cafe & Bar serving hot and cold food and drinks. Toilets (Accessible & Gender Neutral).

Accessibility: The main entrance and Box Office are on the ground floor, accessible via a ramped, electronically assisted entrance door.

There are two Blue Badge parking spaces to the rear of Watershed on Canons Road.

Guide dogs and hearing dogs are very welcome.

The first floor of Watershed is accessible via the lift from the main entrance and includes level access to all areas, including the front of Cinemas 1 and 2, plus a lift to the back of Cinemas 1 and 3, all events spaces, and a large and spacious Cafe & Bar.

All three cinemas have induction loops as do our Waterside 2 and Waterside 3 event spaces.

There are two accessible toilets (with baby changing facilities). One in the top foyer, beside the main toilets, or follow the signs for the Cinemas for the second accessible toilet on your left through the double doors before Cinema 1.

The toilets in the top foyer are for everyone. Some of the fully enclosed cubicles have a sink and mirror in them, some are ambulant (a bit more spacious with supports such as grab rails) and there is also a large family room with plenty of room for a buggy. Just through the Cafe & Bar there are also separate male and female toilets.

Cinema seats are roughly 46cm wide, with wooden armrests on either side of each seat that can’t be moved. Watershed can offer seats without armrests or bean bags as alternatives at the front of the cinema if that is more comfortable for you. Please just call the Watershed Box Office to arrange.

Arnolfini

Address: Bush House, 16 Narrow Quay, Bristol BS1 4QA

Amenities: Licensed Cafe & Bar, Toilets (Accessible), bookshop and art galleries.

Accessibility: Access to the main entrance is via automatic doors from the quayside, which has an uneven cobbled surface. There is smooth level access from Prince Street to the Cafe & Bar entrance as well as at the main entrance of Arnolfini from both Prince Street and Narrow Quay.

There are lifts to all floors and level access to all public spaces, including galleries, shop and Cafe & Bar.

Accessible toilets can be found on Floor -1, 0 and 2.

The Prospect Building

Address: 45 Feeder Road, Bristol BS2 0SE

There is no on-site parking. Bristol Temple Meads Station is less than a 10-minute walk, or use the postcode BS2 0UJ for taxi drop-off. Entry is via Feeder Road (Gate A) and exit/pick-up is via Chapel Street (Gate D). Clear signage, lighting, and security staff will guide you.

Accessibility: Limited onsite parking is available for Blue Badge holders (book in advance). There are three accessible toilets and a viewing platform. PA tickets are available for eligible visitors and must be approved in advance. For all access queries, contact doorrep@prospectbristol.com.

Bristol Megascreen

Address: Bristol Aquarium, Anchor Road, Bristol BS1 5TT

Formerly known as Bristol IMAX, the Megascreen is the largest cinema screen in Bristol and the second largest in the South West. Proudly part of Bristol Aquarium and located right in the heart of the harbourside, the 300-seat auditorium features a 19x15m screen with Dolby surround sound and a Christie projector.

Accessibility: Bristol Megascreen is fully accessible for disabled guests. The auditorium is accessible via rear doors reached by a lift, avoiding the stairs. Ask a member of staff on arrival for directions. For more information on Bristol Aquarium’s accessibility, visit bristolaquarium.co.uk/access-statement.

The seats in the Megascreen are 45cm (17.5in) wide and 44cm (17in) deep, with fixed, non-moveable armrests and 38cm (15in) of legroom between rows.

Planetarium

Address: We The Curious, 1 Millennium Square, Anchor Road, Bristol BS1 5DB

The UK’s only 3D Planetarium, located on Level 1 of We The Curious. The Planetarium features a full dome screen with 360-degree digital 3D projection, 4K Ultra High Definition and 7.1 surround sound. Capacity is 85 in tiered theatre-style seating.

Accessibility: The Planetarium entrance is on the first floor and has step-free level access. The majority of seating is stepped, but there are 2 designated wheelchair spaces at the top of the planetarium with step-free level access and an unobstructed view. Companions sit alongside. There is space for an assistance dog. An accessible toilet is located opposite the planetarium entrance. For full access and support information, visit wethecurious.org/accessibility.

Wake The Tiger

Address: 127 Albert Road, Bristol BS2 0YA

Wake The Tiger is the UK’s largest immersive art experience. This is the venue for our closing party and awards ceremony on Saturday 26th September. Bristol Temple Meads is a 25-minute walk or a 5-minute taxi ride. The nearest bus stop is Paintworks (routes 1, 178, 349, X39). There are 60 parking spaces on site (card only, up to 3 hours for £3) with overflow parking at Bristol Fruit Market nearby.

Please be aware that the venue is a highly sensory experience with low lighting, flashing lights, sound effects, atmospheric smells, and some haze and smoke. There is level wheelchair access throughout the majority of the venue, with lifts alongside both staircases. Visitors with disabilities can bring a carer or support worker free of charge. Only small bags (roughly A4 size) are permitted. This is an over-18 event.

Wake The Tiger’s full accessibility guide is available at www.wakethetiger.com. For access queries, email info@wakethetiger.com.