It’s that time of the year again to announce the now traditional Encounters Bristol International Film Festival. It will be happening this November, showcasing animation and live action talent from around the world.

This year it will host a series of symposiums on future ideas and future trends with industry specialists, such as Studio AKA. There will be 3D and RED Camera workshops and more. It will include some free events and guests including Francine Stock, presenter of Radio Four’s The Film Programme.

The full festival programme, delegate registration and online ticket sales will be available mid-October. For more information visit the Encounters Festival website. And, of course, you can find them on Facebook and Twitter @EncountersSFF #ENC2011.

If you are a big fan of Canadian animation, and you should be, you will be happy to know that the event that every year thrives with the talent of hundreds of Canadian creators. The Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) is the largest event of its kind in North America, a major film event attracting attendees from around the world.

This year it will take place between the 20th and the 24th of October at various venus around the Canadian capital: ByTowne Cinema, National Gallery of Canada, Canadian Museum of Civilization, Empire Theatres Rideau Centre and Arts Court Theatre.

The OIAF is a division of the Canadian Film Institute.

After an overwhelming response for the 2009 festival Encounters International Film Festival, Bristol, has once again teamed up with YouSendIt, to accept festival submissions digitally. In a bid to decrease waste and make life a lot easier for Filmmakers, with YouSendIt, filmmakers can upload an entry directly through the Encounters web site.

Submissions open 19 April and close on 30 June. This year sees the return of Animated Encounters and Brief Encounters as the two competitive strands. Films under 30 minutes of any genre are accepted, see the Encounters International Film Festival website for full terms and conditions.

Stoke Your Fires is a 3 day long festival of animation for professionals and students.

The event takes place in Potteries Museum & Art Gallery where screenings, exhibitions, master classes and awards ceremonies will take place. This is the third instalment of the festival, which will kick off in February 2010.

Animators (professional or otherwise) can submit work to the competition in the following categories: animated short, animated commercial, international entries, fine art/experimental and student animation. You can find more details about the events and competition on their website.

The National Media Museum is presents the 16th edition of the UK’s longest-running animation festival. Host to screentalks, workshops and special events led by some of the industry’s top names, the festival’s high point is the annual BAF Awards, which celebrate the very best in new animation from around the world.

Unfortunately submissions for BAF09 are now closed but you can still go! Tickets for BAF09 go on sale Monday 7 September 2009