Social Policies

Harassment Policy 

Encounters Film Festival endeavours to create a safe environment for attendees, staff and volunteers.

Encounters does not tolerate any discrimination, bullying or harassment during the festival or year round events, if you feel that you are being discriminated, bullied or harassed at any point please approach a member of the Encounters Film Festival team or a festival volunteer (volunteers can be identified by their Encounters Festival t-shirts).

Harassment is defined as unwanted conduct which is related to a protected characteristic of the Equality Act 2010 (age, sex, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation), which has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity, or creating for that person an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.

Harassment includes but is not limited to:

  • Verbal comments that reinforce social structures related to race, gender, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, body type, age, political views or physical appearance

  • Deliberate intimidation, following or stalking

  • Inappropriate and non-consensual physical contact and unwelcome sexual attention

  • Harassing and non-consensual photography or recording

  • Sustained disruption of talks or other activities associated with Encounters Festival

  • Advocating or encouraging any of the above behaviour

Any individual who is asked to stop any harassing, disruptive or hostile behaviour are expected to comply immediately. Encounters Festival organisers retain the right to take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender(s) and expulsion without a refund from the festival/event venue to maintain a safe and welcoming environment for all.

If you feel that you are being bullied or harassed Encounters Festival will investigate into your complaint, we practice a zero-tolerance approach to bullying and harassment and will take any complaint very seriously.

Widening the Lens

Encounters is a charity that stands for fairness and equality. Whether showcasing the best in new and emerging talent, running events, or hiring staff, we take our commitment to fair representation seriously. We’re committed to widening the lens across all our practices, and that means whatever your background, we won’t exclude anyone based on gender, race, ability, sexual orientation, or otherwise. You’ll be welcome here.

Environmental Pledge

Encounters recognise the importance of creating a sustainable festival to ensure a positive experience for its attendees and to contribute to Bristol’s aim of carbon neutrality by 2030. Through working with our partners and venues, Encounters are working to identify where we have both positive and negative impacts on the environment and come up with solutions to ensure the improvement of these impacts across all its activities.