“Encounters” is a short film that follows three people who sign up for a service that digitally recreates a lost loved one and provides them with one last chance to speak to them. It touches on the different ways people handle grieving, as well as the moral boundaries of technology.
What Makes “Encounters” Stand Out?
“Reading the script for Encounters for the first time was an amazing, life altering experience for me. I lost my younger brother when I was 8 years old, and had never truly dealt with the grief of that loss. Reading Encounters by Agelita Tsougou was an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish.
My first thought was – Heck with the film, someone needs to invent the technology in the story that recreated a lost loved one and provide an opportunity for us to reach out to them one last time. I began thinking of my brother, and the things I would want to say to him, wondering why I would say those particular things. By the end of the 15 page script, I realized I was not in a healthy enough emotional state to experience that opportunity. That even if I did have that chance… it would likely do more damage than good.
Twenty-four years after the loss of my brother I am now in therapy working to heal the wounds that have hurt for so long, working to be a better father, husband, and individual as a result. While my path started long before Encounters, Agelita’s story provided an eye opening reality of where I stood with my grief.
I truly believe that everyone who has lost someone will find a connection to the story of Encounters; whether it be as profound as my experience, or simply the joy in the thought of spending 90 more seconds with an old friend who has past – My goal is to make a film that honors the process of grieving and the range of personal experience that goes with it.” - Dustin Mansfield, Producer/Director
The “Encounters” team is made up of a wide range of experience on both cast and crew sides. From award winning actors and new found talent, to award winning crew with decades of experience, to the those who will be on set for the first time.
The team has been assembled with the understanding that no one is bigger than the project, and that collaboration is key. Making the best film possible is our mission.
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