Rafael Manuel

Rafael Manuel's Filipiñana won both the Brief Grand Prix and the Best of British award at Encounters 2020, the only film that year to take both prizes. The short also won the Silver Bear Jury Prize at the 2020 Berlinale. Manuel then expanded it into a feature with Jia Zhangke as executive producer. The feature won the Special Jury Award for Creative Vision at Sundance 2026, screened at Berlinale, and is released by BFI Distribution in UK cinemas in November 2026.

Dogeater also screened at the 2020 edition. Manuel returned to Bristol in 2021 as a member of the Brief Encounters Jury, and the original short Filipiñana screened again at Encounters 2026.