In this special retrospective we take a look back over the work and examine the creative process of one of Britain's most eminent animators.

With a career that spans over 25 years, Barry Purves is one of the UK's most revered animation directors, with over 60 international awards (including BAFTA and Oscar nominations). Throughout his prestigious career he has masterfully utilised puppet animation in his films to explore themes as varied as history, sexuality, language and music.

The influence of performance and puppetry is undeniably evident in Barry’s films and led subsequently to him directing and designing numerous theatre shows. Undeniably his films embrace the language of the stage and his worldwide teaching on animation has enhanced his status as a storyteller. His short film Next is noted as one of the 25 films that all animation festival programmers should include in their programmes and another of his films Screen Play was voted by ASIFA (International Animated Film Society) as the 40th best animation short ever made.

These theatrical, and often controversial films form part of this retrospective that demonstrate Barry's flair for innovation, passion, elegance, lush visuals and fresh interpretations of familiar subjects.

With screenings of:

• Achilles (1995) 11mins - A passionate look at the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus, set in a homage to Greek drama and art.
• Screen Play (1992) 11mins - An old man becomes emotionally involved with recollections of his youth in this story of forbidden love in Feudal Japan.
• Tchaikovsky - An Elegy (2011) 14mins - Thrust into an empty room and prompted by the relentless turning of a music score's pages, the composer Tchaikovsky is forced to revisit the traumas and successes of his life.
• Next (1989) 5mins -The complete works of Shakespeare in 5 minutes
• Plume (2011) 14mins - When a primaeval winged man falls to earth and is robbed of his freedom by his alter egos, he finds redemption by casting off his former existence.

Following the screening Barry will be in conversation with Bristol Festival of Puppetry Film Curator Joseph Wallace to discuss his art, his influences and explore that all important question - What is a puppet?

Image credit: Barry Purves. Photo: Keiran Nevan

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