Art Experimental Screenings Film Festival – Fresh Stream
Where Visionary Cinema Finds Its Audience

Fresh Stream is an international celebration of experimental, art-house, AI-generated, animated, and hybrid films and screenplays that challenge form, blur genres, and ignite reflection. We spotlight bold visual language, emotional resonance, and stories that resist easy categorization.

We celebrate visual and narrative works that challenge conventions, provoke reflection, and explore the intersection of aesthetics, identity, and innovation. Films and scripts are presented in live screenings and readings in Tbilisi, Georgia, and made available via our secure Festival Channel and Screenplay Contest page — connecting creators with critics, audiences, producers, and curators across the globe.

All selected projects receive professional editorial or audience feedback and a dedicated project page.

Genres & Forms We Celebrate:
Experimental – Visual essays, poetic cinema, abstract storytelling.
Art Film – Installation works, fine art in motion, performance-based narratives.
Documentary – Poetic, political, ethnographic, personal, and experimental non-fiction.
AI & New Media – Films created with or about AI, digital consciousness, and algorithmic aesthetics.
Animation – 2D, 3D, stop-motion, hybrid, and painterly techniques.
Music / Dance Clip – Short visual experiments that merge choreography, music, or rhythm with film.
Screenplays – Both short and feature-length works that are bold, lyrical, or structurally inventive.

Screenplay Competition
Our screenplay contest is open to both short and feature-length scripts — in all genres that align with the festival’s artistic and visionary spirit.

What You Receive:
An official Festival Opinion — a brief editorial assessment by our programming team, focusing on emotional power, cinematic vision, and market positioning.
Your script’s logline, synopsis, and 5–7 page excerpt featured on the festival website.
Visibility to producers, directors, and guests attending the festival on the dedicated Screenplay Contest page..
Eligibility for Jury and Audience Awards.

What Makes Fresh Stream Different?

🟢 Live Screenings with a Curated Audience
We bring together artists, thinkers, filmmakers, and students in Tbilisi for screenings in an atmospheric venue with discussions and live voting.

🟢 Detailed Audience Feedback & Ratings
Every selected film receives structured commentary on its visual impact, originality, emotional resonance, and narrative clarity.

🟢 Festival Channel & Global Reach
All selected films are shown via our secure Festival Channel (unless filmmakers explicitly opt out).
Why It Matters:
✅ Global Reach: Your film connects with audiences, industry professionals, and distributors worldwide.
✅ Safe Access: Only registered viewers; no open YouTube-style streaming.
✅ Audience Growth: Viewers can rate, comment, and recommend — sparking organic buzz.
✅ Industry Visibility: Agents and festival scouts monitor standout projects for follow-up opportunities.
✅ Extra Awards: Films on the Channel compete for the Channel Audience Choice Award.
Even if you can’t attend in person, your film travels — safely, globally, and impactfully.

🟢 Fan Award & Online Presence
We promote selected projects on Instagram and other platforms, where filmmakers can engage fans and compete for our Fan Award based on viewer interaction.

🟢 Industry Exposure & Long-Term Support
Our team works year-round to help artists with:
✅ Distribution consulting
✅ Festival strategy
✅ Positioning and trailer polishing
Offered at discounted rates for all alumni.

What You Get When You Submit:

✅ Eligibility for Official Selection, Awards, and Channel Screening
✅ Professional Digital Certificate & Laurels
✅ Dedicated Informative Project Page on our Website
✅ Structured Audience Feedback & Voting Data
✅ Promotion on our Social Media
✅ Eligibility for Jury, Fan, and Audience Awards
✅ Optional: Strategic consulting for post-festival success

Approved projects gain visibility, professional feedback, and the chance to connect with an audience beyond the screening room — with the option to extend or customize exposure post-event.

Our Mission:
To create a festival space for films that don’t fit standard molds — that provoke thought, celebrate craft, and speak across borders. Whether you’re an emerging experimental voice or a visual artist working in cinema, Fresh Stream welcomes you.

Awards & Prizes

🏆 Film Awards Include:
Best Feature Film
Best Short Film
Best Experimental Film
Best Art Film
Best Animation
Best AI Film
Best Documentary
Best Music / Dance Art Clip
Best Video Art or Installation
Best Abstract or Non-Narrative Film
Best Empathy in Motion Film
Best Hybrid or Cross-Genre Work
Best Web / New Media Project
Best Director
Special Jury Mention

🏆 Audience & Social Media Awards:
Festival Winner (Live Audience Vote)
Channel Audience Choice Award (Festival Channel voting)
Fan Award (Social Media engagement)

📝 Screenplay Awards Include:
Best Feature Screenplay
Best Short Screenplay
Best Experimental Screenplay
Best Art Screenplay
Best Animation Screenplay

🎖️ All Selected Projects Receive:
Official Selection Certificate & Digital Laurels
Dedicated Film/Screenplay Informative Page with Audience Feedback
Social Media Promotion
Eligibility for Jury and Audience Awards

🏆 Winners Receive:
Winner Laurels
Personalized Award Certificates
Digital Diplomas (print-ready)
Priority Access to Distribution & Development Consultations

Additional Benefits:
All selected films are eligible for live screenings and for featuring on our private Festival Channel (unless the filmmaker opts out).
Audience members and select industry professionals provide structured feedback and reviews.
Screenwriters receive Festival Opinions with feedback on strengths, producer appeal, and market potential.
Distribution Support & Strategy Services available post-festival for selected projects at discounted rates.

Rules & Terms

General Terms (For All Submissions)

The official language of the festival is English.
Submissions are accepted from all countries.
Films in any language are eligible but must include English subtitles (.srt or burned-in).
All projects must have been completed no earlier than 2019.
All submissions are digital only. We do not accept DVDs or physical media.
Submission fees are non-refundable and must be paid via the designated platform.
The festival does not provide fee waivers.
The festival does not pay screening fees for submitted or selected projects.
Selected projects must provide required materials (screener, subtitles, trailer, etc.) by the announced deadlines.
The festival reserves the right to adjust the screening format, schedule, and venue as needed.

Film Selection & Screening Conditions
Submitted projects go through a preliminary selection process. Not all submitted projects will be accepted.
Preliminary accepted projects may be included in the festival Long List if they align with the festival’s vision and meet the initial criteria.
Long-listed projects may receive a dedicated informational page on the festival’s website:
- This page does not provide access to watch the project outside of festival screenings.
- It serves to promote the project within the festival’s network and industry community.
The final Official Selection is determined after further review of content, quality, and required materials.
All the official selected projects receive official selected laurels by email.
Only projects that provide complete and timely materials will be screened.
Projects will only be screened if all necessary materials are provided on time, including:
- A high-quality screener (MP4 or MOV format)
- English subtitles (if applicable)
- Trailer and promotional materials (if available)
The festival reserves the right not to screen a selected project if:
- Technical issues prevent proper projection.
- The provided materials do not meet the required quality standards.
- The filmmaker does not submit the required materials by the deadline.
Online screenings (via the Festival Channel) are optional; filmmakers must notify us in advance if they decline.
Films on the Festival Channel are accessible only to registered or invited viewers during festival dates.

Screenplay Contest Terms
Screenplays must be written in English.
The script must follow industry-standard formatting, using a 12-point Courier or equivalent font.
Each screenplay must include a title page with the title, writer’s name, and contact information.
The script must not have been previously sold or be currently under option.
Screenplays of any genre within horror, thriller, or dark fiction are eligible.
Accepted formats: Feature-length, short scripts, pilot scripts.
Selected screenplay loglines and excerpts may be published on the festival website during the event dates.
Submitted screenplays will be evaluated by a dedicated jury for creativity, structure, originality, and genre impact.

Audience Voting & Feedback
The audience rates projects screened at live events and on the Festival Channel based on multiple criteria, such as Directing, Cinematography, Acting, Music/Sound Design, Storytelling/Script, Overall Impact
Audience reviews are posted on the project’s informational page on the festival website for additional visibility.

Venue & Schedule Adjustments
The festival screenings take place at venues determined by the festival producers.
The festival reserves the right to change the screening venue, format, and/or schedule at its sole discretion. This may occur due to external circumstances, including but not limited to: Venue availability changes, Safety concerns or unforeseen restrictions, Technical issues affecting screenings, Force majeure or other unexpected disruptions etc.

Awards & Prizes

The Festival Jury determines the Category Award Winners.
The Fan Award Winner is determined by public voting on social media (based on Likes, Shares, and Saves).
The Channel Audience Choice Award Winner is determined by voting on the Festival Channel.
The Festival Winner is determined by live audience voting at the event.
The festival reserves the right not to award certain categories if no project meets the necessary The festival reserves the right to rename award categories to better reflect the winning project’s strengths.
All winners receive digital laurels, certificates, and diplomas via email.
Officially selected but not awarded Projects receive the certificates via email.

Filmmaker Support & Additional Opportunities

All selected projects, including Long-listed and Official Selection projects, may receive distribution and promotion offers from our team and partners.
Projects will have dedicated informational pages on the festival website, featuring:
- Audience reviews and feedback
- Project details for visibility among festival attendees and potential buyers
- The page will remain accessible for one month after the festival and may be extended.
Selected and awarded films may be offered follow-up support in the form of festival strategy guidance, audience analysis reports, and curated VOD outreach opportunities through the Live Screenings Network team.

27 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Misa Ogawa

    While I wasn't able to participate in the film festival in person, it was such an honor to be selected for two awards! Art films are very difficult to market and receive recognition for especially in my home country, and it's truly wonderful to have a place dedicated to art and experimental cinema.

    I also appreciated the detailed and easy to understand feedback!

    May 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Dear Misa,

    Thank you so much for this beautiful review and for trusting us with HERE LIES OUR TEMPEST!

    Marketing experimental cinema and finding the right audience is indeed a massive challenge, which is exactly why we are so passionate about supporting boundary-pushing art. Your breathtaking, 70-minute dialogue-free adaptation of Shakespeare absolutely mesmerized our jury and viewers. The audience was deeply captivated by your painterly visual composition and the immersive soundscape that carried the narrative so beautifully. Creating a dedicated space where such ambitious work is truly seen and analyzed is our core mission. Congratulations once again on winning both the Channel Audience Choice Award and Best Art Film!

    We can't wait to see your future projects.

    Warmest regards,
    The FRESH STREAM Festival Team

  • John Kalning

    I love this festival, honest reviews, live screenings, fantastic all around. Highly recommended.

    May 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Dear John,

    Thank you so much for the glowing review and for sharing DOGS OF OZ with us!

    Our audience and jury were deeply moved by your groundbreaking narrative. Crafting such a soulful, grounded, and emotionally resonant journey of a dog across Morocco proved to everyone that emerging technologies can successfully carry the weight of a true, heartwarming story.

    Congratulations again on winning Best AI Film, and thank you for the high recommendation!

    Warmest regards,
    The FRESH STREAM Festival Team

  • Cristian Parodi

    I am very grateful to have participated in the festival. I found the competition jury to be very professional and experienced, providing valuable feedback and insights.

    May 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Dear Cristian,

    Thank you so much for your kind review and for sharing THE LAST SEER with us!

    Our jury was truly struck by your ability to condense such a profound philosophical question into a single minute. Your chillingly lucid visual metaphor of "blind justice" left a strong impression on our team and sparked great conversations among our viewers.

    Providing meaningful, constructive feedback to filmmakers is a core part of our festival's mission, so we are absolutely thrilled to hear that our insights were valuable to you. We wish you the best of luck on your creative journey!

    Warmest regards,
    The FRESH STREAM Festival Team

  • Markus Johnson Castro

    Thank you to Art Experimental Screenings Film Festival Fresh Stream for recognizing L i V and for your kind, clear communication throughout the process. Unfortunately, the team couldn’t attend the live screenings to receive the award in person, but we’re grateful for the opportunity and the recognition. Who knows, maybe our paths will cross at a future edition.

    May 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Dear Markus,

    Thank you so much for the kind words and for trusting us with L i V!

    Our audience and jury were absolutely mesmerized by the hauntingly beautiful, weightless choreography of your film.

    Congratulations again on winning Best Abstract or Non-Narrative Film!

    Warmest regards,
    The FRESH STREAM Festival Team

  • Marten Winters

    This is a festival that leaves you in a great mood — very friendly, professional, and thoughtful about explaining why they screen your work. Huge compliments to Pavel and the team. Unfortunately, I couldn’t be there in person (raincheck? :-) ). On top of that, my film 'Chubby Einstein' also won the award for Best New Media and Web. I’m honored!

    The other films were a wonderful mix of experimental “niche films” across different media from all over the world — it was great to be included among them.

    May 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Dear Marten,

    Thank you so much for this fantastic review and for being a part of the festival with Chubby Einstein!

    Our jury and audience absolutely loved your audacious transmedia approach. Embracing AI glitches to tell such a poignant, tragicomic story was a brilliant creative choice, and it sparked wonderful reactions here in Tbilisi.

    Congratulations again on your well-deserved award for Best Web / New Media Project. We can't wait to see what you create next.

    Warmest regards,
    the FRESH STREAM Festival Team