“Celebrating sprocket-driven, artist-made work.”

“Engauge,” an experimental film festival based in Seattle, WA, now in its seventh year, invites you to submit your work ORIGINATING ON FILM.

Engauge is sponsored by INTERBAY CINEMA SOCIETY, a film arts organization dedicated to promoting works that originate on analog film.

IN KEEPING WITH OUR MISSION, "ENGAUGE" WILL CONSIDER ONLY FILMS THAT BEGAN ON CELLULOID, e.g. 8mm, Super 8, 16mm, 35mm, 70mm film, etc.

That means that somewhere in your own film-making process, you the filmmaker actually worked directly with celluloid, by loading film into a camera and shooting it, or looking through and selecting analog found footage, or directly scratching, painting, or drawing on, collaging or photogramming objects onto film. 

We anticipate an IN-PERSON ONLY series of screenings in 2024.

OUR PLANS FOR THE FESTIVAL COULD CHANGE. WE CANNOT KNOW WHAT LATE 2024 WILL LOOK LIKE. WE WILL STAY IN TOUCH WITH OUR SELECTED FILMMAKERS AS OUR PLANS DEVELOP.

Engauge was founded by Seattle-based artist/filmmakers working in 16mm and 35mm. Our festival favors DIY techniques, matte box experiments, in-camera editing, found footage collage, direct animation, hand- and eco-processing, optical printing, pin-hole exposures, cyanotye and phytography applications, laser printing onto film, various analog hacks, etc.

Cover design: film still from "A Throwing Forth" by Xiao Zhang (EEFF 2023)

Awards & Prizes

We are a proudly non-competitive festival.

Rules & Terms

All work submitted for consideration must have ORIGINATED ON FILM that you the filmmaker worked with directly. Work that uses “film” imagery taken from films on DVD or digitized before you got your hands on it is not eligible. BY SUBMITTING TO OUR FESTIVAL, YOU ARE GUARANTEEING THAT YOUR FILM MEETS THIS CRITERION.

You can submit up to 2 films.

Films must be submitted directly from the filmmaker. We will not negotiate with or accept work submitted through distributors. If you are submitting via a surrogate, let us know.

The festival will consider the work of established and emerging filmmakers. Student projects are not eligible.

We are committed to a festival that reflects the international and diverse nature of experimental work.

We will pay an honorarium for each film we screen.

We are interested in programming recently completed work but will consider older films on a case-by-case basis.

41 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Jonathan Onsuwan Johnson

    Honored to be part of this festival. The communication, offers of hospitality, logistical details and quality programming was as good as it gets. I could not make the trip this time, but will not miss the chance if I get the opportunity to screen there again. The programmers started the planning process much earlier than most festivals--one of the most organized festivals out there!

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Jonathan. As filmmakers ourselves, we try to run the kind of festival in which we’d like to show our work. We are glad our process worked for you. We hope to be able to consider your work again in the near future.

  • Callon Murphy

    I was overjoyed to have my film play in such impressive company at Engauge 2023. Caryn, the Executive Director of the Interbay Cinema Society, was extremely organized, communicative, and generous! I hope to someday have the chance to experience a future edition of the festival in person.

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Callon. We enjoyed having the chance to show your terrific film. We hope to see you in person at a future featival.

  • FEDERICA FOGLIA

    This amazing festival needs no introductions or reviews, but I want to express how much I admire their tireless work to push experimental cinema year after year, they care deeply about moving images and those who produce them, they also provide artist support with screening fees, which is something you don't see that often.
    Hats off!
    Long Live Engauge!

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Federica. We've loved bringing your beautiful work to our Seattle viewers.

  • Charles Cadkin

    Fantastic festival with thoughtful programming!

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Charles. It was a pleasure to have your film in our festival.

  • Nicole Blundell

    Je suis très heureuse que mon oeuvre ait été inclus dans Engauge cette année. Je n'ai pas pu y assister en personne, mais Caryn et son équipe ont veillé à ce que je me sente incluse et bien accueillie. J'ai été très contente que le festival projette des films sur film ! Merci beaucoup.

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Merci, Nicole. It was wonderful to get to know your work and screen your 16mm print.