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

“Engauge,” an experimental film festival based in Seattle, WA, now in its sixth 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 2023.

OUR PLANS FOR THE FESTIVAL COULD CHANGE. WE CANNOT KNOW WHAT LATE 2023 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 "The Pendulum" by Linda Izcali Scobie (EEFF '22).

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.

36 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Ruth Hayes

    Engauge provided a line-up of wonderful experimental work, great hospitality and good opportunities to connect with other filmmakers. The screening venue at the Northwest Film Forum is top notch.

    November 2022
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  • Francesca Svampa

    Happy that my film participated to Engauge Experimental Film Festival! Very interesting programs, great communication and organization. Thank you!

    November 2022
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  • Sasha Waters

    Amazing team and programming! I was so honored to screen at Engauge

    November 2022
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  • Jennifer Hardacker

    So honored to have been part of this festival. Excellent programming, excellent filmmaker hospitality. Kudos to Executive Director Caryn Cline and the folks at the Northwest Film Forum.

    November 2022
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  • Krista Leigh Steinke

    Thrilled to be part of the Engauge Film Festival this year. I was familiar with this festival based on its stellar reputation in experimental film but this was the first year that I submitted work. I cant wait to submit again in the future and hopefully attend the festival in person.

    November 2022
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