Over The Real, conceived and directed by Maurizio Marco Tozzi, Lino Strangis and Veronica D’Auria, was founded in 2015. The Festival was created with the aim of presenting the most significant research trends emerging in recent years within the international landscape of digital and multimedia arts.

Over The Real seeks to reflect the current state of artistic research in a historical moment marked by the widespread accessibility and growing power of digital tools. What began as a niche practice within contemporary art—commonly referred to as video art—has developed into a complex and evolving field. Over the years, numerous artists have contributed to expanding the aesthetic and conceptual potential of these disciplines, which the Festival explores through a wide range of formal approaches and artistic languages.

The Festival presents original artistic worlds that, through the use of new technologies, preserve the depth and integrity of artistic research and experience. The program spans from video art to virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and interdisciplinary practices exploring the relationship between art and science.

Each edition of Over The Real features video screenings, exhibitions, installations, musical and intermedial performances, as well as masterclasses, workshops, and talks. The Festival is part of an international network of festivals and cultural institutions, fostering exchange and dialogue around contemporary art practices closely connected to technological innovation—one of the core missions of Over The Real.

Since 2019, the Festival has been held in Lucca in partnership with the Lucca Film Festival. In 2023, Over The Real expanded to Pietrasanta with a series of events hosted at MuSA.

Awards & Prizes

PRIZE € 500,00

Rules & Terms

OVER THE REAL – OPEN CALL
International Award 2026
Who can apply
The call is open to artists and collectives aged 18 or over.
Eligible works
Each artist or collective may submit one audiovisual work.
Only works produced in 2025 or 2026 are eligible.
The theme is open.
Works previously submitted to Over The Real are not eligible.
The work must be a single-channel video.
Technical requirements
The video file must be named with: title, duration, year, and author.
Submissions must be sent via a download link.
Accepted formats include MP4 or MOV.
Recommended maximum file size: 2 GB.
Deadline
Submissions are open until 11:59 pm (CET), July 19, 2026.
Artists whose works are eligible will be notified by mid-August 2025.
Selection
10 works will be selected for the International Award.
The first selection will be made by the Festival directors:
Maurizio Marco Tozzi, Lino Strangis, Veronica D’Auria.
A jury of experts will award the prize; jury members will be announced after the selection.
Award
€500 Main Award for the best work of 2026.
The prize will be awarded during the Festival.
Use of works
Submitted works will not be returned.
All selected works will become part of the Festival archive and may be shown for cultural and educational, non-commercial purposes, with full credit to the artist.
Final notes
Works promoting violence, discrimination, or violations of human rights will not be accepted.
Applying to the open call implies full acceptance of these rules.
Incomplete or incorrect submissions may result in exclusion.

1 Review
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Yossi Galanti

    Wonderful Experience!
    Communication with the OVER THE REAL team was smooth and professional throughout. The festival presented a great lineup of inspiring works and offered excellent visibility and publicity for the participating artists. It was truly an honor to be part of this outstanding edition.

    October 2025
    Helpful