♫ CALL FOR INDEPENDENT, EXPERIMENTAL WORKS OF ALL GENRES ♫

Applications for the Winter 2026 edition open on June 17! Winter Screenings will stream from December 13 to 21 on our website.

Pebbles Underground film and video art platform is focused on showcasing experimental, avant-garde, underground, and no-to-low budget independent films and video art projects from all over the world.

If you're making slow films, performance films, dance films, experimental docs, essay films, hybrids, non-films of an absurd, uncanny, witty, humorous, queer, political, or something no one has the name for yet – we're here for you!

The artists selected for the programs keep ALL the rights.

Attention! We will never include your work in the screening without your permission. If your work is selected, you will receive a lengthy email containing details regarding the program, and asking for your permission to screen the work.

Attention! The selection process is continuous, we don't wait for the last day to watch all the submissions, we watch them as they come in.

✧ FORM/GENRE CRITERIA:

~ Experimental, expanded, artistic documentaries, and mockumentaries (any topic)
~ Experimental, avant-garde, underground, surrealist films, animation, cgi, video art, and mixed techniques (any topic)
~ Screendance, experimental dance, video performance (any topic)
~ Web-based experimental and/or interactive projects; e.g. interactive films/videos, games (any topic)
~ Experimental works 30 minutes and over, any of the above mentioned category (any topic)

✧ NOTIFICATION STATUS EXPLAINED:

~ Selected - your film is selected and will be included in the online screening (after receiving your permission)
~ Semi-Finalist - your film was not selected to be included in the online screening, but it was competing to be in the final selection.
~ Not selected - this makes us just as sad as you, but...

✧ DRM ENCRYPTED ONLINE FORMAT OF THE SCREENING

~ We are using a video hosting service with DRM encryption, to prevent illegal download of your films during our online screenings, and subtle watermarking. We are not using youtube, or vimeo.

✧ ADDITIONAL INFO

~ All online programs will be FREE TO WATCH
~ If you are a filmmaker from Palestine, Sudan, Georgia, Iran, Armenia, Syria, Lebanon, Belarus, North Korea, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Ethiopia, please write to us for a submission discount or a fee waiver code. In your email, please include the link to the work you are planning to submit.

For questions: pebblesunderground@gmail.com
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✧ ABOUT US
Pebbles Underground is an independent project not funded by any government or corporation, and we intend to keep it that way. The main funding comes from personal donations from artists-humans organizing the project and the main drive of the project is formed by the energy and involvement of the organizers, the filmmakers, and the public.

Awards & Prizes

All selected works are part of the Official Selection, and will automatically enter the competition for Jury Award, Special Mention, and Audience Award, to be granted for each program in the course of a screening.

Films receiving Jury Award, Special Mention, or Audience Award during our 2026 Summer and Winter Screenings will be streamed on VisualcontainerTV January 15 to February 15, 2027.

Rules & Terms

✧ NOTICE

~ application process might be paused early, if we receive a higher volume of submissions than we can fairly handle

✧ REQUIREMENTS / ELIGIBILITY

~ premiere status is not necessary, the work does not have to be recent

~ all works in languages other than English MUST have English subtitles; please avoid barely readable fonts. We understand the aesthetic struggle artists are going through while making subs, but believe it or not, subs need to fulfill their purpose!

~ if we select the work, we would ask you to send a screening copy, preferably 1080p. We don't need ProRes or archival copies, but an h264 mp4 file with best possible quality settings, and 48kHz audio would be much appreciated; depending on the shooting equipment of the selected work, we can also accept 720p and 44kHz

~ include a short bio of the artist (it will be published it if the work is selected)

~ include a short description/ director's statement about the work (it will be published it if the work is selected)

~ include logline/description/synopsis of the work

✧ EACH APPLICANT CONSENTS TO THE FOLLOWING:

~ application does not guarantee selection, and fee is not refundable;

~ the festival is unable to pay the screening fee at this time;

~ if the work is selected, the festival has a right to present it online, as well as in a physical space;

~ if the work is selected, the festival has a right to use a still or an extract of under 5 seconds from it for promotional purposes (all credits will be included in the video excerpt or still);

~ after the season is finalized, the festival has no right to screen the selected films online or in a physical venue without additional permission from the artist;

~ the selected films will remain in the archive of the festival;

~ the artist keeps all the rights to the work;

~ the artist/submitter must have the copyright to their work (no plagiarism), Pebbles Underground is not liable of any copyright infringement;

~ if the work is submitted by a distributor, or any other third party, the latter must be given the permission to do so by the artist;

~ submissions are accepted only through the online submission platform.
49 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
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Networking
  • David Moss

    I think that the curatorial quality of selections in this festival is very good, so while my entry did not make the cut for screening, I am pleased to have my film "Tidal Descent" given the recognition of semi-finalist. This festival is well organized and communication is timely and gracious.

    June 2026
    Helpful
  • Usama Alshaibi

    I’m so impressed, and honored to be part of Pebble's Underground!

    June 2026
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  • Imbi Mannik

    A fantastic opportunity for emerging filmmakers, Pebbles Underground Film and Video Art Festival goes above and beyond. Thank you!

    June 2026
    Helpful
  • Randolph Bird

    A great online festival that brings together a variety of short films and video art. I was honored to be part of the festival and to work with such a great team. I'm looking forward to future editions!

    June 2026
    Helpful
  • Karen Leo

    I really enjoyed being a part of this festival, the selections were diverse and full of surprises. I regret that I didn't have time to watch more of them. Thank you for including my work!

    March 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    The honor is ours, thank you for your trust and support!