-- SUBMISSIONS NOW CLOSED --
-- OFFICIAL SELECTION 2026 ANNOUNCED IN SEPTEMBER --

Since 2005, the Science Film Festival of the Goethe-Institut, the cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany, has been inspiring young viewers about science, technology and environmental awareness. The festival is organized in countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.

It is the largest festival audience reach of its kind worldwide with over half a million viewers annually. More than 100 international films for all ages are shown, with a wide range of supplementary educational activities in schools, universities and other educational institutions from Brazil to the Philippines.

The Science Film Festival focuses on ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE in 2026, a technology that is rapidly transforming societies and raising fundamental questions about the future. AI is not only shaping industries, economies, and everyday life, but it is also increasingly being applied in environmental and sustainability contexts. From tracking biodiversity with advanced image recognition, to optimizing renewable energy systems, to modeling climate change scenarios, AI offers powerful tools that can support conservation and sustainable development.

Yet, these opportunities also come with challenges. The rise of AI raises pressing questions about data use, transparency, equity, and its own environmental footprint, including the significant energy demands of large-scale computing. As with many new technologies, the impact of AI depends on how societies choose to apply it.

By highlighting both the potential and the pitfalls of AI, the Science Film Festival 2026 aims to foster reflection on this fast-evolving field. The festival invites audiences to engage with films that explore the role of AI in science, education, and sustainability, and to consider how this technology can be harnessed responsibly in addressing some of the greatest challenges of our time.

Awards & Prizes

The Science Film Festival bestows six awards chosen by an international jury. They are complimented with a cash prize of 500 Euro each. The Prize of the Jury is complimented with a cash prize of 1,000 Euro.

VISUAL EFFECTS & CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD

Honors the film that demonstrates the highest level of visual craftsmanship through cinematography or animation. Moreover, the effects go beyond the aesthetic by serving an educational purpose. Scientific principles or processes are explained clearly and engagingly through the visual effects.

IPST EDUCATION AWARD

Honors the film that stands as an excellent example of science journalism intended for young audiences aged 6 - 12. Scientific explanations are presented with the cognitive level of young viewers in mind and the structure of the film reflects an effective audio-visual pedagogical approach.

ECOFILMPRIZE

Honors the film that makes an exceptional effort to communicate and proliferate environmental awareness. Ecological issues are discussed and explained clearly. The film inspires to care about nature and cultivates a sense of responsibility in that respect.

DISCOVERY AWARD

Honors the film that makes an outstanding effort to promote learning about science to the general public. The film generates interest and enthusiasm for science and knowledge acquisition. It showcases an exemplary balance between education and entertainment.

TECHNOLOGY AWARD

Honors the film that sheds light on technologies that improve living conditions and environmental sustainability. The film accessibly introduces decisive technologies that are changing or going to change our lives in the 21st Century in mobility, health, communication or energy.

PRIZE OF THE JURY

Honors the film that makes a particularly strong impression on the jury and is relevant to the theme of the year. The film delivers an emotional and intellectual resonance, which distinguishes it as an overall outstanding work of science journalism through film and television.

Rules & Terms

1. The Science Film Festival is open to worldwide submissions from broadcasters, producers, filmmakers, film students, researchers, scientific organizations, NGOs, public organizations, and online channels. Please submit your film during the period when the festival is open to submissions.

2. The Science Film Festival is open to all formats of films on science, technology and the environment. However, the festival program focuses primarily on edutainment programs for young audiences and documentary films for the general public, which have been broadcast on television or online.

3. There are no fees for submission to the Science Film Festival. However, the festival as a rule does not pay for screening rights either. This is because all screenings are non-commercial and educational in nature and the Science Film Festival makes no revenue from the screenings or any other related activities. The festival also invests considerably in translating and subtitling or synchronizing films into local language where applicable and makes these versions available to the rights owners after the festival period.

4. The submission must be completed by March 15, 2026. There is NO submission fee, however, the Science Film Festival principally does NOT pay licensing fees for films submitted into competition. By submitting a film, you agree to all the terms and conditions laid out here.

5. We kindly ask you to submit a pre-screening copy of your film as downloadable file (MP4, MKV or MOV) through FilmFreeway, WeTransfer, Dropbox, Vimeo (with download option), FTP Server or other secure file sharing service.

6. It is possible to submit multiple entries to the Science Film Festival. Films are not accepted, if they have already been selected into the Science Film Festival in previous years.

7. Over 30 pre-jury members with expertise in science education and science communication in the participating countries and in-depth knowledge of the local target audience are closely involved in the selection process of the Science Film Festival. When an entry is selected in at least one participating country, the film is considered part of the official selection of the festival in that year and is eligible for one of the six Science Film Festival awards.

8. The Science Film Festival pre-jury committees in the participating countries are looking for outstanding examples of contemporary international science communication and filmmaking approaches. Other considerations taken into account, also include local factors regarding the core festival audience of children and youths, which is why local science education experts are involved in the selection process.

9. The Science Film Festival receives between 1200-1500 entries from over 100 countries annually. However, the festival is limited in the number of entries it can accept into the official selection due to the fact that selected films are translated and synchronized into the local languages of participating countries in order to facilitate accessibility for viewers as an educational initiative. The investment that this effort entails consequently restricts the number of films that can be chosen for the annual festival program. The official selection of the Science Film Festival averages annually between 100 and 150 films.

10. The Science Film Festival functions as an educational outreach initiative within the countries in which it takes place and therefore makes the effort to provide the greatest possible degree of accessibility. In many countries in which the event is organized, English or other languages, may not be a widely used language and so for the sake of inclusion, the films are subtitled or synchronized into local language. AI may be used for translation and dubbing into select languages, however, this will only be done with prior approval by the filmmakers or rights owners and used only for festival screenings.

11. The Science Film Festival puts together an international jury each year to select six award winners from the official selection. The jury is composed of international experts in the fields of science communication, science education, factual broadcasting, children’s media and scientists in the field of the annual festival theme. The award winners are chosen for their outstanding achievement in the six award categories amongst the entries in the official selection. Please visit our website for more information on the awards.

12. The Science Film Festival organizes screenings at schools, science centers or cultural venues, and universities in participating countries during the festival period (internationally September 14 to December 20). These screenings are coordinated with teachers and other facilitators often on a case-by-case basis, so please note there is not a set program schedule like traditional film festivals. A comprehensive festival report is shared with all participants in February of the following year.

13. The Science Film Festival offers an online showcase of selected films on Vimeo with password-protected access for schools in each participating festival country. Submittors may opt out of this option and choose on-site screenings only if preferred. The decision does not have an impact on eligibility to be selected into the festival.

14. The Science Film Festival does not have budget to invite filmmakers or producers to screenings, but online Q&A sessions are always welcome. Should a filmmaker or producer wish to attend screenings in-person at own costs, arrangements can be made.
11 Reviews
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  • Akanksha Sood Singh

    Appreciate the decentralization of the festival experience by taking our work to the community.

    May 2026
    Helpful
  • Manon Verchot

    We were so excited to get selected for the Science Film Festival. Our film was screened in 14 countries! And we now also have When AI Meets Conservation translated into 4 languages courtesy of the program. This is such a well organised festival, and the director was really kind, helpful and communicative. Definitely one of the top film festivals we've been a part of. The fact that entry is free is also so wonderful, because it really makes this accessible to all filmmakers. We really appreciated it.

    February 2026
    Helpful
  • Tatiana Skorlupkina

    Thank you for selecting my film "Bo and Trash" for your festival. Your mission is invaluable, and I wish you continued creative success around the world.

    February 2026
    Helpful
  • Nuria Angeles Tapia

    A much-needed and well-organized space. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to be part of it. Our short film "Amazonian Jounalism" was screened in Brazil.

    January 2026
    Helpful
  • Thaís Oliveira

    Eu amei participar do festival e das
    Discussões proporcionadas
    🤩❤️

    December 2025
    Helpful