GET LOST IN THE WONDER OF FILM

Wunderground Film Festival is a celebration of cinema as an art form.

Set within the extraordinary landscape of the Verbeke Foundation in Belgium, Wunderground invites audiences and filmmakers to experience film beyond the traditional cinema setting. Here, films exist in dialogue with contemporary art, installations, architecture, nature and unexpected spaces.
Rather than separating artistic disciplines, Wunderground brings them together. Screenings appear throughout the Foundation, creating encounters between moving images and artworks, between stories and sculptures, between dreams and landscapes.

The Verbeke Foundation, founded by Geert Verbeke and Carla Verbeke-Lens, is one of Europe's largest private initiatives for contemporary art. Spread across 12 hectares of outdoor space and more than 20,000 square metres of exhibition areas, it offers a unique environment where culture, ecology, experimentation and imagination intertwine.

Wunderground embraces films that challenge conventions, expand cinematic language and invite audiences into unfamiliar worlds. We welcome narrative, documentary, animated, experimental and hybrid works of all lengths.

We are particularly interested in films that are poetic, visually adventurous, playful, dreamlike, thought-provoking or difficult to categorize.

Alongside established filmmakers, Wunderground actively welcomes emerging artists, first-time directors, student works and independent creators with distinctive voices and personal visions.

NEW VOICES
Wunderground believes that some of the most exciting cinema emerges from unexpected places. Through our New Voices focus, we encourage submissions from first-time filmmakers, students, self-taught artists and creators exploring new forms of cinematic expression.

We are especially interested in works that take artistic risks, experiment with form, blur boundaries between disciplines, or offer fresh perspectives on the world.

At Wunderground, film is not simply screened.
It becomes part of a living artistic landscape.

Nothing finished. Everything alive.

Awards & Prizes

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

All selected films are eligible for the festival's main award:

THE WUNDERGROUND AWARD

Presented to a film that embodies the spirit of Wunderground through artistic vision, originality and a meaningful dialogue with the festival's values.

The jury may also present:

WUNDERGROUND FAVOURITES
A selection of films that left a lasting impression on the jury through their creativity, imagination, emotional impact or unique cinematic language.

SPECIAL MENTIONS
Awarded at the jury's discretion to works deserving particular recognition.
All selected films, regardless of genre, duration or category, compete equally for recognition.

Rules & Terms

SUBMISSIONS

Wunderground Film Festival welcomes films of all genres, forms and durations.

We accept narrative, documentary, animation, experimental, hybrid films, video installations and works that challenge traditional categories.

All non-English language films must include English subtitles.

Films may have premiered elsewhere and may already have distribution agreements in place.

Rough cuts, unfinished projects and works-in-progress will not be considered.

Multiple submissions are permitted, provided that a separate submission is completed for each film.

Wunderground particularly encourages submissions from emerging artists, first-time filmmakers, students and independent creators whose work explores new possibilities for cinema, visual storytelling and artistic expression.

Selected filmmakers must be able to provide a digital screening file (preferably MP4, H.264).

SELECTION & SCREENING

Submission does not guarantee selection.

Selected films may be presented as part of the Wunderground Film Festival programme at the Verbeke Foundation in Belgium.

Screening locations, dates and times are determined by the festival.

Due to the site-specific nature of the festival, films may be presented in a variety of exhibition formats, including screenings, installations and alternative presentation spaces.

Selected films should not be withdrawn from the programme except in exceptional circumstances.

RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES

By submitting a film, the filmmaker confirms that they hold all necessary rights for exhibition of the work.

The filmmaker grants Wunderground Film Festival the right to screen the selected work during the festival and to use excerpts, stills and promotional materials for festival publicity and communication purposes.

The filmmaker agrees to indemnify the festival against claims arising from copyright infringement or unauthorized use of copyrighted material.

SCREENING FEES

Wunderground Film Festival is a non-profit cultural initiative and does not provide screening fees for selected works.

WAIVER REQUESTS

As an independent festival with modest submission fees, Wunderground is generally unable to provide fee waivers.

We encourage filmmakers to submit only if the festival's artistic vision aligns with their work.

12 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Lina Cruz

    I am very grateful to have had my short film be part of this festival. I was not able to be there in person, but I have to say the communication was excellent and the description of how the festival is organized and conceived is extremely creative and original, unique.

    June 2026
    Helpful
  • Estelle Cortet

    Unfortunately I was not able to travel to the festival but I saw photos and videos. I love the places where the films were shown, really original and fits really good with the two videos from me that were shown there. The communication with the festival was perfect. Thank you so much for selecting my works!

    June 2026
    Helpful
  • Hanne Schillemans

    We had a blast! We went to watch our own film and also watched others. The setting is unique, very artistic and amazing. I highly recommend this festival.

    June 2026
    Helpful
  • Jonah Steeman

    Unique and quirky art oriented festival in the equally unique and quirky setting of Verbeke foundation. Great communication and hospitality of the organizer. Highly recommended!

    June 2025
    Helpful
  • Ron Chiers

    A film festival among art in a museum is a special experience. Great that our film Emperica was selected for this. The smooth communication with the festival team and the “free waiver package” make this festival highly recommended.

    June 2025
    Helpful