Experimental Forum

Experimental Forum is an international film and video art festival showcasing experimental film and artists’ moving image from auteur filmmakers and innovative video artists from around the globe. Our aim is to provide a supportive platform for the exciting and challenging work that is outside the scope of mainstream film festivals and art galleries.

We welcome experimental cinema pieces (abstract, narrative or documentary), video art works, essay films, artists’ moving image and media art, as well as documentary and narrative films that seek to expand, redefine or reconfigure the means and ends of their respective fields. Experimental Forum exists to provide access to, and develop audiences for, artists’ moving image work and is committed to engaging local audiences with new and/or unheard voices in film.

We are particularly interested in works made by early stage filmmakers and artists whose work is underrepresented. We provide a collaborative platform for moving image works made for the gallery and for the cinema with the aim of building a community across disciplinary and institutional faultlines.

Best Experimental Feature
Best Narrative Feature
Best Documentary Feature
Best Animation Feature
Best Experimental Short
Best Narrative Short
Best Documentary Short
Best Animation Short
Best First Feature
Best First Short
Best Student Film
Best Screenplay
Best Video Art Film

Experimental Forum is now accepting entries for its 2024 edition festival. We are open to all kinds of experimental films including documentary, narrative, experimental, animation, video art and other genres in any language, from around the world.

We’re open to old or new work and we’re happy to accept work that has already screened at other festivals.

We recommend that non-English language films be subtitled in English.

By submitting, the filmmaker warrants that they are the rightful owner of the submission and do not violate or infringe on any trademark, trade name, copyright, literary, dramatic, musical, artistic or other intellectual property or personal rights.

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Experimental Forum, from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.

Experimental Forum is hereby granted the rights to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted for promotional purposes of the festival. The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements, rules and regulations.

Overall Rating

Quality

Value

Communication

Hospitality

Networking

Ziyi Yuan

A really great Experimental Film Festival. Everyone is really sweet and has a great amount of passion for film! It's a great experience for me!!! Thank you soooo much!

July 2023

Helpful
Kat Parker

A wonderful event run by folks with enthusiasm, energy, and knowledge. I was delighted to participate in this film festival!

July 2023

Helpful
Russell Emanuel

Great film festival that treated us well! Thank you so much!

June 2023

Helpful
Ebba Jahn

I received the nicest rejection ever: "Although "IDEA - Miniatures by Improvisers" is not included in the official selection, we would like to take this moment to recognize your film by giving you the Honorable Mention title, for your vision and the film's unique contribution to cinema." Thanks, I truly appreciate it! :-)

June 2023

Helpful
Sasha Speer

Great festival with wonderful people behind it. I especially loved the Q&A after the screenings when filmmakers were present. Would highly recommend this festival.

July 2022

Helpful

Add to List

Dates & Deadlines

May 22, 2023
Opening Date
June 27, 2023
Early Deadline 1
July 28, 2023
Early Deadline 2
August 28, 2023
Early Deadline 3
September 28, 2023
Regular Deadline 1
October 30, 2023
Regular Deadline 2
November 27, 2023
Regular Deadline 3
December 28, 2023
Late Deadline 1
January 29, 2024
Late Deadline 2
February 28, 2024
Late Deadline 3
April 12, 2024
Final Deadline
April 16, 2024
Notification Date
May 18, 2024
Event Date

Categories & Fees

Experimental Feature
run time over 45 minutes in length
- Early Deadline 1
- Standard: $28
- Gold Members: $25.20
- Early Deadline 2
- Standard: $29
- Gold Members: $26.10
- Early Deadline 3
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $31
- Gold Members: $27.90
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $32
- Gold Members: $28.80
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $33
- Gold Members: $29.70
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $34
- Gold Members: $30.60
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $36
- Gold Members: $32.40
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $37
- Gold Members: $33.30
Experimental Short
run time of 45 minutes or less
- Early Deadline 1
- Standard: $27
- Gold Members: $24.30
- Early Deadline 2
- Standard: $28
- Gold Members: $25.20
- Early Deadline 3
- Standard: $29
- Gold Members: $26.10
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $31
- Gold Members: $27.90
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $32
- Gold Members: $28.80
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $33
- Gold Members: $29.70
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $34
- Gold Members: $30.60
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $36
- Gold Members: $32.40
Narrative Feature
run time over 45 minutes in length
- Early Deadline 1
- Standard: $28
- Gold Members: $25.20
- Early Deadline 2
- Standard: $29
- Gold Members: $26.10
- Early Deadline 3
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $31
- Gold Members: $27.90
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $32
- Gold Members: $28.80
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $33
- Gold Members: $29.70
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $34
- Gold Members: $30.60
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $36
- Gold Members: $32.40
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $37
- Gold Members: $33.30
Narrative Short
run time of 45 minutes or less
- Early Deadline 1
- Standard: $27
- Gold Members: $24.30
- Early Deadline 2
- Standard: $28
- Gold Members: $25.20
- Early Deadline 3
- Standard: $29
- Gold Members: $26.10
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $31
- Gold Members: $27.90
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $32
- Gold Members: $28.80
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $33
- Gold Members: $29.70
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $34
- Gold Members: $30.60
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $36
- Gold Members: $32.40
Documentary Feature
run time over 45 minutes in length
- Early Deadline 1
- Standard: $28
- Gold Members: $25.20
- Early Deadline 2
- Standard: $29
- Gold Members: $26.10
- Early Deadline 3
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $31
- Gold Members: $27.90
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $32
- Gold Members: $28.80
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $33
- Gold Members: $29.70
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $34
- Gold Members: $30.60
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $36
- Gold Members: $32.40
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $37
- Gold Members: $33.30
Documentary Short
run time of 45 minutes or less
- Early Deadline 1
- Standard: $27
- Gold Members: $24.30
- Early Deadline 2
- Standard: $28
- Gold Members: $25.20
- Early Deadline 3
- Standard: $29
- Gold Members: $26.10
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $31
- Gold Members: $27.90
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $32
- Gold Members: $28.80
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $33
- Gold Members: $29.70
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $34
- Gold Members: $30.60
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $36
- Gold Members: $32.40
First Feature
run time over 45 minutes in length
- Early Deadline 1
- Standard: $28
- Gold Members: $25.20
- Early Deadline 2
- Standard: $29
- Gold Members: $26.10
- Early Deadline 3
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $31
- Gold Members: $27.90
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $32
- Gold Members: $28.80
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $33
- Gold Members: $29.70
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $34
- Gold Members: $30.60
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $36
- Gold Members: $32.40
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $37
- Gold Members: $33.30
First Short
run time of 45 minutes or less
- Early Deadline 1
- Standard: $27
- Gold Members: $24.30
- Early Deadline 2
- Standard: $28
- Gold Members: $25.20
- Early Deadline 3
- Standard: $29
- Gold Members: $26.10
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $31
- Gold Members: $27.90
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $32
- Gold Members: $28.80
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $33
- Gold Members: $29.70
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $34
- Gold Members: $30.60
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $36
- Gold Members: $32.40
Student Film
- Early Deadline 1
- Standard: $27
- Gold Members: $24.30
- Early Deadline 2
- Standard: $28
- Gold Members: $25.20
- Early Deadline 3
- Standard: $29
- Gold Members: $26.10
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $31
- Gold Members: $27.90
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $32
- Gold Members: $28.80
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $33
- Gold Members: $29.70
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $34
- Gold Members: $30.60
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $36
- Gold Members: $32.40
Screenplay
- Early Deadline 1
- Standard: $29
- Gold Members: $26.10
- Early Deadline 2
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Early Deadline 3
- Standard: $31
- Gold Members: $27.90
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $32
- Gold Members: $28.80
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $33
- Gold Members: $29.70
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $34
- Gold Members: $30.60
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $36
- Gold Members: $32.40
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $37
- Gold Members: $33.30
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $38
- Gold Members: $34.20
Animation Short
run time of 45 minutes or less
- Early Deadline 1
- Standard: $27
- Gold Members: $24.30
- Early Deadline 2
- Standard: $28
- Gold Members: $25.20
- Early Deadline 3
- Standard: $29
- Gold Members: $26.10
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $31
- Gold Members: $27.90
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $32
- Gold Members: $28.80
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $33
- Gold Members: $29.70
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $34
- Gold Members: $30.60
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $36
- Gold Members: $32.40
1 minute film
All genres and types may be submitted, but must be 1 minute or less
- Early Deadline 1
- Standard: $26
- Gold Members: $23.40
- Early Deadline 2
- Standard: $27
- Gold Members: $24.30
- Early Deadline 3
- Standard: $28
- Gold Members: $25.20
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $29
- Gold Members: $26.10
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $31
- Gold Members: $27.90
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $32
- Gold Members: $28.80
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $33
- Gold Members: $29.70
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $34
- Gold Members: $30.60
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
Trailer (from 10 to 180 seconds)
All genres and types may be submitted, but must be 3 minutes or less
- Early Deadline 1
- Standard: $26
- Gold Members: $23.40
- Early Deadline 2
- Standard: $27
- Gold Members: $24.30
- Early Deadline 3
- Standard: $28
- Gold Members: $25.20
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $29
- Gold Members: $26.10
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $31
- Gold Members: $27.90
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $32
- Gold Members: $28.80
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $33
- Gold Members: $29.70
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $34
- Gold Members: $30.60
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
One Shot Movie
The rules are simple: make a one shot film or video work. All genres and types may be submitted. Remember: no cuts, no edits, just a single shot!
- Early Deadline 1
- Standard: $26
- Gold Members: $23.40
- Early Deadline 2
- Standard: $27
- Gold Members: $24.30
- Early Deadline 3
- Standard: $28
- Gold Members: $25.20
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $29
- Gold Members: $26.10
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $31
- Gold Members: $27.90
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $32
- Gold Members: $28.80
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $33
- Gold Members: $29.70
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $34
- Gold Members: $30.60
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
Video Art Film
Any length
- Early Deadline 1
- Standard: $27
- Gold Members: $24.30
- Early Deadline 2
- Standard: $28
- Gold Members: $25.20
- Early Deadline 3
- Standard: $29
- Gold Members: $26.10
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $31
- Gold Members: $27.90
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $32
- Gold Members: $28.80
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $33
- Gold Members: $29.70
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $34
- Gold Members: $30.60
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $36
- Gold Members: $32.40
Dance Film
- Early Deadline 1
- Standard: $27
- Gold Members: $24.30
- Early Deadline 2
- Standard: $28
- Gold Members: $25.20
- Early Deadline 3
- Standard: $29
- Gold Members: $26.10
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $31
- Gold Members: $27.90
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $32
- Gold Members: $28.80
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $33
- Gold Members: $29.70
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $34
- Gold Members: $30.60
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $36
- Gold Members: $32.40
Music Video
- Early Deadline 1
- Standard: $27
- Gold Members: $24.30
- Early Deadline 2
- Standard: $28
- Gold Members: $25.20
- Early Deadline 3
- Standard: $29
- Gold Members: $26.10
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $31
- Gold Members: $27.90
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $32
- Gold Members: $28.80
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $33
- Gold Members: $29.70
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $34
- Gold Members: $30.60
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $36
- Gold Members: $32.40
LGBTQ Film
- Early Deadline 1
- Standard: $27
- Gold Members: $24.30
- Early Deadline 2
- Standard: $28
- Gold Members: $25.20
- Early Deadline 3
- Standard: $29
- Gold Members: $26.10
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $31
- Gold Members: $27.90
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $32
- Gold Members: $28.80
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $33
- Gold Members: $29.70
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $34
- Gold Members: $30.60
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $36
- Gold Members: $32.40
Erotica
- Early Deadline 1
- Standard: $27
- Gold Members: $24.30
- Early Deadline 2
- Standard: $28
- Gold Members: $25.20
- Early Deadline 3
- Standard: $29
- Gold Members: $26.10
- Regular Deadline 1
- Standard: $30
- Gold Members: $27
- Regular Deadline 2
- Standard: $31
- Gold Members: $27.90
- Regular Deadline 3
- Standard: $32
- Gold Members: $28.80
- Late Deadline 1
- Standard: $33
- Gold Members: $29.70
- Late Deadline 2
- Standard: $34
- Gold Members: $30.60
- Late Deadline 3
- Standard: $35
- Gold Members: $31.50
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $36
- Gold Members: $32.40

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Ziyi Yuan

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Sasha Speer