Hiding in Plain Site invites filmmakers, artists, and creative practitioners to submit short works (2–20 minutes each) for consideration in this international screening program.
We especially welcome work from diverse teams, emerging voices, and non-traditional storytelling approaches, including experimental, poetic, essayistic, and hybrid forms.
We are interested in work that engages public space, collective experience, community narratives, and expanded forms of artistic practice.
We seek standout work that elicits an emotional response—it inspires, informs, humors, enthuses, confounds, or otherwise leaves an impression.
No professional filmmaking background is required.
Works created using smartphones, accessible tools, DIY methods, or emerging technologies are encouraged.
NOTE: Academic lectures, TED Talks and TV network-produced stories are not eligible.
DEADLINE: September 10, 2026
Submission Categories
1 — standard
Short works between 2–20 minutes
2 — micro public art short
Short works up to 2 minutes. This short-form category encourages concise, accessible, and experimental storytelling.
Guidelines
Submissions are collected via an online form and reviewed through a curatorial selection process.
One submission per creator or team
Open to international submissions
Public art must be meaningfully featured in the work
SUBJECT MATTER:
Submissions must feature public art in some way, or use public art as a main character, subject, setting, or backdrop.
Hiding in Plain Site is open to all approaches, styles, and scales—from homemade smartphone movies to ambitious cinematic productions.
SELECTED MEDIA — we accept:
Film and video (digital formats)
Experimental moving-image works
Video art and essay film
XR (extended reality) works
AI-generated or AI-assisted original works
PARTICIPATION:
Selected works will be included in a curated screening program presented in flexible formats, including:
Live screening events
Looping exhibitions
Hybrid or virtual presentations depending on venue and context
Optional artist engagement opportunities such as Q&A sessions or informal audience conversations may be included.
RIGHTS + PERMISSIONS:
Artists retain full copyright of their work.
By submitting, artists grant permission for screening if selected and may optionally allow still images or short excerpts to be used for festival-related promotion (website, press, and social media).
No submitted works will be used for commercial distribution or third-party licensing without separate permission.
