SCIENCE NEW WAVE TURNS 19

Each October, Science New Wave presents a new crop of films on Labocine: a curated viewing season that invites audiences around the world to discover works expanding the language of scientific storytelling. Now in its 19th year, the program offers a shared space for cinema, research, and new ways of seeing.

The annual festival now takes place on Labocine as a curated viewing season, making the selected works accessible to a broader international audience and to the filmmakers, scientists, scholars, artists, curators, educators, festivals, museums, and galleries that make up the Science New Wave ecosystem.

Science New Wave submissions open each January and close at the end of August. Our lineup is unveiled in September.

All film entries are automatically granted a film page on our LABOCINE platform, ensuring future consideration in our year-round programming, regardless of selection outcome. As part of the submission process, we invite everyone to join HABITAT—a networking and ecosystem tool on LABOCINE designed for scientists, artists, and educators. To join, visit labocine.com/habitat.

Each submitter (associated with the email used for the submission) will receive a one-year subscription to Labocine, providing access to curated programs on the platform, exclusive opportunities to apply for various Science New Wave open calls, and a waiver for submitting additional films. Upon request, we can also set up a PRO account for your organization, whether it’s a production company, distributor, or collective.

If you already have an active Labocine account—whether as an individual Science New Wave member or through a PRO organizational account—reach out to us at sciencenewwave@labocine.com. We'll provide you with a waiver so you can submit one or more titles.

SCIENCE NEW WAVE OPEN CALLS
> sciencenewwave.com/open-calls

Check out the wide array of SNW open calls proposed by Labocine, notably Symbiosis - an initiative in which scientists & filmmakers are paired every year to create new forms of science cinema.

ABOUT THE SCIENCE NEW WAVE

Scientific storytelling is increasingly and fearlessly experimenting in form and style. Scientific stories are becoming more personal and hybrid, tackling issues pertaining both to the individual and the world at-large. Artists, scientists, scholars, journalists and educators are working together to create singular narratives. The boundaries between data, cinema and the imaginary are dissolving. Similar to developing organisms, science films are emerging with new traits and new forms. The Science New Wave is born.

Check out the Science New Wave Manifesto at sciencenewwave.com/manifesto

Awards & Prizes

SCIENCE NEW WAVE LUMINARY AWARDS

Every year, the Science New Wave selects 64 films. These works propose a visionary look on how to bring science into film.

The selected films have been completed in the last two years and selected by our programming team. Each of these selected films will receive a Science New Wave Certificate.

Our films are eligible for several awards. These awards are voted by our Science New Wave Luminary Members.

- The SCIENCE NEW WAVE AWARD goes to a film in competition that demonstrates a bold and inventive approach to scientific storytelling. Its affinity with the Science New Wave is gauged by how much it expresses the 6 traits of the Science New Wave manifesto.

- The IN VIVO AWARD goes to a film that paints a daring yet realistic portrait of a scientist and/or other non-human organism.

-The AVANT-GARDE AWARD celebrates the film that best expresses hybrid aesthetics and experimentation.

- HONORABLE MENTIONS: Every year, we pay tribute to some noteworthy films, that we feel are particularly timely.

WHO ARE THE VOTING LUMINARY MEMBER? They include scientists, artists, filmmakers, journalists, researchers, and hybrids of all types from around the world who have inspired us in their approaches to scientific storytelling. Their vision has shaped the very birth of the Science New Wave Manifesto. They are the key players of a growing ecosystem and propel its ongoing evolution forward. They play a decisive role in highlighting the latest crop of bold science cinema. Learn more at sciencenewwave.com/luminaries

Rules & Terms

SELECTION CRITERIA

The ethos of the Science New Wave is to spotlight films where scientific exploration flows freely across disciplines and cultures. Ranging from documentary to fiction, essay to raw data, we aim to continually challenge how scientific ideas and perspectives are understood, interpreted, and appreciated. To appreciate the full scope of the types of works we celebrate and showcase, take a look at our Science New Wave manifesto at sciencenewwave.com.

FORMAT

- Submissions must be in English or have English subtitles, and there must be a preview AND screening copy available in English or with English subtitles, excepting music videos and films without dialogue.

-If your film is accepted, SNW generally screens from digital files. We may also be able to discuss screening in other formats as allowed by our venues and programming each year.

DEADLINES, FEES, & NOTIFICATION

All filmmakers will receive notification, whether or not their film is chosen to screen. Notifications will be sent out on or before October 1st. Please DO NOT contact us to find out whether or not your film has been received. We do not have a large enough staff to respond to such inquiries.

WAIVERS

- For individual, we offer a waiver to existing Science New Wave Luminary Members (on Yearly Membership) on Labocine. As a SNW Luminary, you can submit one or more films to the Science New Wave. To learn more about becoming a SNW Luminaries, visit sciencenewwave.com/luminaries.

- For organizations (production companies, distributors, collectives...), waivers are only available if you are part of the LABOCINE PRO Network. To register for an organizational PRO account, please complete the form at labocine.com/pro.

PREVIEWS, ENTRY FORMAT & SUBMISSION

- SNW accepts submissions for PREVIEW through private screener links.

- Feel free to send along any additional press material, cast and crew bios or any other information about your film. We will say, however, that it will most likely NOT influence our selections in any way.

SCREENING RIGHTS

- If your work is selected for the Science New Wave Festival, we reserve the right to screen and promote your film during the festival period.

- Additionally, we will invite the film team to participate in Labocine’s year-long programming. Participation is optional and by request only.

SELECTION & ANNUAL VIEWING SEASON

If your work is selected as part of Science New Wave’s annual edition, it will receive a unique genetic code identifying it as one of the singular works of the year.

Selected filmmakers will then be invited to take part in an online viewing season on the Labocine platform, taking place October 16–23. The program is not geoblocked, but participation is optional, and filmmakers may choose whether or not they would like their work included in this online presentation.

In addition, selected films may be made privately accessible to Science New Wave Luminaries, who are invited to watch the works and participate in the annual voting process.

If your work is accepted as part of SNW we would love for you to be able to attend the screening of your work. Unfortunately, we are not able to cover travel or accommodation.

HOW TO ATTEND SCIENCE NEW WAVE

By joining Science New Wave on Labocine, you will be able to watch the selected works presented as part of the annual October edition.

What began in 2008 as a physical festival in New York has grown into a global platform, community, and living archive for films that expand the language of scientific storytelling.

The annual festival now takes place on Labocine as a curated viewing season, making the selected works accessible to a broader international audience and to the filmmakers, scientists, scholars, artists, curators, educators, festivals, museums, and galleries that make up the Science New Wave ecosystem.

In-person screenings are still very much part of this ecosystem. Many members of our community and PRO network are curators, programmers, and organizations connected to festivals, museums, galleries, universities, and cultural spaces. When opportunities arise and after the Science New Wave premiere, we help facilitate the circulation of selected works through these networks, creating possibilities for future screenings, programs, and collaborations.

This shift involves tradeoffs, but our community is made up of scholars, artists, scientists, filmmakers, and viewers from around the world, and we want them to be able to discover and engage with these works wherever they are.

SUBMIT TO LABOCINE

We also invite you to submit your film directly to LABOCINE, where we feature year-round programming, including Monthly Issues, Weekly Spotlights, LIVE events, and opportunities with our PRO organizations. To submit your film for consideration, please visit: labocine.com/submit/film.
13 Reviews
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  • Su Rynard

    This is a one of a kind festival. Excellent programming. I love it!

    January 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you Su. It's been such a treat to have you take part in some many editions of the Science New Wave Festival. To many more!

  • Lucia Lambarri Barberis

    I was thrilled to be part of such an incredible experience. The SNW XVII Festival in New York stood out for its amazing locations and thoughtfully curated programming, making it truly unforgettable. Labocine is such an amazing platform to connect and share unique stories!

    November 2024
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you Lucia. Thrilled to have shown your work and have you in the Science New Wave ecosystem on Labocine.

  • Elisa Strinna

    Unfortunately, I couldn't attend the festival, but I find it to be a really interesting initiative. The program is innovative, offering a unique and groundbreaking approach to the world of scientific research.

    November 2023
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    We hope you come next time Elisa. Can't wait for more scientific research on screen!

  • César Flores

    A privilege to be part of such an amazing festival!

    November 2023
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Gracias Cesar! Te esperemos para la próxima edicion de la nueva ola cientifica!

  • Omar Al-Nakib

    The ISFF is an excellent festival with a wide, eclectic selection of film screenings. It was a pleasure dealing with the organizers, and communication was very prompt and professional. To have my short premiere at the festival was an absolute privilege--my only regret being that I couldn't attend in-person!

    January 2023
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thanks Omar for your chimeric creations as part of Symbiosis / Science New Wave!