Guide A7 Independent notes
Media art festivals: where new media and experimental film meet
Festivals are where much of new media art is first shown, discussed and awarded. This guide describes long running events and how to follow them without relying on out-of-date dates.
Famous media art festivals
Ars Electronica in Linz, Austria, has run since 1979 and links art, technology and society. Its Prix Ars Electronica gives the Golden Nica award. transmediale in Berlin has been held since 1988 and focuses on art, culture and technology. The International Symposium on Electronic Art, ISEA, first took place in 1988 in Utrecht and now moves between cities. The Japan Media Arts Festival, organised by Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs, covers art, entertainment, animation and manga.
The European Media Art Festival and experimental film festivals
The European Media Art Festival, EMAF, in Osnabrück, Germany, shows film, video and media art. The Ann Arbor Film Festival in Michigan, which began in 1963, is one of the oldest festivals for experimental film in North America. The Oberhausen short film festival in Germany, started in 1954, has a long record with short and experimental work.
Our guide to experimental film history explains what you are likely to see there.
Digital art festivals and how they differ
Festivals mix several things: competitions with juries, exhibitions, screenings, conferences and performances. Some emphasise artistic research, others industry or education. A digital art festival can mean anything from an academic conference to a public light show, so read the programme before you travel.
Student and regional festivals, such as university media arts events, are also a valuable place to see new work, even if their reach is smaller.
How to follow a festival and its open calls
Dates change every year, so use each festival's own site for the programme and for any media art festival open call. Many festivals publish catalogues, recordings and artist talks afterwards. Newsletters and the news pages of the organisations are more reliable than lists copied from older websites.
Artists who want to submit should read the rules and eligibility carefully, check entry fees and note whether the festival asks for premiere status.
Making the most of a visit
Pick two or three events rather than everything. Plan time to watch longer works from the beginning, and give yourself time for talks, where the context often becomes clear. Take notes on works that move you and follow up afterwards in museum collections and archives.
For permanent places to see media art, return to the museum guide, or to the overview of new media art.