Science New Wave Festival

Science New Wave Festival

Also known as: Imagine Science Film Festival
📝 Sign up as a festival representative to manage this page!

Science New Wave Festival, formerly the Imagine Science Film Festival, presents science cinema that experiments with form and style, including works that treat research itself as cinema. The festival dates back to 2008, when it began as a physical festival in New York; its history also includes curated programmes and editions in Paris and Abu Dhabi.

Each edition selects 64 films, one for each codon of the genetic code, and Luminary members vote on the Science New Wave Award, the In Vivo Award and the Avant-Garde Award. The 2026 edition, the 19th, takes place from 16 to 23 October 2026 online, with all selected films streaming on Labocine.

Country

United States (USA)

Awards and prizes

Awards are voted by 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, judged by how much it expresses the six 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 goes to the film that best expresses hybrid aesthetics and experimentation. Honorable mentions go to noteworthy films. Each selected film receives a Science New Wave Certificate.

Festival rules

Submissions must be in English or have English subtitles, and a preview and a screening copy must be available in English or with English subtitles, except for music videos and films without dialogue. The selected films have been completed in the last two years. Previews are accepted through private screener links. Selected films are screened online through Labocine from a digital file. Filmmakers may choose either no geoblocking or US-only access during the festival week.

Contacts

✏️ Edit this page!