1 — General Provisions
O-FEST — the International Festival of Experimental Art — runs September 10–13, 2026 in Moscow, Russia. The festival is organised by sole proprietor Anna Olegovna Daukaeva.
Goals
- Supporting artists working in experimental and interdisciplinary art from Russia and around the world
- Developing new forms of audiovisual expression
- Creating an international platform for authors, artists, and researchers
- Exploring new ways of perceiving image, space, and time
The festival's official languages are Russian and English. The festival accepts works created using algorithmic, neural-network, and generative technologies, provided the applicant holds the necessary rights to the materials used.
2 — Festival Programme
- Competition programme
- Special programmes and screenings
- Guest and industry programme
Competition Programme
The competition programme is shaped through a curatorial principle of assembly — works are grouped into programme blocks based on artistic, thematic, and visual connections between them. The festival does not use a rigid genre-based classification.
Requirements
- Works up to 45 minutes in length are accepted
- Accepted: experimental film, video art, film essays, hybrid and poetic documentary, animation, AI / generative works, expanded cinema, interdisciplinary audiovisual works
- Films with dialogue or voiceover require English or Russian subtitles
- Premiere status: not required
3 — Selection Process
Works are selected by the festival's curatorial team. Curatorial decisions are final and not subject to review. The organising committee reserves the right to change programme structure, move works between sections, form out-of-competition screenings, and decline participation without explanation.
4 — Terms of Participation
Submission
- Deadline: August 10, 2026
- Platform: FilmFreeway
- Fee: free
Required Materials
- Film link (Vimeo / YouTube with password)
- Synopsis (Russian / English)
- Director's photo, team information, film stills, poster
- For selected films: unencrypted DCP, 2K / JPEG2000 / MXF, 24 fps or 25 fps
5 — Jury and Awards
Jury composition: Russian and international experts (directors, film critics, artists). Individuals involved in a film's production are not eligible to serve on its jury. The festival may establish competitive and special prizes. The list of awards is determined annually by the organising committee.
6 — Technical Requirements
Screening Formats
- Primary: DCP (preferred)
- Alternative: HD (Apple ProRes 422 HQ, H.264)
Subtitles
- For non-English films — English or Russian subtitles (burned-in or as a separate file)
- For English-language films — English subtitles (burned-in or as a separate file)
7 — Copyright and Liability
The author retains all rights to the submitted work. The festival undertakes to protect participants' copyright. By submitting an entry, the participant grants the festival the right to use excerpts, stills, posters, synopsis, and author information for the festival's non-commercial promotion. The applicant guarantees the accuracy of the information provided, compliance with copyright law, and the legal clearance of the submitted film.