Pixels Fest contest of digital video art open call

Description

Applications for participation in the first stage of the competition are open from September 5 and will last until December 5, 2019. Applications are accepted on the website: http://www.pixelsfest.com

Global technologization of the planet, introduction of algorithms and machines at all levels of our everyday life is often perceived pessimistically, and further scenarios of the evolution of human lives, society and planet in general, proposed by philosophers and journalists, often look horrendous. 

But there may be another, utopian, alternative and imaginary vision of the future.  The word “Utopia” in our case means that we encourage the artists to reflect both on “positive” ideas and speculative theories related to technological future.

The Festival organizers invite participating artists to reflect on both positive "Utopian options” for the future as well as general speculative theories about the technological future we face.

 The international jury will select 15 works that will be included in the main program of the Festival and will be presented at the media facade of the Yeltsin Center from March 7 to 15, 2020. The three finalists whose works receive the highest ratings from the jury, will receive a cash reward of 140,000 rubles ($ 2,172). Works that are not included in the main program, but which passed the second stage of the competition and meet all the requirements, will be presented as part of a special festival show.

The venue and partner of the Festival is the Yeltsin Center, a unique cultural and public space known throughout the country. The Center is equipped with a media facade, the area of ​​which is 2,200 square meters. Almost the entire surface of the building is a huge video screen.

 Categories of the Contest

• Generative video-art
• 2D and 3D animation made by digital/mostly digital means
• Other types of animation/video-art (frame-by-frame, classical, collage etc.).

Rounds of the contest

 Round 1

September 5, 2019 to December 5, 2019 (05.09.19–05.12.19)

Call for applications with the Teaser (not less than 15 seconds).

The international jury forms the long-list of the participants based on the results of Round 1;  the contestants , selected for the second round, will be informed via email. 

 Round 2

December 20, 2019 to January 31, 2020 (20.12.19–31.01.20)

 Call for full-length artworks (not less than 30 seconds and up to 10 minutes).

 The international jury chooses the winners of the Round 2 who will receive cash prizes, and finalizes the list of artworks to be demonstrated on the media façade during the festival

Conditions:

• Use of specific shape of the buildings  as part of artistic concept
• The submitted artworks must reflect the theme of the contest or to be in dialogue with the related topics
• More than 70% of the work is to contain animated elements (non-static) .
• Submitted artworks may have sound components 
• Submitted artworks should not contain subtitles
• The submitted artworks must meet the technical requirements.
• Each participant can send up to 3 artworks for the contest.

Selection Criteria

• Proficiency in modern visual art language
• Use of digital means techniques
• High quality of the artwork
• High aesthetical value of the work.
• Use of specific shape of the building as a part of artistic concept
• Meeting technical requirements
• Reflecting the theme of the festival

Winners:

 As a result of an open vote by the jury, 15 works will be chosen to be included in the main program of the Festival. These will be presented at the Yeltsin Center media facade from March 7 to 15, 2020. The three finalists whose works receive the highest ratings from the jury will receive a cash reward of 140,000 rubles ($ 2,172). Works that are not included in the main program, but which have passed in the second round of the competition and meet all the requirements, will be presented as part of a special Festival show.

 Also, in the framework of online voting, one winner will be chosen and shown on the Festival website who will receive a special prize from the Channel 2x2, and his or her work will be presented at the media facade along with the rest of the competition winners.