Imagine Science Films Festival
New York's dedicated science and film festival, held annually in October, celebrating the intersection of scientific research and cinematic storytelling through features, shorts, and documentary programming.
Overview
Imagine Science Films Festival is New York's dedicated festival for science-themed cinema. Founded in 2008, the festival takes place annually in October and presents films that engage with scientific ideas, research, and the lives of scientists across feature, documentary, and short film formats.
The festival occupies a distinctive niche in the New York festival landscape. Unlike conventional festivals where science appears as a subject among many, Imagine Science Films is specifically organized around the relationship between cinema and scientific knowledge. Films range from narrative features that use scientific scenarios as dramatic settings to documentaries following researchers, to experimental works that explore scientific concepts through film form.
New York's extraordinary concentration of research universities, scientific institutions, and the scientific publishing and media industries creates a uniquely engaged audience for this programming. Scientists attend alongside film enthusiasts, creating cross-disciplinary discussions that enrich both communities.
Key Sections
- Feature Film Competition -- science-themed narrative and documentary features
- Short Film Competition -- science-themed short films
- Symbiosis -- narrative films collaborating with scientific advisors
- Student Competition -- films by science students and film students exploring science
- Panel Discussions -- conversations between scientists and filmmakers
What Filmmakers Should Know
Imagine Science accepts open submissions. The festival is particularly receptive to films that engage seriously with scientific content rather than using science merely as backdrop. For filmmakers whose work intersects with science, the festival provides access to an unusually engaged interdisciplinary audience.
The Symbiosis program, which supports filmmakers working with scientific advisors, reflects the festival's interest in genuine science-film collaboration rather than superficial science-adjacent storytelling.
Major Awards
- Best Feature -- jury prize
- Best Short Film -- jury prize
- Audience Award
- Symbiosis Award -- for outstanding science-film collaboration
Festival History
Imagine Science Films was founded in 2008 and has operated continuously since then, building a community around the intersection of science and cinema. The festival has expanded to multiple venues across New York and has established partnerships with scientific institutions.
See Also
For documentary filmmaking, see Documentary Filmmaking Guide. For festival strategy, see Film Festival Strategy.
