Italia Media Art Festival 2026 open call nears deadline

The Italia Media Art Festival is closing its Video Art & Video Performance open call on 30 July 2026, with selected works set for Rome Art Week in October and later partner venues in Italy and abroad. The festival is also preparing its first major international media art exhibition for November.

Why it matters: - The third edition of the Italia Media Art Festival gives artists a free international platform to show video work in Rome and beyond. - The 2026 theme links media art to energy, technology, responsibility and social change. - The festival's planned November exhibition signals a broader push to strengthen Rome's role in digital culture.

What happened: - The open call for Video Art & Video Performance remains open until 30 July 2026. - The festival is promoted by Associazione Piccola Venezia APS, in collaboration with Lazio Innova, Maker Faire Rome and Rome Art Week. - The curatorial theme is "The Energy That Transforms: Human and Spiritual Strength Turned into Action for the Future." - Marinellys Tremamunno, founder and artistic director of IMAF, framed the theme around energy as a force that shapes choices and makes change possible.

The details: - Artists and collectives of any nationality aged 16 and over may submit one video work. - Submissions must be MP4 Full HD, 1920 × 1080 pixels, with a maximum length of three minutes. - Works with dialogue must include English subtitles. - Participation is free. - Selected works will be shown during Rome Art Week from 19–25 October 2026. - The festival will then present the works at partner exhibition venues in Italy and abroad. - IMAF will publish the list of selected artists by 3 August 2026 on the festival's official website. - The festival says it is preparing its first major international exhibition dedicated to media art for next November.

Between the lines: - The call positions art as a response to questions about infrastructure, ethics and human agency, not just as a technical medium. - The festival is using its third edition to move from a niche open call toward a larger international exhibition profile. - Rome Art Week provides a built-in showcase window that can help selected artists reach curators and partner venues.

What's next: - Artists who want to apply have only a few days left before the 30 July deadline. - IMAF says more details on the November exhibition will be announced soon. - The selected artists list is due on 3 August 2026. - The next public presentation of selected works is scheduled for Rome Art Week in October.