SYMBIOSIS
Scientists & filmmakers are paired every year at the annual festival
to make new forms of science cinema.
2023 Symbiosis Participants Have Been Announced! Learn more.
The 2023 Symbiosis Competition will lead to 6 original films.
They will be inspired by the theme of this year's festival: (art)ificial.
This initiative is supported by the Simons Foundation
WATCH: One Scientist. One Filmmaker. One Week to Make a Film
One Artist. One Scientist. One Week to Make a Film.
More info on how to apply, guidelines and Symbiosis films below
to make new forms of science cinema.
2023 Symbiosis Participants Have Been Announced! Learn more.
The 2023 Symbiosis Competition will lead to 6 original films.
They will be inspired by the theme of this year's festival: (art)ificial.
This initiative is supported by the Simons Foundation
WATCH: One Scientist. One Filmmaker. One Week to Make a Film
One Artist. One Scientist. One Week to Make a Film.
More info on how to apply, guidelines and Symbiosis films below
Submissions open March 19, 2024
Submissions closed for this year but we encourage you to submit next year starting on the first day of Spring and join us for the Symbiosis this year during the Science New Wave Festival from October 20-27, 24
[Required]
- Become a Science New Wave Member
<< requirement to apply & review your application >>
- Complete your Habitat Profile via your Labocine Account
- Attach to email a Cover Letter (PDF) telling us about yourself and why you want to participate in the Symbiosis initiative at this year's festival.
[Optional but recommended]
- CV/Resume
- Creative portfolio: In the email, send us any links or attachments to creative work and/or research.
[Send by email]
- Email us: symbiosis@imaginesciencefilms.org.
- Include in email title: Name - [Scientist OR Filmmaker]
(ex: Meilin Fernandez - Scientist)
- Share your public Habitat profile and Science New Wave ID in your email submission
Application Example:
Ramey Newell - Filmmaker
Habitat Profile: labocine.com/habitat/ramey.newell
SNW ID: CTT GAT CGC TAT
IMPORTANT: Participants are required to attend in person all Symbiosis events and be available in New York for the intensive week of production in New York that takes place in parallel to the annual film festival. You will not have much time to attend the actual film festival. We will help as much as we can with travel and accommodation for selected Symbiosis participants but we'll cross the 'logistics' bridge after you apply.
Submissions closed for this year but we encourage you to submit next year starting on the first day of Spring and join us for the Symbiosis this year during the Science New Wave Festival from October 20-27, 24
[Required]
- Become a Science New Wave Member
<< requirement to apply & review your application >>
- Complete your Habitat Profile via your Labocine Account
- Attach to email a Cover Letter (PDF) telling us about yourself and why you want to participate in the Symbiosis initiative at this year's festival.
[Optional but recommended]
- CV/Resume
- Creative portfolio: In the email, send us any links or attachments to creative work and/or research.
[Send by email]
- Email us: symbiosis@imaginesciencefilms.org.
- Include in email title: Name - [Scientist OR Filmmaker]
(ex: Meilin Fernandez - Scientist)
- Share your public Habitat profile and Science New Wave ID in your email submission
Application Example:
Ramey Newell - Filmmaker
Habitat Profile: labocine.com/habitat/ramey.newell
SNW ID: CTT GAT CGC TAT
IMPORTANT: Participants are required to attend in person all Symbiosis events and be available in New York for the intensive week of production in New York that takes place in parallel to the annual film festival. You will not have much time to attend the actual film festival. We will help as much as we can with travel and accommodation for selected Symbiosis participants but we'll cross the 'logistics' bridge after you apply.
Symbiosis is supported by the Simons Foundation
The Simons Foundation's Science, Society and Culture division seeks to provide opportunities for people to forge a connection to science — whether for the first time or a lifetime. Through our initiatives, we work to inspire a feeling of awe and wonder, foster connections between people and science and support environments that provide a sense of belonging
Symbiosis Protocol
Open-call: Every year on the first day of the Spring.
Announcement: We announce the cohort in Mid-September, approximately 1 month before the festival.
Output: We accept all formats: fiction, documentary, animation, installation, interactive game.
Stipend: Each pair will be given $2,500 production fund.
Award: Winning team receives $1,500 cash prize
Open-call: Every year on the first day of the Spring.
Announcement: We announce the cohort in Mid-September, approximately 1 month before the festival.
Output: We accept all formats: fiction, documentary, animation, installation, interactive game.
Stipend: Each pair will be given $2,500 production fund.
Award: Winning team receives $1,500 cash prize
Watch Symbiosis films from prior years on Labocine Playlist Scientist-Filmmaker Collaborations.
Check out the program for the 2023 Symbiosis running from October 20-27
Frequently Asked Questions
Creating this film should be an equal collaboration between scientist and filmmaker. This means that all subject matter and strategy must be decided after meeting your partner on the first day of the process.
All creative work must take place during the 8 days of Symbiosis.
Any work created in advance of the 8-day period will be prohibited. This includes Scriptwriting, Shooting, Costume & Set design, and use of preexisting footage.
All creative work must take place during the 8 days of Symbiosis.
Any work created in advance of the 8-day period will be prohibited. This includes Scriptwriting, Shooting, Costume & Set design, and use of preexisting footage.
You can always encourage others to apply but we will do the pairing on the first day of the competition. We will ask each of you for your preferences based on information we will collect from our 12 participants.
Startle us, surprise us, amaze us! We particularly love films that defy categorization: not just inventive documentary and gripping scientific fiction, but fictional documentaries, raw lab data aesthetics, thought-provoking experimental film, personal essay narratives, and innovative animation! We also provide a unique platform for sci-art collaboration: scientists and filmmakers working together, but also scientists making their films and artists conducting their own scientific experiments. It's all very open-ended.
Yes, we do. If you are selected, we make sure you get to New York and cover your accommodation for the one-week competition.
All pairs also receive a $2500 production stipend and need to manage their own productions and account for their expenses
Please send questions to symbiosis@imaginesciencefilms.org.
The values & traits of Symbiosis
- 1ParticipantsDuring production, filmmakers share with scientists their craft and scientists share with filmmakers their process.
- 2Local audienceThe public is invited to participate in production during special events designed to stimulate conversation about science on film.
- 3International stageOriginal science films are released into the wild. And by wild, we mean the international film festival circuit and beyond. Films have gone on to screen at the Toronto International Film Festival, International Film Festival Rotterdam and the New York Film Festival!
