Athens Digital Arts Festival 2027: Free Worldwide Animation, Video Art, VR and Games Call
Athens Digital Arts Festival (ADAF) has launched the international call for its 2027 edition, themed 'It's Alive…'. Artists, creative technologists, researchers, performers and game makers are invited to explore techno-animism: the everyday ways people attribute personality, intent and emotion to digital systems and intelligent machines. The festival takes place in Athens, Greece, with its FilmFreeway listing currently giving 6–9 May 2027 as the event dates. The official deadline for applications is 10 November 2026. The organiser's 2027 announcement and submission platform describe this as the 23rd edition, while some reused explanatory text on the platform still refers to the earlier 22nd edition; rely on the 2027 call dates rather than an outdated edition number in boilerplate.
Who should apply?
The festival calls for new works in digital, computational, creative-coding and hybrid practices. Its twelve subject areas cover Video Art, Animation, Installations, Performances, Music, VR/XR/MR, Workshops, Talks, Web Art, Digital Image, Games and ADAF Kids. Proposals may deal with algorithms, artificial intelligence, human-machine relationships, digital folklore, virtual embodiment, technological rituals, network culture and artificial environments. The international call does not prescribe one visual style or country of residence.
Deadlines and free submission routes
Festival call closes 10 November 2026. Apply using the organiser's 2027 festival website.
FilmFreeway lists animation, video art, animations for children, 360-degree video and virtual reality categories as free to enter.
The festival's FilmFreeway rules show up to 20 minutes in the separate animation and video-art categories; confirm your specific track's permitted runtime.
The event listing indicates notification in April 2027 and a festival scheduled for 6–9 May 2027; schedules can change.
Fee-free short-film or VR categories do not establish that all possible proposals are automatically free: check any installation/workshop production agreement.
Technical files and rights
For video and animation, the festival requests an MP4 encoded with H.264, three still images at 300ppi, a synopsis of up to 100 words and a short artist biography of up to 100 words, at or after selection depending on submission route. Films longer than 30 minutes are considered only at the organiser's discretion. Submit original work or material you have permission to exhibit; the festival requires clearances for music, film footage and images. The terms say selected works cannot ordinarily be withdrawn after confirmation, and compilation rights for festival representation may extend to selected and unselected submissions. Read these clauses before uploading.
Awards versus financing
The festival advertises non-monetary category distinctions and audience-voted awards; physical or online participation is not a guaranteed production stipend, cash prize or travel reimbursement. If an interactive installation requires custom hardware, exhibition staff, shipping or specialised insurance, ask the organiser whether it can supply those resources. Applicants should document a technical rider, screen/sensor needs, platform requirements and an installation plan.
About ADAF and institutional history
Athens Digital Arts Festival was established in 2005 as the Athens Video Art Festival by the non-profit Multitrab Productions. It is a longstanding annual event connecting digital art, science and emerging technologies with public audiences. The organiser operates a named application platform, publishes historical programmes and maintains the FilmFreeway entry profile. This history helps distinguish its official submission route from unrelated for-profit competitions.
Official 2027 ADAF open-call site: https://2027.adaf.gr/
ADAF FilmFreeway categories, 2027 entry fees and technical rules: https://filmfreeway.com/adafgreece
Verified 24 October 2026. Athens, Greece; global proposals; 10 November 2026 deadline. Review the exact submission pathway and current category fees on the organiser's website.