OPEN CALL 2025
Submissions open in the areas of videodance, documentary, animation and photography categories on FilmFreeway
Before starting the enrolment process, please read the Regulations.
The dates and fees are summarised below.
INTRODUCTION
The 17th edition of InShadow – Lisbon ScreenDance Festival will take place between the 15th of November and 15th of December 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal. Submissions can be made for the Videodance, Dance Documentary, Dance Animation and Photography categories with a focus on the relationship between cinema and dance.
This year, the festival is strengthening its presence on the international circuit with a partnership with dancescreen 2025 - organised by the IMZ - International Music + Media Centre, based in Austria. In this context, new and challenging prizes have emerged.
The InShadow Festival promotes an encounter between video/cinema and dance/performance, proposing a reflection on cine-choreographic thinking, exploring new trends and innovative processes in the relationship and dialogue between cultures. It proposes an assimilation of experiences, methods and knowledge, increasing dual relations such as thought/action and creativity/innovation.
Conserveira de Lisboa continues to be one of the main official sponsors, consolidating the relationship between art, tradition and territory, and the festival renews its certification from EFFE label - Europe for Festivals, Festivals for Europe, which recognises the artistic quality and cultural impact of the event at European level.
INTERNATIONAL VIDEO/FILM COMPETITIONS
Videodance _ Videos will be selected based on the balance between creativity, theme, narrative, experimentation, and image, sound, and editing quality. The work must show as its primary concern the connection of the body choreography with the camera and sound. Each competition session will take about 80-90 minutes.
Preferably, the duration should not exceed 20 minutes.
Dance Documentary _ Films may address the life or work of a choreographer, a dance company, aspects of dance history, as well as creative processes and artistic experiences related to the body, dance, performance and technology. Full choreography records will not be accepted.
Preferably, the duration should not exceed 90 minutes.
Dance Animation _ Films should address an audience of children and young adolescents (5-15 years). When submitting, the age group for which the film is intended must be indicated, and the festival may choose not to select the film due to age restrictions. The selection will be based on the theme, narrative, quality and technique of animation, sound and editing. Special relevance will be given to films that explore the relationship between dance or body movement (including objects) and technology, in conjunction with the proposed technique.
Preferably, the duration should not exceed 10 minutes.
IMPOSSIBLE SHADOWS - PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST
The photography challenge is to capture the "Impossible Shadow". The photographs conception should challenge new thoughts and working methods regarding shadow based on the movement of the body and the shadow.The photography section is aimed at emerging photographers, regardless of their age group. Participants must be the authors of the photographs and hold the rights to them.
DEADLINES AND SUBMISSION FEES
> Videodance and Documentary
Standard
Student
Early
Until November 15
25$
15$
Regular
Until March 7
30$
20$
Final
Until June 30
35$
25$
> Animation Films
Standard
Student
Early
Until November 15
15$
10$
Regular
Until March 7
20$
15$
Final
Until June 30
25$
20$
> Photography Contest
Standard
Student
Early
Until November 15
6$
3$
Regular
Until March 7
6$
3$
Final
Until June 30
6$
3$