Sleepy Eyes Film Festival is a 8-night long filmfestival in public space. A night-time winter walk becomes a cinematic experience with unexpected filmic encounters in the city centre of The Hague.

Sleepy Eyes brings night owls, passers-by and curious visitors together in a free film festival that takes place in the dark on the street.

From Friday 6 to Saturday 14 February 2026, Westeinde street will come to life with film projections from 8 p.m. until late at night.

Shop fronts, homes and workspaces will be transformed into walk-by cinemas.

Film and video artworks are projected silently onto windows and shop fronts, transforming historic façades into cinema screens that draw attention to the beauty of the cityscape at night.

Sleepy Eyes redefines the film experience as a living urban activity with the winter night and one of The Hague's oldest streets as a fitting backdrop. 

We're all set to welcome experimental silent films from all over the world for the first edition of Sleepy Eyes Film Festival.

The video works will be situated in the public sphere. The event will take place from 6 to 14 February 2026 in the city center of The Hague.

We screen films without sound in the windows of the historic façades of Westeinde, one of the oldest streets of the city.

The films screenings appear from 8 pm until deep in the night for 8 consecutive nights.

FILMS 

Strong visualisation and diversity is key.

We are seeking films and lens based works that expand our perception of film: experimental, visual narrative, non-narrative, artists expression, visual poetry, performative, playful, profound, disruptive, abstract, text in frame, loops.

We haven't encountered any limits, yet.

Proposals for film installations and multi-screen projections are also welcome. Our curators will do their best to create an interesting interaction between the films and the local architecture.

Sleepy Eyes is a non-competitive festival, we prefer art over prizes.

ELIGIBILITY

Any experimental works completed from 2020-2025 are eligible.

No length restrictions, but be aware that visitors walk in and out of your film at any moment.

Therefore, short movies and endless movies (looping without credits) work best.

Multiple entries are allowed with a maximum of three.

By submitting your film to Sleepy Eyes Film Festival, you acknowledge that you own or have all the rights to the submitted film and agree that you shall be bound by the following terms & conditions:

FORMATS

The films may have any format: vertical, horizontal, 16:9, 9:16, 4:3, 1:1 or any other size or shape, as long as it is can be delivered as mp4.

Films are shown without sound in a continuous loop, rear projected from the inside of the space on static foil on the window. Keep this in mind.

For film installations, we also expect a clear description in words and images.

FEES

We are in the process of organising a small viewing fee to support the artists, but we have to be patient and are still awaiting funding for this.

By submitting you are agreeing to not request a screening fee as a requirement for your film's participation in the festival.

SELECTION PROCESS

Submitted films will be reviewed by our panel of curators. Entrants will be notified of their judging status by
January 12, 2026.

AUTHORIZATION 

By entering the festival, the entrant authorizes a public screening of the work in the festival and agrees to provide an exhibition file for the period of the festival.

Once a film is submitted for entry, it may not be withdrawn. Sleepy Eyes Film Festival is hereby granted the right to to use parts of your film for promotional purposes of the festival.

DOCUMENTATION

A printed program guide as well as photo and video documentation of the project will be made and freely shared with the participated artists for their own use.

DATES

Deadline: 2 January 2025 | Result: 12 January 2025
Sleep Eyes Film Festival: 6 --- 14 Februari 2026