Artists and Experimental Moving Image

What Artists and Experimental Moving Image does

aemi (Artists and Experimental Moving Image) is a Dublin-based non-profit organisation founded in 2016 by Daniel Fitzpatrick and Alice Butler, who continue to serve as Co-Directors. Its mission is to support and exhibit moving image works by artists and experimental filmmakers, contributing to a developing infrastructure for these practices in Ireland. The organisation runs an annual touring programme (most recently 'Desire Lines' in 2026) that screens at venues across Ireland and internationally, alongside the self-produced DISSOLUTIONS experimental film festival at The Complex Dublin and the 'Artist in Focus' online platform featuring interviews and time-limited film screenings.

aemi's service offering splits into two streams. The first is exhibition: curated touring programmes (Desire Lines, Spirit Messages, Súitú, In the long now, Signals & Circuits) distributed through partnerships with Irish Film Institute, Galway Film Fleadh, Docs Ireland, Cork International Film Festival, Pálás Cinema, Queen's Film Theatre, The Model, VISUAL Carlow, and international venues including WORM Rotterdam, Filmform Stockholm, Filmhuis Civa Amsterdam, and access>CINEMA. The second is artist development: individual artist support sessions, Rough Cut work-in-progress sessions, masterclasses, skills-sharing events, the 'Developing Your Practice as a Film Artist' year-long programme, and a publicly available Toolkit for Film Artists. Most offerings are delivered free to artists and audiences.

The business model is a publicly funded non-profit. aemi is funded by the Arts Council of Ireland, which is the primary and effectively sole disclosed revenue source. There is no ticket revenue, no membership or subscription pricing, and no transactional commercial offering. Marketing is delivered through the organisation's website (aemi.ie), a free monthly newsletter, organic social media, and cross-promotion via venue and festival partnerships. Geographic reach spans Ireland, the UK, Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, France, Belgium, Finland, Spain, Canada, UAE, and the USA. Headcount is reported at 1-10 employees, consistent with a small, lean cultural organisation.

Name

Artists and Experimental Moving Image

Legal name

Artists and Experimental Moving Image (aemi)

Website

https://aemi.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

aemi (Artists and Experimental Moving Image) is a Dublin-based non-profit founded in 2016 that supports and exhibits moving image works by Irish and international experimental filmmakers through annual touring programmes, artist development services, and the DISSOLUTIONS festival, primarily funded by the Arts Council of Ireland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts and Cultural Services (Experimental Film Curation and Artist Development)

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)

akta.pro primary industry

Programming, Booking & Repertory Exhibition Services (MPADAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts & Culture Appreciation (Art History, Film Appreciation, Music Appreciation) (EDAAAGAO), Media Arts & Performance (Film, Stagecraft, Lighting, Sound) (EDAMAAAJ)

Keywords

• Experimental film curation
• Artist moving image
• Film artist development
• Experimental film festival
• Curated screening programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Arts Council Funding: Primary funding from the Arts Council of Ireland to support operations, artist programmes, and touring activities.
2. Free Public Programming: Most screenings and events are offered free to audiences, supported by public funding rather than ticket sales.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

aemi supports and exhibits moving image works by artists and experimental filmmakers through annual curated touring programmes that screen at Irish and international venues, an annual experimental film festival (DISSOLUTIONS), and a Film Artist Support programme offering individual sessions, Rough Cut work-in-progress events, masterclasses, and a Toolkit for Film Artists. Most programming is free to audiences and supported by Arts Council funding.

Product overview

aemi (Artists and Experimental Moving Image) is a Dublin-based initiative that supports and regularly exhibits moving image works by artists and experimental filmmakers. Founded in 2016, aemi operates as a single integrated offering combining touring programmes (such as Desire Lines, Spirit Messages, Súitú, In the long now, and Signals & Circuits), artist development services (Developing Your Practice as a Film Artist programme, Rough Cut sessions, individual artist support, masterclasses, and the Toolkit for Film Artists), the annual DISSOLUTIONS experimental film festival, and the Artist in Focus online platform featuring interviews and film screenings. The organization is funded by the Arts Council.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DISSOLUTIONS: aemi's annual experimental film festival featuring screenings, workshops, and artist talks.
• Artist in Focus
• Rough Cut Sessions

Products and services

• Desire Lines (2026 Touring Programme) Annual touring programme featuring Irish and international artist and experimental film works. The 2026 edition premiered at the Irish Film Institute and tours to venues across Ireland and internationally, co-presented with partners such as Galway Film Fleadh and Docs Ireland.
• Spirit Messages (2024 Touring Programme) 2024 touring programme bringing together moving image works by Irish and international artists, screening at venues across Ireland and internationally (including WORM Rotterdam).
• Súitú (2023 Touring Programme) 2023 curated touring programme screening at national and international venues, featuring moving image works by Irish and international artist filmmakers.
• In the long now (2022 Touring Programme) 2022 touring programme placing Irish contemporary film artists in dialogue with international practitioners, exploring ideas of love, liveness, mortality and technological processes of seeing.
• Signals & Circuits (2020/2021 Touring Programme) 2020/2021 touring programme exploring communication, travel, surveillance and technology, featuring moving image works by Irish and international artists.
• Artist in Focus Online platform highlighting Irish or Ireland-based film artists with significant bodies of work through interviews and freely available film screenings for limited periods. The current focus is artist Juana Robles.
• DISSOLUTIONS Experimental Film Festival Annual experimental film festival featuring screenings, workshops, and artist talks, held at The Complex Dublin. DISSOLUTIONS 25 took place in September 2025.
• Rough Cut Sessions Peer environment events where film artists share and discuss works-in-progress. Vital part of aemi's Film Artist Support programme, held at ATRL and other venues.
• Developing Your Practice as a Film Artist Year-long artist development programme offering individual artist support sessions, skills sharing, masterclasses, and comprehensive toolkit resources for film artists at all stages of their practice. Applications opened in June 2026 for the 2026-2027 cohort.
• Toolkit for Film Artists Comprehensive online toolkit providing resources and support materials for film artists at all stages of development.

Quantifiable outcome

• Michael Barwise's film 'That Sanity Be Kept' won Best Short Documentary at Docs Ireland 2026
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Irish Film Institute (IFI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Ongoing partnership for annual Artist Film Programme. Co-presentations include touring programme premieres (Desire Lines 2026), regular screening events, and collaborative programming throughout the year.
• Galway Film FleadhmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Annual partnership for screening events and Q&As. aemi returns to Galway Film Fleadh for 2026 with 'Desire Lines' presentation including Q&A with featured filmmakers.
• Docs IrelandmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Annual partnership for screening events. aemi partnered with Docs Ireland in Belfast to present 'Desire Lines' followed by Q&A with featured filmmakers.
• Bealtainment FestivalmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership with Age & Opportunity's Bealtainment Festival for artist-focused programming including Juana Robles screening events at the IFI.
• The ModelmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration with The Model in Sligo for screening events and venue partnerships for touring programmes.
• VISUAL CarlowmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for touring programmes and film installations at VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art, Carlow.
• access>CINEMAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership to bring touring screening programmes to venues across Ireland, providing distribution network for aemi content.
• Pálás CinemamajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partnership for screenings and events in Galway, including 'Desire Lines' presentation at Pálás Screen 2.
• Queen’s Film TheatremajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partnership in Belfast for Docs Ireland presentations and other screening events.
• WORM RotterdamminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational venue partnership for Spirit Messages touring programme in the Netherlands.
• FilmformminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Swedish artist film distributor for touring programmes and collaborative events in Sweden.
• Cork International Film FestivalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual partnership for experimental shorts programmes and venue presentations at CIFF.
• Temple Bar Gallery + StudiosmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership for Rough Cut sessions, artist talks, and collaborative programming including DISSOLUTIONS festival venue.
• GAZE LGBTQIA+ International Film FestivalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual partnership for queer film programming including collaborative screenings with GAZE festival.
• LUX ScotlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for 2019 touring programme presentations in Glasgow with CCA Glasgow.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Canadian Filmmakers Distribution Centre (CFMDC): CFMDC is a Toronto-based non-profit that distributes independent and experimental Canadian film. Comparable as a regional moving image distributor with a curated catalogue and touring/exhibition model similar to aemi's touring programmes.
• Video Data Bank: Video Data Bank is a Chicago-based non-profit distributor and resource for video and new media art. Comparable as an artist moving image distribution organization with educational programming and curated exhibitions aligned to aemi's mission.
• Cinenova: Cinenova is a UK-based non-profit distributing and screening work by women and underrepresented filmmakers. Comparable as an artist-film distribution and exhibition organization with similar mission-driven, grant-funded operating model.
• LUX: LUX is a London-based non-profit that supports and exhibits artists' moving image work, with a distribution catalogue, commissioning programme, and education initiatives. Directly comparable to aemi as a mission-aligned moving image organization offering similar artist support, exhibition, and education activities in a different national market.
• Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI): EAI is a New York-based non-profit that distributes and exhibits video and media art by artists, with educational programmes. Comparable as a long-established artist moving image distribution and exhibition organization with similar artist support and curatorial activities.
• LUX Scotland: LUX Scotland is a Glasgow-based organization commissioning and exhibiting artists' moving image in Scotland. Comparable as a regional moving image organization with similar artist development, exhibition, and touring activities; also an existing aemi programming partner.
• Light Cone: Light Cone is a French non-profit dedicated to experimental cinema, distributing and screening artists' films internationally. Comparable as a non-profit distributor/curator of experimental and artist film with a touring/projection programme analogous to aemi's touring selections.
• Arsenal – Institute for Film and Video Art: Arsenal is a Berlin-based institute for film and video art that distributes, restores, and exhibits artist and experimental cinema. Comparable as a mission-driven film exhibition and distribution organization with curated programming and international touring similar to aemi.
• Filmform: Filmform is a Swedish non-profit that distributes and promotes Swedish and international artist film. Comparable as a regional moving image distributor and curatorial partner; Filmform is also an existing aemi touring partner, indicating direct operational overlap.

Broad incumbents

• Irish Film Institute (IFI): IFI is Ireland's national film archive and exhibitor, operating screens and heritage programmes in Dublin. Comparable as a larger established film exhibition institution in Ireland that partners with aemi on artist film programming, operating at greater scale and with broader film programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aemi_ie
• Facebookfacebook.com/aemiArtistsExperimentalMovingImage
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aemi-artists-experimental-moving-image

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Artists and Experimental Moving Image