Launched by Art Project 59 in the spring of 2005 at 59 Franklin Street in Tribeca, the 59 Seconds Video Festival is an alternative research festival and one time project.

Through a series of open calls, artists were encouraged to submit 59 seconds long works that incorporated number 59 in any manner. 59 videos a time, 59 seconds each were shown to 59 audiences around the globe. Their rankings were then used to select the 59 best videos.

59 Seconds Festival is a play off as well as a metaphor for the short video format. While sampling an emerging international video art scene, it developed a network and popularization of participating artists while introducing as broad an international audience as possible to a unique collection of works and providing an exchange of ideas and information.

59 Seconds Video Festival is part of ongoing Art Project 59, where a random prime number is used as a tool for artistic approaches. The Video Festival is completed but videos, incorporating number 59 in any manner (and 59 seconds long), are always welcome.

In 2008 a not-for-profit organization Project 59, Inc. was founded. This organization is taking care of production and distribution of the catalogue and DVD for the 59 Seconds Video Festival.