Blog: Film festivals

What's the DIFF?

... It's the DaVinci International Film Festival (DIFF), but also one of the biggest question filmmakers will ask themselves as they browse and filter through dozens, if not hundreds of online film festivals — what makes DIFF unique from the others?

Leonardo da Vinci was the epitome of the divergent and creative mind, and so we aim to recognize much of the same within our industry.

Like many online festivals, we set out to honor the best in independent cinema from around the world, and have expanded our Award Categories to recognize many below-the-liners who largely go unnoticed and unrewarded. We seek the unsung heroes here at DaVinci. From best in editing, color correction, sound design, to theatrical creative and P&A; at DIFF, we shine the light on many of those who work silently, yet play an important role in getting your project to this very stage.

DIFF founders are intimately familiar with, and appreciate the full cycle of, independent filmmaking and the demands therein. From perils of financing, through the distribution of any given work — the process is often complex and unforgiving. Most of these creative projects can take a short lifetime to complete, and whether or not your work is ‘accepted’ at DIFF, we wish to congratulate and encourage you to keep pressing forward.

Another standout at DIFF, is that we are now offering development Options for our top three unscripted competition winners (per category), which will afford them an amazing opportunity to put their projects in front of networks and industry decision-makers.

FESTIVAL FORMAT

DIFF hosts a QUARTERLY online festival series for all of our categories. Winners of the "Vitruvian Man" Award will be invited to our Live Showcase Event at the end of the calendar year, and their shot at "The Leo" Award -- our most prized commendation. Films will screen at our red carpet event for family, friends, and industry professionals, followed by filmmaker Q&A and an After Party, where our sponsors will present "The Leo" to our winner.

Thank you for your submission.

DaVinci Film Festival