Blog: Film festivals

Festival Vic Film is a movies celebration in the capital of Tamaulipas that was born in 2018 by local filmmakers interested in film development and professionalization in both Victoria City and the rest of our state and region.

After all the changes due to the pandemic, we keep the idea of having an hybrid fifth edition with short films playing online in a limited geolocated way during the festival, as well as the competing features playing live with an audience. Contest is extended to national in the features, short films & script sections but we also have a special section focused in regional short films (Tamaulipas, Nuevo León & Coahuila), and amateur / student shorts from Tamaulipas.

Also INTERNATIONAL section is open in two categories: all kind of short films (must include subtitles in Spanish), and family short films without dialogues (if possible, we'll try to show the family shorts in a public Plaza as we did in the first 2 editions).

In addition we have guests and a movie workshop online. Festival Vic Film Festival seeks to be a meeting point between filmmakers and the general public, where links are created that allow the growth of production in our region. We understand cinema in its broadest sense, which ranges from formal productions to those works made in total independence, with little budget but a clear sense of expressing itself through moving images and sound.

All our screenings and events are free to the public.

Discovery Film Festival: Scotland's International Film Festival For Young Audiences

Sat 21 October – Sun 5 November 2023

Discovery Film Festival is now in its twentieth anniversary year. Based at Dundee Contemporary Arts, and touring to partner venues throughout Scotland, the UK and Ireland, the festival screens films from all over the world which have been specially programmed for young audiences.

The festival includes three exciting weekends of films, creative activities, and gala events, as well as two weeks of screenings and events for schools.

Discovery aims to develop new audiences for the best in international film, improve media literacy and offer young audiences an insight into the lives of children and young people in other cultures. The festival has been running since 2004 when it was started as a partnership with Dundee Education Development Department, Scottish Screen and DCA.

Discovery Film Festival is a DCA project and is organised by Mike Tait, Festival Producer and Cinema Youth Development Officer. A team of Young Ambassadors (aged 15-19) work with Mike to programme films and advise on the overall design of the festival. A team of teachers and education consultants advise on the education programme and create Curriculum for Excellence relevant resources for classes visiting the festival.

Discovery would like to thank Creative Scotland and Dundee City Council for their ongoing support.

If you would like to support Discovery, become a partner venue or just get involved, email Mike on mike.tait@dca.org.uk.

The Arctic International Film Festival "Golden Raven" is being held annually on the territory of the Chukotka Autonomous Region and is the professional competitive screening of cinematic works from around the world. The dates of the festival are agreed annually.

The 9th Arctic International Film Festival "Golden Raven" will take place from April 07 to April 20,2025.

The festival sets its goals and objectives as following:

• search and promotion of the best modern films related to the Arctic and reflecting various aspects of life in this region;

• attracting the attention of the public and professional community to the topics relevant to the Arctic including ecology, interethnic relations, the continuity of generations, the preservation of traditions and culture, etc.;

• creation of a communication channel and strengthening of cooperation between Russia and the world community through the territories and cultural space of the Far North of the Russian Federation;

• popularization of event and ecological tourism on the territory of the Chukotka Autonomous Region;

• creation and development of a comfortable environment for residents of the Chukotka Autonomous Region;

• development of the film production infrastructure, as well as promotion of the Chukotka Autonomous Region as an attractive and comfortable location for filmmaking;

• search and support of young talented filmmakers creating films in the Arctic region;

• preservation and popularization of the cultural heritage of the indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East.

The Festival is being held by the Youth Initiative Production Center, by the Committee for Culture, Sport and Tourism of the Chukotka Autonomous Region, by the Center of Development and Support of Cultural Projects "Golden Raven" and is supported by Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, the Governor of the Chukotka Autonomous Region, Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives, the Government of the Chukotka Autonomous Region, the Russian Filmmakers’ Union, AU CHAO Okrkinovideoprokat.

The Festival is composed of the following competition sections:

• international competitive selection of full-length feature and documentary films;

• international competitive selection of short feature films;

• international competitive selection of short documentary films;

• international competitive selection of short animation films;

• regional competitive selection "FilmRising!".

Out-of-competition program of the Festival includes:

• full-length and short films;

• animated films;

• other media content at the discretion of the Organizing Committee of the Festival.


The Festival "Golden Raven" is distinguished by the fact that the winners in the main category (The Grand Prix) are chosen not by a jury of experts, but by the viewers, who take part in preferential voting.

The Festival's expert jury includes professional filmmakers from Russia and abroad, and it chooses the winners in the other categories.

Submissions to the Festival will be accepted to December 20, 2024.

Russian submissions are entered online at the Festival’s official web site http://goldenravenfilmfest.ru/ and it is obligatory to send all the materials to section https://goldenravenfilmfest.ru/zayavka.
Foreign submissions are entered for Selection committee via one of online-platforms including Festhome (https://festhome.com/festival/the-golden-raven-international-arctic-film-festival).

The submission to the competitive sections is free.

The Selection Committee of the Festival will make its final decisions no later than on March 15, 2025.

The Festival’s Artistic Director is Philipp Abryutin.

The Lead Festival’s Producer is Oksana Lakhno.

The Program Director is Alexander Solomonov.

Contact information of the Organizing Committee:
Web: www.goldenravenfilmfest.ru
E-mail: goldenravenfilmfest@yandex.ru
ANO Center for Development and Support of Cultural Projects "Golden Raven"
123056 Russian Federation, Moscow,
Vassilievskaya str., 13, building 1, office 9
Tel.: +7(499)250-89-55

The 10th edition of PerSo – Perugia Social Film Festival will take place in Perugia from 27 to 29 September and from 3 to 8 October 2024.

"Concept". The Festival describes the complexity of our world through films and stories that talk about us and that are touching, deep and inspiring. Important and high-quality movies are selected from the most famous international festivals and are presented by their authors and protagonists. PerSo is a festival where the audience and the artists, well-known directors and young emerging ones, can meet and share experiences. It is a festival of dialogue about cinema, social issues, artistic research, divulgation and entertainment.

"The Festival at a glance". One city, four movie theatres, six competition categories, the PerSo Lab aimed to professionally develop young film-makers and support new productions, the PerSo Award (Italian premieres) and the Masterpieces (the best documentaries of the year), the movies shown at the Perugia-Capanne prison, the events dedicated to the world of psychiatry and sound documentaries, the PerSo Off, that refers to concerts, events and meetings.

Each edition offers more than 50 free entry events and welcomes 70 guests: directors, producers, judges, celebrities, staff members and volunteers.

PerSo FF is organised by RealMente Ngo, in collaboration with Foundation “La Città del Sole” – Onlus, in the fascinating medieval city of Perugia.

Pandemic Film Week, held for the first time in Mexico. Dedicated to collecting and screening films that address the issue of the Covid-19 Pandemic.

The 3rd Monaco Streaming Film Festival, an annual international film festival held in Monte-Carlo.

The Streaming Film Festival celebrates the global film and content streaming industry, the producers, creators and talent; providing film and content production industry inside know-how. The Festival celebrates film and inclusive and diverse content making from all over the world.

The Festival was created as an environment for the streaming platforms, producers, creators, distributors, sales and the technology providers behind VOD to meet, plan, celebrate and network. The Festival includes industry keynote presentations and panel discussions on the successes, opportunities and future of streaming and on-demand content and distribution.

The Festival Hosts the following sections:
- Film & Content Premieres: The festival hosts a number of films, content screenings and premieres
- Award Competition
- Film and Content Market
- Masterclasses
- Conferences

Governmental Organisations, and the world’s first festival of films on international development by young directors.

Festival Aims
Encourage filmmakers/creatives to work together to raise awareness of the Three Pillars of Freedom through screening of films created around these themes.

Three Pillars of Freedom and the Environment
* Freedom from want: Through the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals
* Freedom from fear: Through efforts to bring about collective security and peace.
* Freedom to live in dignity: Through the application of justice for all, from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Development: poverty, shelter, healthcare, education, gender, governance, finance

Human Security: conflict prevention, conflict resolution, peacekeeping, shelter, migration

Human Rights: gender, education, dignity, participation

Environment: ecological issues, preparation for and consequences of natural disaster, sustainability, new technologies

Short films: any of the above

Young Film Makers: under 25 years

LIMA ALTERNA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL is a Peruvian film event that disseminates the best alternative, independent and auteur cinema from all over the world. It invites Lima's audience to discover the current panorama of cinema at a global level in the different filmmaking aspects that are being developed.

This call addresses every person, collective, agencies, exhibitions and producers that have produced and/or own the exhibition rights of audivisual pieces of short length and of documentary, argumentative, experimental and videoart nature; on movie film, video or animation formats.

In 2024, this event will take place from August 13 to 17 in Barranquilla, Colombia. You are all welcome to visit us!

Around International Awards ✈ Barcelona ✈ Paris ✈ Amsterdam ✈ Berlin.
Annual Independent event with 4 major programs for all Features, Shorts, Documentaries, Experimental, Commercial, Music Video, Animations, Student Films, TV, Series, and New Media. The international community evaluates the all-genre creations to serve ARFF Official Laurels and to certify the awarded filmmakers at the end of the annual festival run. Thus, all the ARFF Finalists will be mentioned multiple times to have the best out of the entire year altogether. Submit today to participate in all 4 programs, regarding the unique system of ARFF International. Submissions made via Festhome are getting evaluated and selected, directly for the yearly festival run and participating in the Official Certificate Program exclusively. Monthly selection is available on other associated platforms.

See you Around & Fest Regards

18th. Crossroads International Film Festival

"18 years: Success, Memories, Unforgettable!"

The prestigious Crossroads International Short Film Festival, now in its 18th year, is a competition and festival aimed at displaying the imaginative works of short filmmakers who explore the issue of "REDUCED INEQUALITIES: Reducing discrimination aimed towards women and girls" through their cinematic endeavours.

We will have open-air screenings of the final films in more than 20 cities. We will reward the winning films in December with a prestigious gala night in Istanbul, Turkey.

This festival is a project of the Istanbul Branch of the Young Leaders and Entrepreneurs Association, a non-profit organization affiliated with Junior Chamber International.

15th Medium-Length International Film Festival LA CABINA, taking place in València (Spain) between 8th and 18th November 2022.

“African in films” is the International African Film Festival and of television during which various filmmakers meet for the presentation of the best current productions, with competitions in all categories dedicated.

“We are dedicated to identifying new talent and the making-of of African movies. The Paris International African Film Festival is an emblematic cultural event, well received by professionals, awaited by a curious and enthusiastic public, supported by many partners and personalities” according to Blaise Pascal Tanguy, its General Delegate.

The specific objectives are among others:

- Promote professionalism in the cinema profession among Africans and;
- Promote the involvement of advertisers and sponsors within the framework of the AFSC;
- Encourage the networking of African and Afro-descendant professionals of all persuasions having a link with the profession of filmmaker.

Today, the existence of numerous festivals organized on and outside the continent to promote films from Africans and Afro-descendants are a step decisive towards the development of a true cinematographic industry local. Festivals held outside the continent are, in this respect, encouraging experiences of an Africa that meets other cultures, enriched by the contributions of Afro-descendants, for the great “rendez vous of giving and receiving”. It is in line with this noble ambition that “African in films” which will be at its 5th edition in October 2023 at Paris, was born.

The screenings will take place in "Ways to Live" - Calle de Raimundo Lulio 10 de Madrid.

Saraqusta Film Festival is a film and tv series festival about the historical genre in its broadest sense. It was created with the aim of exhibiting and promoting feature films, documentaries and series using the past and the historical context as a common thread.

Submissions are open to Spanish and International works, real-image or animated that deal with the historical genre or whose theme, context or set design are historical or refer to a period of the past.

SMR13 INTERNATIONAL INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL

The SMR13 International Independent Film Festival is an annual, IMDb-certified, four (4)-day event held in the second half of November, in Saint-Mitre-Les-Remparts, in the south of France, near Marseille.

First and foremost, it's a physical festival, taking place in "La Manare", a dedicated performance hall with a total surface area of 1000m² and a capacity of 250 spectators.

The 9th edition of the SMR13 international independent film festival will take place from November XX to XX, 2024.

The festival stands out for its highly developed network, passionate members and trusted partnerships. It is a unique showcase for independent cinema, attracting professionals from all over the world.

Since its inception, the festival has been supported by a patron, an emblematic figure in independent cinema. John Carpenter (2018), director, screenwriter and composer (Halloween, The Thing, New York 1997...). Andréa Ferréol (2019), actress (La Grande Bouffe, Le Dernier Métro, La Scoumoune...). Francis Ford Coppola (2019), director and screenwriter (Godfather, Apocalypse Now, Dracula...). Virginie Lemoine (2020), actress (Famille d'Accueil, Nos années parallèles, Oscar...). Sean S. Cunningham (2021), director and producer (Friday The 13th, Spring Break, DeepStar Six...). Patrice Leconte (2022 and 2023), director and producer (Les Bronzés, Les Spécialistes, Maigret...).

A Night of Misfit Films Film Festival, presented by Full Figure Productions announces the sixth edition of A Night of Misfit Films Film Festival held at High Octane Picture Studios 9096 E Bahia Dr. Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Founded by Dineta Williams-Trigg a filmmaker and actress, A Night of Misfit Films came out of a desire to see more diverse content in the Valley of the Sun community. The festival celebrates the artistic talent of all filmmakers and artists by focusing on original content that has not been screened at other festivals.

A Night of Misfit films is in association with the Lebanese Independent Film Festival - LIFF and co-directed by Gauthier Raad and FFF Film Festival.

THE INTERNATIONAL FILM AND TELEVISION FESTIVAL ”SIMFEST” - 2024

SIMFEST is a TV and film festival – competition, the only one of this kind in Romania and one of the few in Europe. It is organized every year by "SIMFEST Cultural Association", which supports and promotes the creators in visual arts.

SIMFEST stands for professionalism and for the freedom of expression of the journalists and the media producers. The festival promotes, at the same time, local journalism and community mass-media.

It is a complex manifestation for electronic mass-media. It is the annual meeting point of the TV's and film’s world specialists from Romania and from other countries, of students, independent producers, and of media enthusiasts; it is a competition that it's designed to find and form values and talents, to give them the needed validation and for connecting them with the medium in which they can develop. It is a competition and, at the same time, a media school and a cultural event.

The SIMFEST components are:

- The Competition
- The Summer School for journalists and media creators
- The official program of the festival

The Competition is opened to all the media creators, reporters, cameramen and media producers from Romania but also from other countries, but is also opened to freelancers, to students and territorial correspondents of central televisions, production houses, as well as to all multimedia creators. It has eight sections.

- PUBLISHING (REPORTAGE/ DOCUMENTARY/ INQUIRY/ ESSAY / TALK-SHOW etc.)
- ENTERTAINMENT
- VIDEO
- MULTIMEDIA
- STUDENT PROJECTS FICTION
- STUDENT PROJECT NONFICTION
- TOURISTIC MOVIE
- FICTION SHORT MOVIE
- FICTION FEATURE FILM (LONG MOVIE)
- ANIMATION

The jury of the competition consists out of well-known personalities in the field of journalism, TV and cinema from Romania and from other countries.

The Summer School for journalists and media creators was founded and included within the festival in 2007, and through it, SIMFEST became in the past few years the only institution in the country of non-formal education of media creators, especially from the audiovisual section.

The journalists Romeo Couți and Brândușa Armanca (TVR), the writer Bogdan Hrib, Assoc. Prof. PhD. Ion Stavre (SNSPA), Assoc. Prof. PhD. Lucian Ionică (West University of Timișoara), the director Ștefan Fischer (Germany), Charles Fletcher, MBE (Scotland), TV producer Codruț Pânzaru, TV producer Tamas Barok (Hungary), the director Copel Moscu (UNATC Bucharest), Iulia Badea Gueritee and Raymond Clarinard (Courrier International Paris), Beata Biel (Google expert, Poland), Ovidiu Gyarmath (Director of photography), Prof. PhD. Laura Baron (UNATC Bucharest), great Romanian actors like Marcel Iures and Dan Puric and many others held lectures and led workshops or held masterclasses within the Summer School.

The official program of the festival is available for the public with the purpose to, on one hand, construct a way of communication between the creators of media and those whom they serve: the consumers of information in order for the audience to correctly understand the messages transmitted through mass-media. On the other hand, it offers a space of free expression and a non-formal platform for professional development for the journalists and filmmakers. Therefore, SIMFEST is a festival not only a TV and film competition but also a cultural complex. The 2024 program consists of – beside others:

• Public projections of the productions sent in for the competition in the presence of the creators, followed by debates

• Online screening of the submitted productions (with the allowance of the owners)

• Public projections of Romanian movies inside of The Days of the Romanian Cinematography

• Public projections of movies and documentaries made by special guests of the festival

• Anniversary events dedicated to the supporters (sponsors, partners, volunteers etc)

• Gala of the laureates including musical recitals and poems (streamed online)

International recognition: SIMFEST is known and recognized in the Romanian mass-media as a role model in the promotion of artists' free expression and for the promotion and being an advocate of real media professionalism. Most of the creators attending SIMFEST for the past years, have also won international recognition at competitions organized in Sibiu, Prague, Belgrade, Bucharest, London, Kishinaw and Tel Aviv. SIMFEST is also in collaboration or in partnership with other similar manifestations: CRONOGRAF Chishinaw, DETECTIVEFEST Moskow, CINEPOLITICA Bucharest etc.

The CINALFAMA FILM OBSERVATORY, held in a historic neighborhood, emerges as a transformative cultural initiative that strengthens the community network. By showing independent films, the project not only widens access to alternative and innovative narratives but also stimulates cultural engagement among residents, fostering a sense of identity and belonging.

This regular event, which takes place at Museu do Fado Auditorium, becomes a meeting point where generations cross paths, sharing experiences and reflections that transcend mere film viewing. In addition, by being located in a neighborhood with a rich historical heritage, the observatory revitalizes the urban space, attracting visitors and enhancing the appreciation of the local heritage, generating a very positive cultural dynamic

The Cinalfama Film Observatory is a regular cinema competition in January, April, and October.

The winning films of each of the three editions (Jan, Apr, Oct), will be showcased in our annual outdoor cinema event, Cinalfama Lisbon International Film Festival, in July 2025.