The film festival is a very important part of the film industry, many distribution deals come about as a result of meetings held at film festivals. They are also a place where many great film collaborations have started. They provide a forum for films of all genres and nations to be screened and seen by the rest of the industry and media alike. They also provide a contact point for anyone wanting to break in to the film industry, along with a place where film fans, can see great films and meet their creators.

Below is a list of the film festivals for 2007-2008, More will be added as the dates are confirmed. Many of the festivals are open to the general public, full contact details can be found for each festival below.

Fest organizers say: "The principal objective of the non-conventional CIFFT Festival is to maintain an international platform encouraging global tourism through the audio-visual media. The CIFFT competition ought to upgrade the audio-visual artwork in its creative and marketing-oriented presentation. It successfully sustains the line of promoting the tourism film knowledge through press and other media. Taking place annually this 'Festival of the Festivals' awards the Grand Prix CIFFT to the worldbest tourism film."

Fest organizers say: "Please visit our website. Only entry forms sent over the Internet will be accepted. Each participant will get their own page on our website with the description of their film and the participation status of their film during the festival."

(September 2007)
OKLAJI
Siroki Brijeg
Bosnia and Herzegovina
tel: (387) 6345-5125
e-mail: cima@net.hr
website: www.danifilma.com
contact: Tomislav Topic
deadline: TBA
formats: 35mm, Beta SP, mini DV, DVcam
categories: doc, exp, retro, shorts
no fee
competitive
 

Fest organizer say: "The festival is a precursor to new relations in the world of culture. There is no elitism, no VIP lounges, nor any types of privileges for anyone."

Fest organizers say: "Featuring fresh independent films and the hottest new filmmaking talent in one of Europe's oldest and most enchanting cities."

(September 2007)
tel: (420-7) 7601-2369
fax: (420-5) 6733-3812
e-mail: office@dokument-festival.cz
website: www.dokument-festival.cz
contact: Alena Marcová
deadline: TBA
categories: dig, doc, edu, exp, flf, gen, newtech, shorts
formats: 35mm, 16mm, beta, DV, DVcam
no fee
competitive

Fest organizers say: "EXTRA: The Baltic Sea Forum - a unique cofinancing and selling point with a pitching of ideas to an international panel of commissioning editors."

Fest organizers say: "KynnysKINO5 invites all film and video makers who have personal experience on disability. We also present the invitation to professional filmmakers and students finding partners with disabilities with whom to take part in the competition."

Fest organizers say: "New local directors have the opportunity to participate with their film in an International Film Festival, to be awarded and to get together with Hollywood people."

Fest organizers say: "We do award the films but the general aim of the Himalayan Film Festival is to promote documentary cinema and to give credit to films or videos dealing with the Himalayan region in a wide sense of the term. The festival provides an opportunity for exchange of films and videos and for seeking ways for their broader use. The festival is meant to be a chance for authors, owners and distributors, but also for users to exchange their views at the screenings and following discussions, as well as at additional specialised events which may be an integral part of the festival."

Fest organizers say: "The Shadow Festival highlights a critical selection of creative documentaries which display the signature or authorship of the filmmaker. Extended discussion periods after each screening allow the public to come closer to the complex decisions faced by the filmmaker. The submitted films must not have screened before in Holland."

Fest organizers say: "We present approximately 45 features and 8 documentaries. Our event is the only international feature-film fest in Hungary."

Fest organizers say: "The Irish Film & Television Awards are a platform to honour and celebrate outstanding Irish creativity, talent and achievement; and to set an Irish standard for young crafts people to aspire to in the future."

Fest organizers say: "This year the Monaco Int'l Film Fest-Celebration of Non-violent Films will televise its Angel Awards. It will be 'open to the public' with talent, filmmakers, screenwriters and other artists of independent vision attending the glamorous sponsored film parties and gala-evenings during the 4-day event with rockn' royalty, cinéphile from all over the world participating in sunny Monaco-Monte Carlo. Student discounts available, and for the winners, discounts are available on hotel accommodation in Monte Carlo and the nearest airport in Nice (France), 20 minutes away. For our Third Magic Festival - we the Organizers, are giving away 30 VIP-Festival passes valid for all film parties and Gala Awards Evening Party (not inluding airline tickets or hotel accommodations). QUESTION? Who was The Winner (which movie) of the 2004 BEST SOUNDTRACK AWARD in our festival? E-mail us now at: bentley@monacofilmfest.com or rosana@monacofilmfest.com. The Lucky Winner be contacted via email."

Fest organizers say: "Films from the South shall be known and recognized, in Norway and abroad, as a leading European festival for quality films from the three continents of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Our festival strives to provide Norwegian immigrants with a broader range of cultural events. Films from the South shall also work to increase Norwegians' understanding of other cultures and to bring out the nuances in our image of countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Through our activities, Films from the South shall introduce audiences to quality films produced outside the West."

Comments: "For the first time in Poland there will be animated competition on such a high level with a traditional award for student animation. The Anima section will give the Festival a new appearance and for audiences it will definitely be a great opportunity to become familiar with latest trends and techniques used by students as well as famous animators. In addition to prizes given in the Etudes and Animation competitions (Golden, Silver and Bronze Dinosaur or Golden, Silver and Bronze Jabberwocky respectively) there will also be Special Golden Dinosaur Award for the Outstanding Artist and Pedagogue."

Fest organizers say: "Affiliated member of the European Fantastic Film Festivals Federation (www.melies.org) and of the European Coordination of Festivals."

Fest organizers say: "Lisbon Village Festival is a cultural event for the digital generation that comprises: Village International Digital Cinema Festival®, Musical performances at Village Lounge, and Art exhibitions at Village Gallery. The Village International Digital Cinema Festival® is the main event as Portugal recently inaugurated the national Digital Cinema Network featuring movie on-demand. Not only does the network plays a very important role in redefining film distribution, but also promotes the creation of film in digital format."

Fest organizers say: "The works admitted for selection are those produced on January 1st, 2001 or after and cannot have been screened in Portugal."

(September 2007)
This fest is a biennial event.
Slovak Television
Mlynska dolina
845 45 Bratislava
Slovak Republic
tel: (421-2) 6061-2491
(421-2) 6061-2498
fax: (421-2) 6542-8609
e-mail: prixdanube@stv.sk
website: http://prixdanube.stv.sk
contact: Jela Kezmanova
deadline: TBA
theme: TV programs for children and youth
categories: kid, ani, flf, doc, shorts
formats: Betacam (PAL)
fee: $100
competitive and non-competitive sections

(November 2007)
CANKARJEV DOM
Presernova 10
SI-1000 Ljubljana
Slovenia
tel: (386-1) 241-7150
fax: (386-1) 241-7298
e-mail: jelka.stergel@cd-cc.si
website: www.ljubljanafilmfestival.org
contact: Jelka Stergel, Director/Brane Kodrin, Assistant brane.kodrin@cd-cc.si
tel: (386-1) 241-7174
deadline: TBA
categories: gen, flf, doc, shorts, retro
no fee