The Sofia International Film Festival is managed by Art Fest. It is organized under the auspices of the Municipality of Sofia and supported by the Ministry of Culture of Bulgaria, the National Film Center, the National Palace of Culture, Bulgarian National Television (BNT), the MEDIA Programme of the European Union, and a number of national and foreign cultural institutions and sponsors. In 2010, the Sofia Film Fest was accredited by the FIAPF as a competitive specialized film festival for first and second feature films.
The main goal of the Sofia International Film Festival is to introduce Bulgarian audiences to the current wold cinema trends and to promote the latest in Bulgarian cinema. Since 1997 the festival has screened over 1,600 feature films and documentaries. It brings together famous filmmakers and actors, journalists and film critics, up-and-coming film directors and cinema fans, providing an exhilarating experience to everyone in attendance.
The Sofia Film Festival hosts the International Competition for first and second films. The best film in the selection is awarded the Grand Prix “Sofia City of Film”, a diploma and prize money provided by the Municipality of Sofia. Other prizes awarded at the festival include Lidl Audience Award, Special Jury Award, Best Director Award, Best Bulgarian Feature Film Award, Best Bulgarian Short Film Award, Best Documentary Award, Best Balkan Film Award, FIPRESCI Award, UBFM’s Film Critics Guild Award, Young Jury Award, and Special Mentions.
Alongside competition screenings, the program of the Sofia Film Fest includes a selection of curated sections and special screenings such as tributes to outstanding filmmakers, spotlights on different countries and regions, Cinema Politica, Film and Fashion, Sofia Film Fest for Kids, etc. The festival also hosts Sofia Meetings, a co-production market consisting of two separate programs, Feature Film Pitching and Balkan Screenings/Work in Progress.
Photo: siff.bg
