In the Spotlight today is the 35th Warsaw Film Festival(WFF), named by MovieMaker Magazineas one of the top “50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee” in 2019. Originally founded by a group of passionate students, this competitive film festival has grown to be a leading venue for European premieres that push the boundaries of storytelling. WFF is dedicated to ensuring that European audiences are quickly acquainted with latest and most interesting trends in world cinema at the get go. WFF audiences – the first audiences in Poland – discover American independent cinema as well as Asian, Latin American, Iranian, Russian, and Romanian cinema through WFF progressive showcase.
Warsaw Film Festival welcomes filmmakers to submit Features, Documentaries and Shorts. The Regular entry fee (until July 15) is ?20 Euro for Features and Feature-length Documentaries, and just ?5 Euro for Shorts and Short-length Documentaries. Filmmakers are invited to consider five competition categories for submission: International Competition for films from all over the world with Warsaw Grand Prix of approximately 22,000 Euro that goes to the Director. Other competitions include: Competition 1-2, for first and second feature films by directors from all over the world; and Free Spirit Competition for independent, innovative, rebellious films from all over the world, Documentary Competition and Short Film Competition. All competitive sections are juried for cash award. With great opportunities abound, it’s no wonder Hollywood Reporter named WFF “the go-to event.”
Warsaw Film Festival prides itself on discovering new talent and to introduce a director to Warsaw audiences before they are discovered. The Festival does not chase filmmakers who are already have acclaimed careers. Some of the most amazing directors, like Michael Haneke, Cristian Mungiu, Pawel Pawlikowski, Ari Folman, Asghar Farhadi, Lenny Abrahamson and hundreds of others, screened their films at WFF early in their career.
MISSION & OBJECTIVE The Warsaw Film Festival (WFF) is organized by the Warsaw Film Foundation in Warsaw, Poland. Its aim is to present the best films from all over the world to Polish and international audience, and to encourage better communication and understanding between people living in different countries and of different cultural backgrounds.
MORE ABOUT THE FESTIVAL Each year the festival hosts young film critics under the age of 30 looking to experience a first look at films they would not otherwise see. Young writers are provided lodging, workshops and event get to shadow an assigned mentor that will show them the ropes of the film circuit. Entering its thirty fourth year, the program is distinctly unique opportunity to meet the most interesting contemporary filmmakers from all over the world face-to-face.
Submissions for Warsaw Film Festival close on July 31 – qualify your film today!
