Open Sochi International Film Festival & Awards (SIFFA)

About

Amidst the corporate globalisation of different cultures and domination of media coverage of all aspects of our lives leading to misconceptions and prejudices, one art form continues to span the divide between nations around the globe.

That art form is the international language of film.

Our aim is to bring together the diversity of craft and story-telling in this unifying creative expression through the lens of cameras at the beautiful Olympic city of Sochi.

In a world becoming increasingly fragmented by confrontation and insecurity, our mission is to build a cultural bridge between Russia and Britain and the world; to promote the universal appeal of visual narrative, human experiences and dramatic interpretation, and to impart a powerful message of hope for humankind.

Cinema has the power to change opinions, create an atmosphere of harmony and peace and touch people of all ethnicities in a human way that reminds us that there is more that connects us than divides us emotionally, spiritually and culturally.

Join the SIFFA celebration of cinema with your entry and grace us with your presence as we show the rest of the world how to display open minds and hearts of gold on the silver screen.

Awards

The Big Jury awards the IRIS statue to Main Competition films: 

• Main Prize - best film (awarded to the film’s producer);
• Jury's Special Prize - (awarded per Jury decision);
• Best Director;
• Best Actor;
• Best Actress;
• Best Documentary;
• Best Short Film.

SIFFA organizing committee and management shall award the following prizes:

• President’s Award – Best Film (by decision of the Festival President);
• Contribution to world cinema;
• Contribution to building bridges between countries and peoples;
• Vera Glagoleva prize for achievements in world cinema;
• Prize – CELEBRATING LIFE AND HONORING great representatives of world cinema who have left us forever. 

The festival is unique in that it invites the winners as well as films selected by SIFFA Management to Great Britain to a screening before the British audience as part of the SECOND SOCHI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AND AWARDS IN GREAT BRITAIN WEEK the following year, in 2020. 
Winners are expected to attend the London award ceremonies personally. Also, every attendee of the previous year's Festival edition is invited to attend the SIFFA Week in Great Britain at their own expense. Accreditation requests must be made in advance.

Rules

• Only films that have not been publicly screened in the Russian Federation prior to the Festival are eligible for the Festival’s competition program. SIFFA Management may select films that have already shown at other film festivals at its discretion if it considers the film to be of outstanding quality.
• Competition programs include only feature and short films that finished production after November 2018.
• Preference is given to world and international premieres.

If you are interested in participating in the Festival’s competition program please fill out the form and submit it for SIFFA Management's consideration online as stipulated on the site (https://www.sochifilmawards.com/ru/submissions/submit-your-film).
The entry form for every film confirming attendance at SIFFA must be received by SIFFA Management no later than October 15, 2019.
The following documents shall also be submitted to SIFFA Management: 

• Full text of the film in the original language as well as in one of the following languages: Russian, English; 
• Subtitle cue sheet in English;
• Synopsis, marketing materials, press kit;
• Trailer and shots from the film;
• Materials to be included in the catalogue (information about film creators, pictures, including the picture of the director, film slides).

Subtitles: English

Premiere Requirements

National premiere required.