Sofia International Film Festival (Sofia IFF) is the biggest competitive film festival in Bulgaria, accredited by FIAPF and announced by Variety as one of the top 50 unmissable film events in the world.

The festival not only presents new Bulgarian and Balkan films to an international audience, but also introduces more and more international films from the festival circuit to the local audience. The festival's importance is growing as constantly new activities are being developed on an international level.

Sofia City of Film Grand Prix for Best Film in the International Competition (goes to the director and producer of the film);
Special Jury Award for film in the International Competition (goes to the director of the film);
Award for Best Director (goes to the director of the film);
Jameson Short Film Award for Best Bulgarian Short Film (goes to the director of the film);
the Award for Best Balkan Film (goes to the director of the film).
Best Bulgarian Film Jury of three members of representatives of international film festivals will decide the Award for Best Bulgarian Feature Film.
International Documentary Jury of three members will decide the Award for Best Documentary Film.
FIPRESCI will appoint a jury of 3 members to decide the award for a film, selected from a special list of films published in the festival catalogue and on the festival website (goes to the director of the film).
Audience award
Young Jury award

International Competition – first or second feature fiction films of the directors, produced after January 1st 2023, worldwide.
Balkan Competition – regional feature fiction films are eligible for the section (Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey), produced after January 1st 2023.
International Documentary Competition – feature documentaries, worldwide, produced after 1st January 2023.
Jameson Short Film Award for Best Bulgarian Short Film – Bulgarian short films produced after January 1st 2023 with length no longer than 30 minutes.
Non-competitive programme: Feature fiction films and documentaries from all over the world produced after January 1st 2023.
NB! Short films are no longer accepted by the festival! The international short programme is by invitations only!

Documents and Other Requisite Items

Fill out entry form;
Provide the film on the DVD Pal with English subtitles or secured online screener.
Sofia IFF will cover all costs connected with the transportation of prints of the films selected for the International Competition to Sofia and back to the address given by the producer (airport) in case the film does not have another destination. Sofia IFF will cover one way of the costs connected with the transportation of the film prints of the other Festival programmes. Sofia IFF will cover all the expenses connected with the storage and insurance of the films during the Festival.

Audio language: original
Subtitles language: English

Screening Media Type: DCP; Blu-ray and HD file on exceptional occasions