Festival Data:

• Established: 1999
• Genre: General
• Accreditations: FICC

• Competitive
• Film Market
• Catalog
• Has Panels
• Has Seminars

Festival Website:

Festival Description:

The International Festival of Film Societies was established in 1999, predicated on the belief that a nexus of diverse cultures, films and film associations from all corners of the world could provide a significant value for the exchange of ideas, the dissemination of a world view often marginalized by popular media and the opportunity for collaboration and development. 

Aside from a robust slate of films, discussion forums and an annual award ceremony, the festival also includes a film market in which the festival promotes films which are to be considered by film societies and non-profit cinemas.

The festival offers a wide selection of films, including both fiction and documentary (60 minutes or under). This selection carefully follows the program criteria of cultural exhibition offered to audiences worldwide through film societies and non-profit cinemas. Sections of the festivals are determined by the representatives of all the world's film societies affiliated to the International Federation of Film Societies (IFFS) which include: 

Section of Children's Films: An international selection of films made by children and for children, supervised by the German Bernt Lindner. 

Section Sebastiano Di Marco: A selection of Italian documentary. 

Section Cineclub New Network: A presentation of digital documentary films created by young authors from around the world that reveal an unusual look on the reality of their respective countries and show aspects of each country in a way the traditional news channels overlook. Each country where film clubs (Film Societies or Cine Clubs) exists or are going to be created, is entitled to select a film made in the way above described.

Ethnography Section: Dedicated to the cinema of anthropology and ethnography, this section will also be presented with a selection of films from regions involved in the preservation of cultural heritage and environment, with special attention to heritage sites by UNESCO.

Human Rights Section: A selection of films on Human Rights that reflect the mission that the FICC and the IFFS has pursued for years.  These cinematic themes identify the societies' goals which have included empowering people through the democratic process by educating, sharing strategies and engaging in an international and cross-cultural dialogue regarding the rights citizens and the duties of society.

Prize "Don Quixote": This is a program of films selected by the international jury composed of representatives of IFFS from prestigious festivals throughout the world. The section is competitive with the votes of each delegation, insuring winners to a substantial premium in terms of distribution support.

The annual awards ceremony will also honor a distinguished filmmaker each year with the Don Quijote LifeTime Award (given in cooperation with British Federation of Film Societies).

Film Submissions:

• Accepts direct submissions
• Call for Entry: http:/ / www.filmklubb.no/ IFFS.php?id=1950