Warsaw Film Festival (Polish: Warszawski Festiwal Filmowy) is a major film festival held every October in Warsaw, Poland. The festival has been held every year since 1985.
The festival is host to the International Federation of Film Critics awards for enterprising filmmaking in Central Europe and beyond (i.e. Denmark and Israel). The 30th edition took place between 10 October to 19 October 2014.
The programme consists of the following sections:
The International Competition – premiering competition for international features
1–2 Competition – for 1st and 2nd feature films
Free Spirit Competition - competition for independent, innovative, rebellious feature length fiction and documentary films from all over the world.
Documentary Competition
Shorts Competition - For narrative, documentary and animated shorts (up to 40 minutes) from all over the world. Winners are Academy Awards eligible.
Special Screenings - non competitive section dedicated to acclaimed filmmakers from all over the world
Discoveries
Family Cinema Weekend
All the films presented, regardless of the section (competitive or non-competitive), are eligible for the Audience Award.
International Competition Jury
The Competition 1–2 Jury
Free Spirit Competition Jury
Documentary Competition Jury
Shorts Competition Jury
Jury FIPRESCI
Jury NETPAC
Ecumenical jury - by SIGNIS
1985 – Film Discussion Club "Hybrydy" founds the festival, originally named Warsaw Film Week. Festival's creator Roman Gutek becomes its first director.
1991 – Stefan Laudyn becomes new director of the festival and name Warsaw Film Week changes to Warsaw Film Festival.
1995 – festival is being organised by Warsaw Film Found for the first time
2000 – festival gets accreditation from FIAPF and changes its name again into Warsaw International Film Festival
2005 – for the first time FIAPF juror gives special awards during Warsaw International Film Festival
2009 – FIAPF adds Warsaw International Film Festival to a group of international contest festival (which other members are Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Locarno, San Sebastian, Mar del Plata, Karlovy Vary, Montreal, Cairo, Moscow, Tokyo and Shanghai)
