35th Ljubljana International Film Festival - LIFFe

2024 marks the 35th edition of Liffe – the Ljubljana International Film Festival. For a number of years, the festival has featured the finest specimens of world cinema and winners of the most prominent festivals (Cannes, Rotterdam, Berlin, Venice, etc.) while bringing into spotlight the greatest achievements of national cinema. The number of its loyal audiences (between 44,000 and 50,000 visitors each year) has been increasing since the festival’s establishment in 1990. Liffe was founded by Jelka Stergel, its director of 17 years. Since March 2007, Simon Popek, an established film critic and publicist, and director of the film programme at Cankarjev dom, has served as Liffe’s Festival Director.

The festival’s aim is to encourage and promote young and emerging artists, predominantly European filmmakers, and bring them into dialogue with Slovenian audiences. Several awards are presented every year (Kingfisher Award for best young filmmaker; Best Short Film; Audience Award; FIPRESCI Prize). In recent years, applying digital innovation and educational programmes for young audiences have been important components of the festival whose mission remains the education of different age groups.

Liffe takes place at six venues in Ljubljana (Cankarjev dom’s Linhart and Kosovel Halls, Kinodvor, UL AGRFT Hall, the Slovenian Cinematheque and Kino Bežigrad). With venues across Slovenia (Maribox Maribor, Anton Podbevšek Teater Novo mesto and Union Celje Cinema), the festival addresses and remains accessible to audiences outside the Slovenian capital. 
 
In 1992, the International Association of Film Producers – FIAPF granted a licence to Film Art Fest, which was renamed the International Film Festival in 1996, and in 1998 acquired its current name, Liffe (Ljubljana International Film Festival). This license confirms that the festival has fulfilled all the conditions for its inclusion on the official list of global film festivals. 
Since its beginning, the festival’s producer has been Cankarjev dom, Cultural and Congress Centre Ljubljana, whose programme is co-financed by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia.
 

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Featuring a hand-picked selection of the world’s greatest achievements in cinema, including winners of pre-eminent festivals (Cannes, Rotterdam, Berlin, Locarno, Venice, etc.), the 35th Liffe will turn Ljubljana into a film hub for a period of twelve days. The variegated accompanying programme includes talks with festival guests and filmmakers, as well as round tables and workshops.  

Aimed at both film enthusiasts and everyone keen on getting an insight into international cinematography, Liffe caters for all age groups. 
 

Festival sections
Perspectives, the official competitive section of young filmmakers competing for the Kingfisher Award sponsored by Telekom Slovenije, d.d. 
Avant-premieres, a selection of the world’s finest films purchased for Slovenian distribution
Kings and Queens, films by notable and award-winning contemporary cinema virtuosos 
World Cinema Panorama, five-continent festival favourites 
Extravaganza, the so-called late-night cinema of daring artists addressing unconventional or sensual topics 
Kinobalon, a selection of films for audiences aged between 5 and 14; in cooperation with the Kinodvor Cinema 
Retrospective; in cooperation with the Slovenian Cinematheque
Adriatic Festival Network
Europe in Short, competitive programme of short films 

Accompanying programme
Talks with festival guests and filmmakers 
Round tables and workshops 

Awards
Kingfisher, international jury award presented by the general sponsor, Telekom Slovenije, d.d., to the best film of the Perspectives section.
Dragon Audience Award to best-rated film
FIPRESCI Prize, presented by the jury of the International Federation of Film Critics.
Best Short Film Award 
Kinotrip Young Jury Award 
Slovenian Art Cinema Association Award

Voting
The Dragon Audience Award is presented to best-rated film that has not yet been purchased for Slovenian distribution. Choosing from Festival Director Simon Popek’s selection of movies, the spectators vote for their favourite feature film. Votes can be cast when exiting the cinema or via text-messaging at all 35th Liffe venues, at Cankarjev dom, Kinodvor Cinema, UL AGRFT Hall and Bežigrad Cinema. The film with the highest average rating receives the Dragon Audience Award. The voting via text-messaging has been made possible by Telekom Slovenije, d.d., the Festival’s main sponsor. 

Festival venues
Cankarjev dom (Linhart and Kosovel Halls), Kinodvor Cinema, Bežigrad Cinema, Academy of Theatre, Radio, Film and Television, University of Ljubljana – UL AGRFT Hall, Slovenian Cinematheque, Maribox, Kino Union Celje and Anton Podbevšek Teater Novo mesto 
Main festival venue: Cankarjev dom’s Foyer II 

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