Valparaiso International Film Festival (FIFV)

Overview

The Valparaiso International Film Festival is Chile's most atmospheric film festival. Founded in 2009 and held annually in October in Valparaiso -- a UNESCO World Heritage Site port city an hour from Santiago, famous for its labyrinthine hillside neighborhoods covered in extraordinary street art and its Victorian-era funicular elevators -- the festival presents competitive international and Chilean cinema in one of Latin America's most visually distinctive cities.

Valparaiso's character as a city of artists, poets (Pablo Neruda had one of his beloved houses here), anarchists, and mariners gives the festival an intellectual and countercultural identity that complements its spectacular setting. The city's hillside neighborhoods, each with their own character and painted in vibrant colors, create screening environments unlike any other festival in the world.

Chile's film tradition has produced internationally acclaimed directors including Pablo Larrain, Patricio Guzman, and Sebastian Lelio, and FIFV provides an important alternative platform to Santiago-based Chilean film events.

Key Sections

• International Competition -- films competing for jury prizes
• Chilean Film Program -- new Chilean features and shorts
• Latin American Panorama -- films from across the continent
• Documentary Program -- nonfiction features
• Short Film Competition -- competitive short programs

What Filmmakers Should Know

FIFV accepts open submissions. For Chilean filmmakers, the festival provides an important alternative to Santiago-based events. The Valparaiso setting creates exceptional atmosphere for outdoor and alternative venue screenings.

Major Awards

• Best Film -- jury prize
• Best Chilean Film
• Audience Award

Festival History

FIFV was founded in 2009 and has operated as Valparaiso's primary film cultural event.

See Also

For Chilean cinema, see International Film Markets. For Santiago film events, see Film Festival Strategy.