Spokane International Film Festival (SpIFF)

Overview

The Spokane International Film Festival (SpIFF) is eastern Washington's most important film festival. Founded in 2001 and held annually in February in Spokane -- the largest city in the Inland Northwest, a region spanning eastern Washington and northern Idaho -- the festival presents independent international and American cinema to a community that is culturally distinct from the coastal Pacific Northwest.

Spokane's identity as an inland Northwest city with strong connections to the region's agricultural economy, its mining heritage, and its outdoor recreation culture gives it a different character from Seattle. The city is home to Gonzaga University and Washington State University's medical school campus, providing an educated, culturally engaged population.

The February timing, in the depths of the inland Northwest winter, creates conditions where cinema serves as a vital cultural event, drawing enthusiastic audiences to indoor screenings.

Key Sections

• International Feature Program -- world cinema
• American Independent Film -- US independent features
• Documentary Program -- nonfiction features
• Short Film Competition -- competitive short programs
• Pacific Northwest Showcase -- films by regional filmmakers

What Filmmakers Should Know

SpIFF accepts open submissions. For eastern Washington and Idaho filmmakers, this is the most important regional platform. The inland Northwest audience is underserved by major film events and brings strong engagement to independent cinema.

Major Awards

• Audience Award -- voted by Spokane festival audiences
• Best Short Film

Festival History

SpIFF was founded in 2001 and has operated as eastern Washington's primary film cultural event.

See Also

For Pacific Northwest festivals, see Film Festival Strategy. For independent filmmaking, see Independent Filmmaking Strategies.