Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF)
The upper Midwest's most important film festival, held annually in April-May in Minneapolis and St. Paul, presenting over 250 films from more than 80 countries with Academy Award-qualifying short film competitions.
Overview
The Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF) is the upper Midwest's most important film festival. Founded in 1982 and held annually in April and May across both Minneapolis and St. Paul, the festival screens over 250 films from more than 80 countries over 18 days and is Academy Award-qualifying in its short film categories.
MSPIFF is one of the largest film festivals in the United States by the number of films screened and countries represented. The festival's comprehensive international programming gives Minnesota audiences one of the broadest annual surveys of world cinema available outside New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
The Twin Cities' large Somali, Hmong, Latinx, and East African immigrant communities give MSPIFF a particularly diverse and engaged audience for world cinema. The festival has developed strong programming from regions that directly connect with these communities.
Key Sections
- International Feature Competition -- world cinema competing for jury prizes
- Short Film Competition -- Academy Award-qualifying programs
- Documentary Competition -- nonfiction features
- US Documentary -- American documentary films
- Emerging Visions -- debut and second feature filmmakers
- Minnesota Spotlight -- films by Minnesota filmmakers
What Filmmakers Should Know
MSPIFF accepts open submissions. The Academy Award-qualifying short film competition is the most strategically important element for short filmmakers. The festival's comprehensive international programming creates useful exposure for films seeking Midwest distribution.
Major Awards
- Best Feature Film -- jury prize
- Best Documentary
- Best Short Film -- Academy Award-qualifying
- Minnesota Spotlight Award
- Audience Award -- across categories
Festival History
MSPIFF was founded in 1982 and has grown into one of the most comprehensive film festivals in the American Midwest, building a sustained film culture in the Twin Cities over four decades.
See Also
For Midwest film culture, see Independent Filmmaking Strategies. For festival strategy, see Film Festival Strategy.
