Saratov Sufferings Documentary Drama Film Festival

Saratov Sufferings International Film Festival of Documentary Drama is the only film festival in the world which deals with the genre of documentary drama. Saratov Sufferings was created 20 years ago and takes place every year in September in Saratov (Russia). The city is situated in a beautiful place at the bank of the longest river in Europe – The Volga River. The city has long cinema traditions. The famous Russian war cinematographer and documentary filmmaker Vladislav Mikosha did his first step in profession here at the Lower-Volga Newsreel Studio. It’s the oldest film studio in the country which has existed since 1927. Now here is the cinema theater and the main host of film festival.

The title of the film festival is taken after the old aged folk music genre of Saratov «suffering», which means the emotional refrain and rhyme. This is the low-budget film festival, we can’t offer screening fee but we can repay your costs by warm and friendly atmosphere and incredible films from all over the globe. Helena Trestikova, Maria Kravchenko, Alexander Nanau, Marina Razbezhkina, Kim Longinotto, Dmitriy Kubasov, David Kinsella, Rodion Ismailov, Laura Herrero Garvin, Uli Gaulke, Till Harms and etc. took part in different years in festival. Every year we prepare a diverse out of competition events for our guests and audience: special section for children and young people, exhibitions, discussions, cinema discos, open air events, lectures and etc.

Saratov Sufferings are looking for wonderful independent documentary films from all over the world. We try to join traditional and innovation modes of documentaries at the festival. We like poetic, experimental, provocative and traditional films with stark stories. The theatrical style documentaries are required conditions. The festival doesn’t accept television documentaries and reports. We tend towards new films that have received minimal exposure in Russia. The Russian premiere is desirable for all foreign films in the competition programs.

The festival is highly interested in person's life as the greatest value and the price each one has to pay for it in modern world. Including the man himself, his house, his city, his country and the people living nearby.

For our special competition programm ''Saratov - open city'' we are looking for both experimental and music films and clips, where the city is the main hero or the background.

In 2024's edition the festival will hold several meetings and master-classes with famous Russian filmmakers, writers, artists and musicians.

We are waiting for your documentary for the next festival edition in September 2024.