Arctic Open

Welcome to ARCTIC OPEN International Film Festival!
Now heading into our seventh season, we are happy to open the Fest for submissions.

ARCTIC OPEN IFF is hosted in Arkhangelsk, Russia and is looking to showcase the feature films, shorts and documentaries released in 2022-2023 and dedicated to the life and culture of northern communities, indigenous peoples, fragile Arctic nature, or challenges faced in today’s world - the sort of films that tell a story and would make people think. Or laugh, or cry, shock or surprise.

ARCTIC OPEN screens local and international professional or first-time filmmakers, celebrating the best in Arctic-related filmmaking from across the globe. All submissions and participation are free of charge.

Spread over 4 days in December 2023, ARCTIC OPEN will involve screenings in mutiple cities of Arkhangelsk Province and not only, networkingevents, VR sessions “Underwater World: Wild Whales” for children, experimental video anthology called ARCTIC HEAT, a cartoon musical retrospective, Port City Music show, and more.

With 15 nominations within 4 categories, ARCTIC OPEN aims to:
- select and promote the best films made in 2022-2023 domestically and globally;
- provide filmmakers with the opportunity to interact with audiences at Q&A sessions, screenings, and social events;
- provide networking opportunities to film community members;
- provide training opportunities to ealry-career filmmakers;
- give filmmakers and production teams a chance to travel to a destination known for its Northern Russian hospitality, which once was Russia’s first and only gateway to Europe.

The films accepted in our official selection and non-competition program will be distributed through all our events and campaigns into 2024, including those in Saint-Petersburg and the Komi city of Syktyvkar. We offer publicity across a wide range of regional and federal media (print and social).