The Garifuna International Indigenous Film Festival (GIIFF) 501c3 NON Profit is happy to take audiences and moviegoers on a global journey celebrating culture through the arts film , documentaries , musical performances , art, sculptors , fashion and dance .
Please be a part of this experience by submitting your films, documentaries music videos featuring your most creative works , art ,for the 10th Annual Garifuna Indigenous International Film Festival.

GIIFF, currently one of the nation’s most prestigious film festivals celebrating Garifuna, the Caribbean and indigenous cultures from around the world will be held in November 2023 California.
Electric Lodge Theater 1416 Electric Avenue , Venice CA 90291

Since its launch, the GIIFF has showcased a variety of films and documentaries created by Garifuna, Caribbean , Indigenous filmmakers as well as many other indigenous people and has hosted panel discussions, workshops, cultural presentations & Award ceremonies. It is, in essence, a venue that reconciles, entertains and portrays the very diverse and brilliant cultures to participants and attendees of the festival.
A professional panel of judges from the entertainment industry for Awards
Opening night event includes Black Carpet /media coverage!
Closing Night ceremony Black Carpet
Ambassador of Music Awards Live Music and performances
Award Ceremony/ recognitions
Filmmakers Workshops
Mental Health Awareness Symposium.
Indigenous Fashion presentation
Indigenous Art exhibition

Engraved Plaques issued!

Garifuna International Indigenous Film Festival Award
is a Humanitarian Award for a film or documentary that embodies change in the world that teaches and brings awareness to the causes of the indigenous.

G.O.Y.A
Jury Award
Visionary Award
Indigenous Wisdom
indigenous music
indigenous art
indigenous fashion
Intangible Heritage Documentary
Narrative
Garifuna Heritage Award
Garifuna International Indigenous Awareness Award
Animation embodies an awareness of Culture Award
Mental Health Awareness
Humanitarian
Indigenous preservation
Folklore
Comedy

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

– Feature films must have been completed prior to January 1, 2022

– World premieres of feature-length films and shorts are a high priority for the Garifuna International Film Festival, but GIIFF will also present films and documentaries that have had prior screenings (as long as the subject matter is relevant to GIIFF’s mission statement)

– Feature films that have had commercial, theatrical, television or internet play in the US are eligible. We encourage all cultures to participate.

*Indigenous groups with a film/documentary will have the opportunity to qualify for scholarship funding

– Feature films in a language other than English must be subtitled in English for Festival consideration and presentation

– Please observe the running time frames for your submission:

Feature-length Fiction and Documentary films 75 – 90 minutes
Short Short 5-20 minutes
Short films 20 – 30 minutes
Mid Short 30 -45 minutes
Mid-length short films 45 – 60 minutes)
– Films that have been submitted for consideration in previous years are eligible for re-submission

– Any film or documentary that is relevant to the mission statement of the Garifuna International Film Festival will be accepted. We will accept preview BLU RAY 's that are works-in-progress as well as films with temporary soundtracks or digital outputs

– Filmmakers must deliver final projects in Digital format, Poster & flyers
Screening format for short films digital format, Poster & flyers

Screening format for feature films: digital format, Poster & flyers

Screening format for documentaries: digital format, Poster & flyers

*University/College filmmakers submission: digital format, Poster & flyers

At GIIFF, we believe in supporting and encouraging young filmmakers (especially those who are from indigenous cultures ).
The Garifuna International Indigenous Film Festival accepts submissions from students filmmakers in accredited University/College filmmaking programs.

Submissions from artists and fashion designers whose art and fashion reflects as well as depicts cultural awareness.`

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • I am grateful for the opportunity to have my film shown at the Garifuna International Indigenous Film Festival and winning the Indigenous Music & Wisdom Awareness Award.

    June 2023
  • Daniel Belton

    We were honoured to make selection to your beautiful festival, thankyou Garifuna!

    November 2022
  • jocelyn catan

    it is a great honor to be a part of your festival as a filmmaker from MARTINIQUE, in the CARIBBEAN, area. I would like to thank you for awarding my documentary film "Colonization and Black Slavery in the French West-indies" . It will help to shed more light on the historical facts that i tried to speak. Great Festival, Jocelyn Jonaz Catan

    January 2022
  • Paul Simma

    No feed back from the festival

    January 2022
  • Great festival of content that is not commonly screened and that connects indigenous communities and issues across the world. WE, THE VOYAGERS was so happy to be included and represent ancient cultural knowledge and the promise of youth learning to practice the wisdom of Oceania.

    December 2021