History Film Festival is an international festival of historical documentary films organized by ISTRA FILM. The Festival is taking place in Rijeka, Croatia.

History Film Festival aims at offering viewers and film experts an insight into contemporary film and TV production of historical documentary films, at the same time providing a place where film professionals can meet and share their creative ideas for future projects.

In 2021 the festival will be especially focused on films connected to the following subjects:

- THE BERLIN WALL and compelling stories from both sides of the Wall
- EUROPEAN RAILWAYS and TRAINS as symbols of connecting people and part of Europe's mutual heritage and culture
- BIOGRAPHICAL DOCS - films that reveal stories of famous and once famous, but forgotten people (artists, musicians, filmmakers, politicians, athletes, etc.)
- CROATIAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
- stories from TOTALITARIAN REGIMES

From its first year (September 2017) History Film Festival cherishes and extends its collaboration with documentary filmmakers from all over the world. All of the films we showcase at History Film Festival tell history in exciting, often unusual, sometimes very intimate and visually attractive ways, but they also shed revelatory light upon the present which is exactly one of the aims of History Film Festival. These films show all the talent and passion of documentarists who always seem to find innovative and creative techniques of shaping history into exciting story. Furthermore, we believe that documentary filmmaking based on the archives and research is essential for the understanding of the past and the present, especially as an answer to the era of fake news.

In 2021 we plan to showcase documentaries which confirm how history can be extremely exciting and promote diversity, tolerance, intercultural dialogue and reconciliation as a way of exceeding the past and building a better future.

Festival programme consists of a competition programme, and special thematic programmes (master classes, panels, exhibitions, etc.).

Awards & Prizes

Official awards of History Film Festival are:
• Grand Prix
• Best Independent Production Documentary
• Best TV Production Documentary
• Best Director
• Best Screenplay
• Best Cinematography
• Best Film Editing
• Best Composer
• Audience Award

Official awards consist of a statue.

Rules & Terms

Before submitting, please read the full Festival rules:
http://historyfilmfestival.com/festival-rules/

Documentary films of all running times, regardless of their year of production, whose main topic is history – historical events and characters, can be entered.
The films for the competition programme can be submitted by directors, independent and TV producers, distributors and national film bodies entitled and authorized for representation and submission of films.

If submitting screening links from Vimeo or Youtube, please ensure that they can be acessible to History Film Festival staff until the conclusion of the event.

If your film is selected, the following materials in digital form will also be required:
- a brief synopsis of the film in English;
- at least 3 photographs from the film (of the quality suitable for press – 300 dpi);
- the director's filmography and biography in English and one photo;
- promotional material (trailer, press packages, posters, etc.)
- English transcript/dialogue list or external English subtitles

For public projections at History Film Festival, secure download of a high-quality projection copy will be requested, unless already provided through the submission platform. The projection format is 1920x1080 resolution, h.264 encoded, preferably above 10Mbit.
All non-English films must be submitted with English subtitles.
Physical copies can be accepted in special circumstances.
Please note that History Film Festival cannot accept DCP at this time.

Submission fees are not refundable.

Questions concerning regulations and/or submission forms should be addressed to:
HISTORY FILM FESTIVAL
Brdo 7a
HR - 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
Phone: +385 92 1331310
e-mail: info@historyfilmfestival.com
Web: www.historyfilmfestival.com
9 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Iara Lee

    Cultures of Resistance Films is delighted to be part of the History Film Festival. Thank you for showing 'STALKING CHERNOBYL: exploration after apocalypse" for sharing the stories at the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone with this emerging sub cluture, and for raising awareness on the devastating effects of nuclear energy.
    Looking forward to submitting more of our work at the next edition :)

    September 2020
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much, Iara. We are looking forward to more of your amazing docs and preferably hosting you in Rijeka next year. Fingers crossed ;)

  • Uri Borreda

    Thank you History film festival for your hospitality, and a great competition among very good films.

    November 2019
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    Response from festival:

    Dear Uri,

    Thank you so much for your kindness and friendship. We are looking forward to watching more amazing films from you and having you back with us in Rijeka soon.

  • Nalini Sousa

    I loved the History Film Festival. Bernardin and Tiha are wonderful hosts.
    It felt like being part of a big family.

    September 2019
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    Response from festival:

    Dear Nalini,

    Thank you so much for your kindness and such a wonderful spirit. We are waiting for you to finish a new film and come back to Rijeka... Or maybe a train station in Matulji ;)

  • Belgefilm Doc-house

    Two of our documentaries were part of official selection.
    It was great pleasure to be there.
    Quality works, friendly team, good communication and great hospitality.

    September 2019
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    Response from festival:

    Dear all at Belge Film,
    thank you very much for your review, for the efforts you had to make to come to Rijeka and above all thank you for two heavy, but extremely relevant and touching stories. We look forward to watching more films from you! And we will continue working very hard to get all five stars in each category in the future :)

  • Arianna Lodeserto

    HFF was probably the cutest festival I've ever been selected in...
    Rijeka is a unique post-industrial eclectic city, but our guests also showed us croatian beautiful island and other exquisite places all over Rijeka,
    we had interesting masterclass and super nice lunches, and we stayed in the charming Botel Marina...
    The group of selected filmakers was solid, funny and easygoing, different from posh atmosphere of usual all-male festivals...
    We all enjoyed the company and the films
    and I have to say that I saw some wonderful documentary in this edition!
    Networking also worked well, since everyone was very curious, attentive to others's movie, and extremely friendly.

    October 2018
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    Response from festival:

    Dear Arianna,

    Thank you so much for a wonderful review. We hope to see you next year with another incredible film.

    All the best from our small team ;)