International Film Directing Festival – LIFFE was founded in 2008 in Leskovac, Serbia with the aim to promote films and authors from the country and the region. During its 15 years of history it has developed into a prestigious manifestation which widely surpasses local frames and has been gaining increasing popularity with filmophiles and film creators. Festival is supported by Ministry of Culture of Republic of Serbia, Film Centre Serbia and City of Leskovac. Festival is organized by Cultural Centre Leskovac and Magic Line Production, Belgrade.
The most valuable projects from the region have been presented at the festival and so far more than 300 films have been shown to the audience of about 90,000 people. Apart from this, LIFFE has had a number of European premiers in Serbia, and cult authors from the ex Yu cinematography have been coming to the festival. The International Film Directing Festival in Leskovac was founded with the idea of cultural networking of the region. The cinematographies of this region, with their specifics, speak the universal language and can be best understood by neighbours of similar mentality and sensibility. Besides cultural diversity that the festival offers, it gives a possibility for film creators to meet, which represents a basis for creating a market of higher quality and bigger diversity. During the fifteen years, the festival has hosted over 100 most famous directors of various generations, as well as a number of actors from the region.
Festival grand prix bears the name of the renown filmmaker Zivojin Zika Pavlovic. The other awards given at the festival are: two for directing and two for acting. Main Competition Program consist of 12 films from EX Yu region selected by Artistic team.
Beside Main Competition Program, last year edition presented new Competition Program Wild Film dedicated to a brave arthouse film from all over the world. First director awarded in this category was Dalibor Matanic for the film The Dawn.
The traditional Conference of the film directors and producers adds to the festival significance, aiming to find new models of cooperation and networking and film distributions in the countries within the region. The unique platform provides easier cooperation for film professionals and supports the development of the chain of values of the film production and contributes to increasing the market thus, higher quality production of new films.
Best Director Work in Competition program WILD FILM