The Festival gives preference to films focusing on the search for national and cultural identity in the contemporary world. Сultures of indigenous peoples and peoples of the Turkic family are also in the focus of attention. The festival takes place in a place surrounded by unique nature and reflects the cultural diversity of Yakutia. The city of Yakutsk will host the 6th Yakutsk International Film Festival on March 18–22, 2020.
YIFF is sponsored by the Ministry for Culture and Spiritual Development of the Sakha Republic, with the generous support of the Russian Ministry for Culture and the Filmmakers Guild of the Russian Federation.

The festival program includes:
 Main Competition (feature films);
 Documentary Competition;
 The Yakut sidebar, with an audience award given to the winner;
 Out-of-competition and special screenings (feature films, documentaries, and animation);
 Workshops;
 Press conferences;
 Round tables;
 Q&A sessions with festival guests.

In 2017 the YIFF was honored to have Ciro Guerra, a Colombian director, the Oscar Award nominee ("Embrace of the Serpent"), as a jury chairman.

Awards & Prizes

The jury awards the following prizes, Snow Goggles:

Main Competition:
Gold Snow Goggles:
– Best Picture;
– Best Director.
Silver Snow Goggles:
– Two special jury prizes – (the name is determined by the jury annually; the prizes are awarded based on the jury's decision).

Documentary Competition:
Gold Snow Goggles:
– Best Picture;
– Best Director.
Silver Snow Goggles:
– Two special jury prizes – (the name is determined by the jury annually; the prizes are awarded based on the jury's decision).

The Audience Award for the best Yakut film released between January 2018 and March 2020 is given to the winners of an online vote (joker.ykt.ru) in the following categories:
Golden Snow Goggles:
– Best Yakut Picture;
Silver Snow Goggles:
• Best Yakut Actress;
• Best Yakut Actor.

The Board of the Sakha Filmmakers Union awards its own prize named after the cameraman Innokenty Ammosov. These Silver Goggles are awarded for the best cinematography.

YIFF also awards prizes from state and non-profit organizations and personal prizes.

The winners are expected to be present at the award ceremonies.

Rules & Terms

The main competition of YIFF consists of no fewer than seven feature-length films, each over 60 min. long.
The documentary competition consists of no fewer than seven feature-length films, each over 26 min. long.
Copies of films submitted for either competition are to be presented in the original language with English or Russian subtitles.
The YIFF Committee must receive copies of all entries no later than March 1, 2020.

Other programs accept submissions either in HD or in DCP, in the original language of production with English or Russian subtitles. All entries for the festival's other programs should be submitted for consideration no later than March 1, 2020.

All the conditions and deadlines are non-negotiable. Otherwise, the YIFF Committee reserves the right to exclude any entry from the festival program.

An entry form for each submitted film must be received by the Committee no later
than March 1, 2020. Once acceptance is confirmed, YIFF should receive the following documents:
– A dialogue list in Russian and English;
– Catalog materials (in addition to the information from the entry form): the filmmaker's short bio, list of previous works, photos, and awards; stills from the film and a poster;
– A trailer for the film.

All expenses related to shipping the competition titles to Yakutsk and back are to be borne by the applicant. The Committee assumes all the expenses for storage and insurance during the festival.
In some cases, pending Committee approval, the copyright holders may deliver their film to YIFF in person, thereby assuming responsibility for delivery and safekeeping.

All issues related to invitations, duration, and conditions of stay and accreditation are handled by the YIFF Committee.
A film's acceptance into the competition stipulates the personal presence of at least one of its representatives.
The YIFF Committee covers the following expenses:
– travel from Moscow to Yakutsk and back, and accommodations for the duration of the festival for competition titles.
Other guests' conditions of stay are negotiated on an individual basis in their personal invitations.
All the accreditation applications must be submitted before the official deadline set by the YIFF Committee.

An International Jury is formed to evaluate competition titles.
The YIFF Committee covers travel expenses for each member of the jury.
Any person involved in the production or distribution of any title in his or her respective competition is barred from jury service.

Every film can be shown 3 times during the festival.
1 Review
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  • Yumo Luo

    This is a great film festival. Thank you for choosing "Long Day". I will sign up for the next movie I return.

    March 2020
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