Valjevski Filmski Susreti / VFS is a regional film festival held annually in Valjevo, Serbia. The festival originated from a small group of friends and colleagues who fought to bring back the magic of cinema to their hometown, which didn't have a film theater from 2003-2017, by establishing a local film festival. A new theater opened, and the once small festival grew into a Regional film festival featuring and guesting authors from all over the Balkan region.
The focus of the festival is empowering young authors and giving the local community opportunities to watch great films that perhaps wouldn't have made it to their screens otherwise, as well as film education, with multiple successful film workshops and lectures under its belt.
The main selection is made of award-winning feature films from all over the Balkans, those include fiction films, documentaries, as well as animated and experimental films. This is followed by a regional short-fiction film competition program, educational panels, workshops, and lectures.
The entrance to all festival activities is free of charge.
The festival's competition program is carefully handcrafted every year by the VFS team and collaborators. Two separate three-member juries of film authors decide on the following awards:
1. The main prize is the Leman Award, given to the best short-fiction film.
2. The second prize is the Young Author Award, given to the best screenwriter, director, actor, cinematographer, editor, producer, composer, etc.
The authors are awarded statuettes, diplomas, cash, and other prizes.