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Welcome to VIFF Vienna Independent Film Festival!

We invite filmmakers from all over the world to submit their films to our international film festival which will take place in Vienna. Our judges appreciate the auteur cinema - films made with a unique artistic vision.

The goal of our festival is to find new talented filmmakers who will be able to approach the heights of cinematography created by geniuses like Antonioni, Fellini, Tarkovsky, Bergman, Visconti, Godard.

Now, when the whole world has a tendency towards commercialization, we appreciate free spirit, new ideas an independent point of view and new approaches. Not the budget of the film but solely talent should be the criteria for the film's success.

We appreciate films made without the benefits of large budgets and unnecessary technological sophistication. The festival encourages individuality and experimentation. With the rapid development of film equipment, cinematography becomes more and more affordable for independent filmmakers. Now all we need are new ideas and exposure for these ideas. Our film festival will provide this exposure for new outstanding films.

The Vienna Independent Film Festival is an important event and it consists of the film screening, meeting with participants , social events and Awards Ceremony. Our program is unique and most of the films cannot be seen in the mainstream theaters.

Vienna is a perfect spot for an event like this. It is from this place that cinematographers such as Fritz Lang, Billy Wilder, Josef von Sternberg, Fred Zinnemann, Otto Preminger and actors like Romy Schneider, Hedy Lamarr, Helmut Berger, Maximilian Schell, and Arnold Schwarzenegger came to conquer the world.

It is still an important center of cinematography. The great traditions of Austrian cinema have been continued by the Oscar and Palme d'Or winning director Michael Haneke.

Our aim is to present the most outstanding films produced in every part of the world to reach international success.

All the films should be in English or have English subtitles.

Grand Prix of the festival - The Golden Sphinx is a symbol of mystery and wisdom, as we believe that there is an element of mystery in any real piece of art. There will also be awards for the Best Film, Best Director, Best Short Film, Best Documentary and Best Music Video.

Certificates and prizes will be presented on the final night to producers attending the festival or sent by email or post.

We guarantee that your film will be viewed by our international community and will be judged by a jury of film professionals. The Festival will host numerous opportunities to connect with enthusiastic new audiences and fellow filmmakers, in the beautiful city of Vienna.

Awards & Prizes

Golden Statuettes and certificates

Rules & Terms

We encourage the submission of international film or video entries, but all entries must be in English or have English dubbing or subtitles.

All entries must be available for screening during the festival. We welcome Feature Films, Short Films, Documentaries and Music Videos.

You may submit as many entries as you like. Each entry requires its own entry fee. Fees are not refundable.

We accept online submissions. Please submit a film using FilmFreeway.

In order to select the films for screenings we watch the online screeners. We select films for a number of reasons and we watch all films which are submitted (however we are not obliged to watch all films to the very end).

If your film is chosen to show at the Vienna Independent Film Festival, you must send a full quality DCP file no later than 2 weeks prior to the festival screening for screening in the cinema.

All films should have been completed within these past three years.

All awards are based on the overall merit of the entry. Decisions by the judges are final.

Festival does not deal with any copyright issues. All copyright issues should be resolved by the film authors before festival.

Filmmakers and screenwriters retain 100% all of the rights to their projects and materials that they submit to the Vienna Independent Film Festival.

Festival organizers have the right to use extracts of the film for promotional purposes.
All nationalities, minorities, genders and members of the LGBT community are welcome at our festival. Our festival supports women's voices in cinema.

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless us, our officers, affiliates, employees, and partners from any and all claims and liability arising out of entering or transmitting your film to the Vienna Independent Film Festival. If the participant harasses film festival officials, spreads lies or malicious slander with the intent to damage the reputation of the festival, we can cancel the film screening by such filmmaker, disqualify his film and withdraw their film from the selection.

We usually screen feature films or films longer than 30 minutes if someone from the crew presents the film at the festival. In case no-one is present from the film it is up to the organizers whether to screen the film or not.

Filmmakers are not paid for screening at the Vienna Independent Film Festival and the festival does not provide submission fee waivers, accommodation or any other financial assistance.

The Golden Sphinx Award may not be presented every year. The timing and selection are based on specific criteria, so there could be occasions when the award is not given.
65 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • AEG G

    Thank you for the opportunity to participate in your festival. I am truly honoured that my script, Trust Me, was selected to be part of such a prestigious event!

    October 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you!

  • Derrick Lui

    Attending the Vienna Independent Film Festival with my film, Oversteer, was a truly unforgettable experience. I am deeply honored and grateful that the festival recognized our work with Best Feature Film and Best Director.

    The festival team was welcoming, professional, and passionate about cinema. From the moment I arrived, I felt that filmmakers and their stories were being celebrated with genuine respect. The screenings were well organised, the audiences were engaged and supportive, and the atmosphere fostered a strong sense of community among international filmmakers.

    Winning these awards at VIFF is not just a milestone for me, but also a recognition of the incredible cast and crew who poured their hearts into Oversteer. This film was a decade long journey, and to see it resonate with audiences here in Vienna has been deeply rewarding.

    Thank you to the festival jury, the organisers, and the wonderful audience for making this such a meaningful highlight in my filmmaking journey. I wholeheartedly recommend VIFF to fellow filmmakers, it is a festival that truly values and uplifts independent voices!

    September 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you!

  • Ken Kinna

    Loved this festival. Thoughtful curation of films, excellent communication, good value, wonderful location. Meeting interesting and like minded filmmakers and festival makers is worth the trip! Thank you for the selection and Art Direction Award and I look forward to future festivals with you in either Vienna or Prague! Thoses that put the arts and humanities first will help to heal this world.

    October 2024
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you!

  • Francesca Jandasek

    We had a wonderful experience at the VIFF Vienna Independent Film Festival! Such a warm welcome, wonderful communication, wonderful films, inspiring artists! THANK YOU! We can't wait to submit again!

    October 2024
    Helpful
  • Diego Dicarlo

    I would like to express my gratitude to the team at the Vienna Independent Film Festival for selecting my feature film “Kintusgi”. It was a privilege to screen my film in a theater in the heart of Vienna, a city full of charm, and to share it with an international audience and amazing filmarkers from all over the globe. The organization was outstanding, with clear communication from the start, making the whole experience truly enjoyable. This festival genuinely supports independent filmmakers, and I look forward to returning with new projects in the future. Highly recommended!

    September 2024
    Helpful