The International Documentary Festival WEST SIDE MOUNTAINS started in 2017 with its first edition in 2018 and the second in 2019 at the mountains of Arta EPIRUS. The main thought and intention of those of us who were involved in the establishment of the Festival, was the creation of an important cultural event, in one of the poorest, but also most inaccessible areas of Europe. An area of ​​incredible natural beauty, which starts from Agrafa and the valley of Acheloos and reaches almost to Arta. The festival completely achieved its goals and so its third edition in 2020 was the one that established it, that developed spatially and spread throughout almost all of Epirus.

So we can be proud that in four seasons our Festival has managed to attract more than a thousand films from many countries. And we still have a lot to do. Finally, it should be noted that with hard work and minimal resources, we managed to make the festival loved by the people and every day more and more, to be established as an internationally renowned cultural event, away from the big urban centres. We have managed to strengthen the view that even the most remote areas could appropriate and integrate cinema culture, especially documentaries. We managed to prove that on the occasion of this festival, opportunities can be created for the development of cultural institutions, as well as alternative tourism in our country. A place that needs to take a step forward and free itself from the degraded cultural "status" that haunts it and holds it hostage to bad taste and the commercialization of absolutely nothing.

The prizes awarded to the winners are as follows:

GRAND PRIZE

BEST DOCUMENTARY

BEST DIRECTION

BEST PHOTOGRAPHY

BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC

The awards are presented at an event at a theatre in Athens, where the winners are invited to receive them. The prizes are papyrus and occasionally other gifts to the winners.

The festival receives entries from all over the world and creators of all ages and nationalities. Films with extreme political or racist views are not accepted. The festival accepts entries from 15 to 60 minutes. All submissions will be made through the international platforms FilmFreeway or by e-mail through the festival website so that we can send you the necessary entry forms. Participation in the festival implies the possession of all the property rights of each film, as well as that the applicant has all the required authorizations of the copyright holders of the film. Applicant acknowledges: That the Cantomed-WSMDF is a non-profit cultural organization and does not pay promotion fees. Cantomed can schedule up to three screenings at its discretion during the festival.

The selection committee of the films is appointed by the director of the Festival, who can replace its members, before the start of the selection, for serious reasons, as well as to modify points of the regulation for reasons of better operation of the festival. The members of the committee will be four and together with the director of the festival five and they will come from the field of letters, arts and sciences and will be people of known value.
After your submission, you must immediately send us an .mp4 or .mov file with no subtitles and an SRT file in English for final screening. In this case please send us these files online (Wetransfer, MyAirBridge etc.).
The festival will finally be able to use short excerpts from the films that will be submitted, for advertising purposes only. Also, if a creator wishes to show his film in some schools for educational purposes or in some institutions for the elderly and disabled, he should inform us about it.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Marina Stamati

    It is a great pleasure and honor that our documentary film - EXTRA TIME 102- was chosen to participate in your respectable Festival.
    The entire filmmaking team is happy and grateful. It's very beautiful and encouraging that new creators are granted awards and a foothold.
    See you soon with our new movie.
    Friendly regards
    Marina Stamati

    September 2023
  • Giannis Tsiachristas

    Great festival in a lovely place!!!

    August 2023
  • Reham Emam

    Wonderful film festival! I had the pleasure to screen my documentary film Antiques and the communication and networking was amazing! Will definitely send my upcoming films to West Side Doc.

    September 2022
  • Eirini Danilouli

    Great festival , happy to have our film selected , trilled with the prize ! Very good job by the organizers.

    August 2022
  • Yiannis Spiliopoulos

    We were very pleased to be part of the festival. Thank You!

    August 2022