Wildlife Vaasa International Nature film festival is located on the West Coast of Finland, and it was held in the city of Vaasa every second year, since 2002. Since its conception, it has grown in stature receiving commendation from participants, delegates, media and the public, world-wide.
Last time, in 2022, the festival celebrated its 20 years, receiving 1203 entries from 98 countries. From those, 374 films were officially selected, 171 films reached the final stage and 40 films received awards. The upcoming 12th biennial edition in 2024, will celebrate Finnish Nature and will take place in Vaasa from 25-29 September (week 39).

The film competition aims to raise public awareness about our planet, as well as to participate in a global dialogue about Nature and The Environment through selected films. Therefore, we welcome once more Nature and Science documentaries from around the world, produced after January 2022, to submit to our film competition.
As Finland has recently become very popular Wildlife filming hotspot, our special request this year is to receive films related to FINNISH NATURE. Welcome to submit!!

Trophies and Diplomas, publicity on a global level, media promotion, festival distribution.

GENERAL RULES FOR ENTRIES 2024

Who can enter?
Film companies, TV companies, production companies, independent producers, filmmakers, festivals, TV- broadcasters and journalists, newcomers and established professionals, are all welcome to participate in Vaasa Wildlife Festival 2024 festival.

Entry fees?
No entry fees or delegate fees are required for Vaasa Wildlife festival.

Which films qualify?
Entries produced after January 2022 may qualify in the competition:
These productions must have NATURE AS A MAIN THEME in their content. Interaction between human and nature, science films underwater films, are also welcome to participate. Ethnographic documentaries without Nature and Environment as their main theme, are not qualified for this competition.

Production/Commission
Film Entries must have been produced/co-produced or commissioned by the submitting organisation.

Language
Non-English speaking productions have to be narrated or subtitled in English.

Synopsis
A synopsis for each program submitted is required (100 words maximum). The festival organisers reserve the right to edit these synopses.

Award Category
Participants may indicate the award category in which they wish their film to compete. However, it is up to the festival Juries to decide for which award category the entry might qualify.

Format - Film/Video
Each entry must be accompanied with a preview copy of the film, which can be sent via file transfer in HD file-format (.mov, .avi .mp4) Preview material is non-returnable. Finalists will be required to submit a screening copy of their qualified program for public screening purposes.

Sponsorship/Advertising
While sponsorship maybe acknowledged, deliberate advertising is not permitted.

The award-winner
If a production company wins an award it is up to the company to determine who will be the recipient.

Copyright related issues

Submitting to Vaasa Wildlife festival in 2024 you are simultaneously agreed to:

-PERMIT entries to be shown publicly at the screening venues in conjunction with the festival, without any charge to the festival organizers. All screenings will have a free entrance.

-PERMIT the closed circuit playback of entries for delegates, potential buyers, journalists, experts or other persons welcomed by the festival.

-PERMIT the festival to keep a copy of each programme for archive and educational non-profit purposes during the school-screening events.
Since 2021, Vaasa Wildlife Festival’s, printed material is preserved and available to the public, at the library of the Finnish National Audiovisual Institute (KAVI) in Helsinki.

- PERMIT the use of a max. 3 min excerpt of the qualified programs for publicity and promotion purposes through social media and potential TV-broadcasting purposes during the festival days.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • GIREESH PERUVANA

    it's a wonderful experience... thanks all team, VAASA

    May 2023
  • hojat edalatpanah

    I am very happy that my film was accepted and welcomed in your festival and was able to win the honorary award( honorable mention) of your festival.
    This festival was one of the most professional and accurate festivals that I participated in. And I really enjoyed the detailed information about its steps.
    And I was very sad that I was not able to come to the beautiful country of Finland to attend the festival.
    We hope that I will be able to win this honor with other films in the future.
    Edalatpanah
    Director of the documentary film Trawl
    from Iran

    May 2023
  • I am delighted that my work was well received at Wildlife Vaasa Festival. I am honored that "Fire In The Lake" was awarded a trophy as a Second Runner Up for Experimental Video Art. I am sorry that I was not able to be there in person and meet the organizers which were so gracious in every sense. My experience with Vaasa Film Festival has been very rewarding.

    February 2023
  • Phil De Witte

    Such a conviviality reigned within the Festival, that today, we are all still in contact, as much the directors, as the participants or as Ilias, the director of the festival. Rather unusual... Amazing communication. Illias did an amazing Job. So much humanity. A Great Festival that conveys strong Messages.

    December 2022
  • Marx Braga

    It was a great honor to be part of the selection of the Wildlife Vaasa Festival-International Nature Film Festival.

    November 2022