Pittsburgh International Dance Film Festival
(formerly the Constructed Sight Dance Film Festival)
online + in person
March 27-April 6, 2025
Produced by Shana Simmons Dance (SSD)
The Pittsburgh International Dance Film Festival (PIDFF) is pleased to present the fifth annual premiere dance film festival in Pittsburgh, PA. This festival features a wide range of dance films from different countries and honors a "Constructed Sight" category which highlights public works of art or focuses films on a site specific location.
This online dance film festival includes a live Opening Night Event in Pittsburgh where audiences can join through live streaming to see Panelist Picks and meet some of the artists. PIDFF also includes an online Meet & Greet Event for participating filmmakers/artists and an online Dance Film Workshop open to the public!
One artist in 2022 stated, "I've never experienced a dance film festival with such a sense and feeling of community before."
In its first year, SSD received about one hundred international submissions which a panel of 7 members curated to select festival features and the Opening Night Constructed Sight film event. Constructed Sight was a platform created by Shana Simmons, Jamie Erin Murphy, and Brady Sanders to showcase a variety of dance films through entertaining online events. These seasoned choreographers collaborated on generating new films through site specific choreography inspired by public works of art around Pittsburgh.
We consider movement to speak and film to be a lens to see this communication. We value artistic commitment, creative relationship between screen and dance, and thoughtful presentations. We're looking for films that are true to the artists' voice in an effort to curate entertaining compilations of films. We accept and present films of all production values and budget sizes. We are interested in films that incorporate site specific locations as inspiration for the work and pieces that incorporate visual art in some way, but are not limited to these elements.
This festival exists to bring people together across nations with an aim to develop personal relationships and artistic dialogue.
Cash prizes will be awarded to the top voted on film via the Vimeo Online Playlist. Audience members choose their favorites and prize amounts will be based on festival ticket sales.