<p><strong>SOFIA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL</strong> is the biggest film festival in Bulgaria. It began in 1997 and attracts more than 85 000 spectators annually. The festival aims to present the best of the contemporary cinema to local audiences and regional Bulgarian and Balkan cinema to international audiences, as well as to encourage cooperation between local and international filmmakers. Since 2003 the festival has International Competition for first and second films and is included in the FIPRESCI calendar. Since 2003 the festival has also competition for regional films and national short films (Jameson Short Film Award). Since 2009 we introduced International documentary competition. In 2007 Variety placed Sofia IFF among the Top 50 world unmissable film events for industry. In 2010 Sofia IFF was accredited by FIAPF as a competitive specialized feature film festival and became the only Bulgarian film festival recognized by FIAPF nowadays. SIFF is the only Bulgarian film festival recognized by FIPRESCI.</p>
