9th Zsigmond Vilmos International Film Festival to take place in May 2025
Photo from the closing ceremony of the 2024 ZSIFF. Szilvia Molnar / Szegedify
This time held in the spring, the festival honoring the work of cinematographers is also accepting video submissions in addition to films.
The eighth edition has barely concluded, but due to a schedule change, submissions are already open for the 9th Zsigmond Vilmos International Film Festival (ZSIFF), the event’s organizers announced in a press release. After two autumn events, the festival returns to its spring date: the event will take place from May 27 to 31, 2025.
The call for entries is now open. Video clips are also eligible for submission for the first time in the festival’s history, alongside feature films, short films, and documentaries created after January 1, 2023. The deadline to submit is midnight on January 15, 2025.
A new addition this year is the use of the FilmFreeway platform for submissions. Filmmakers must complete their registration, upload their films, and pay the entry fee through the platform, ensuring all rules are followed.
Creators are welcome to submit multiple works, and the festival is particularly seeking films that demonstrate innovative cinematography. While visual artistry will be a key focus, the jury will also evaluate the overall artistic quality of each film.
In addition to the new category, the Hungarian Cinematographers' Week section remains part of the competition program, with the award recipient selected by members of the Hungarian Cinematographers' Association (HCA). The organizers will announce the full competition lineup on January 31, 2025, based on the decision of a professional pre-selection jury comprised of renowned cinematographers and directors.
In addition to the main festival jury, led by Gábor Szabó, cinematographer and recipient of the Balázs Béla Award, prizes will also be awarded by a critics’ jury, a student jury, a jury composed of feature film directors, and the city of Szeged. The annual showcase, which focuses on the art of cinematography, will once again be held at the Belvárosi Mozi in Szeged.
Additional information regarding submissions can be found in the:
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