A decade of STIFF
The 10th anniversary edition of STIFF is upon us, and who better to introduce us to the new decade of the best student films than our program director Maša Drndić, who is also the co-initiator of the festival;
Welcome to the 10th edition of the International Student Film Festival – STIFF!
Founded in 2014 as a meeting point for cinematic art, youthful passion and cultural exchange, STIFF presents the best student and debut films from all parts of the world. The festival is a collaboration between Filmaktiv, the Student Cultural Centre of the University of Rijeka, and Art-kino, evolving into a central platform that bridges continents and ideas through cinematic art.
From its humble beginnings, STIFF has featured over 450 short and medium-length films of various genres, organised seven multimedia exhibitions, hosted numerous workshops and panel discussions, as well as some very entertaining events.
However, STIFF is more than just a festival. Our vision is to create an international communication platform that encourages education, dialogue, and cooperation among young film talents from Croatia, the region, and beyond. To date, our team has mentored over 200 students from various fields – from design, video, translation, curatorial practices, journalism, to the organization and production of cultural events. We maintain close ties with prestigious film schools and art academies and establish collaborations and guest appearances with numerous domestic and international film festivals and organizations.
This year’s theme, “Decade,” encourages us to look at the changes that have taken place over the past decade. Over five days, our competition program will showcase 40 short films (documentary, fiction, animation and experimental) from 17 countries around the world, grouped into 11 program blocks. We explore global and individual transformations and examine how film captures the zeitgeist in the era of post-truth and social division. We celebrate the complexity of growth, whether through the evolution of the festival, its makers, film artists, or the art of film itself, which continues to surprise and challenge us.
This year’s accompanying program kicks off with the exhibition of international artists Démodé and continues with a rich workshop and discussion segment called Arcade. The exhibition features more than fifteen artists who reflect on global and personal change in their audiovisual works. Workshops and discussions explore transience, economic and political conditions, and interpersonal relationships that influence filmmaking, art, and our daily lives.
This milestone edition of STIFF is thus a tribute to times gone by, an analytical reflection on the present, and a contemplation of the future.
Thank you for sharing this important moment with us.
Long live the film, culture, and another remarkable decade of STIFF!
Maša Drndić
Artistic Director of the Stiff Festival