About

VERMONT INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL™
OCTOBER 11 – 20, 2013

• OUTSTANDING FILMS – The best in independent films from around the world
• VERMONT FILMMAKERS’™ – Offering the largest selection of films made by Vermont filmmakers
• FILMMAKERS OF TOMORROW – exciting, provocative, and innovative student films.
• SPECIAL APPEARANCES BY NOTABLE DIRECTORS, ACTORS, FILM INDUSTRY PEOPLE – Q & As, discussion, unique perspectives on today’s cinema

These film groupings – whether narrative or documentary, short or long – around specific themes or series, will highlight and suggest context and connections.

HISTORY

The Vermont International Film Festival was born from the anti-nuclear movement in the 1985, making it the world’s oldest environmental and human rights film festival. Founded by two longtime peace and social justice activists, George and Sonia Cullinen, the inspiration for the festival came from the success of their 1981 film, From Washington to Moscow, which documented a Walk for Peace between two rural towns — Washington and Moscow, Vermont. The film won the UNESCO prize at the 1983 Hiroshima International Film Festival in Japan and taught the Cullinens that film and video could motivate people to become involved in their own communities and elsewhere in the world. VTIFF grew out of this vision.
VTIFF is a proud member of the Human Rights Film Festival Network, an international network of Human Rights film festivals.

The first Vermont International Film Festival was held in 1985 at Marlboro College in southern Vermont. About one hundred people attended the inaugural event. Now based primarily in Burlington, VTIFF has earned a loyal audience for its annual presentation of groundbreaking films spanning the globe, especially films focused on the environment, human rights, and war and peace. Past festival guests have included such activist artists as actor Danny Glover, Bread & Puppet Theater founder Peter Schumann, and historian and playwright Howard Zinn, among others.

Please sign up to receive occasional information. Spread the word to friends and colleagues, and join us on Facebook or Twitter. Contact info@vtiff.org to let us know your thoughts and comments. Let’s make it Our Event.

We need volunteers. For as little as 6 hours of your time you get a free pass to all films and events. Volunteer work starts end of June and continues intermittently until the festival is over. It’s a great opportunity to meet people, watch films and contribute to a wonderful asset in our community. Fill out the form in the Volunteer/Contact section of the sidebar and we’ll get in touch. Please let us know when you’re likely to be available. Thank you!

If you enjoyed last year’s festival and would like to support this year, do consider making a donation. Any amount is appreciated and even $100 entitles you to some free tickets. Larger donations and sponsorships will see your name on screen, your ad in the press and a range of other benefits. The festival is totally dependent on your generosity.

Thanks to all who made last year successful, including you, the audience.

2012
The 27th Vermont International Film Festival ended Oct 28th 2012 with a bang: Sleepless in Burlington was a resounding success, with 4 colleges participating and a full house at the screening. With 44 feature length films from 19 countries, many shorts, the Vermont Filmmakers Showcase™ all in 5 different venues – our attendance rose by almost 40%.