What is the Leiden International Film Festival?
11 days filled with premieres, special film events, parties and more: that’s the Leiden International Film Festival. LIFF was founded in 2006 and has grown into one of the most important film festivals in the Netherlands. The 2023 edition will take place from October 26 to November 5, and will feature over 100 films from all over the globe, ranging from arthouse films to mainstream movies, and everything in between!
For seventeen years, the Leiden International Film Festival has shown a wonderful selection of films that stand out and are worth a look. Premieres of gems that no one knows about yet, indie films that will be talked about for years to come, and award-winning crowd pleasers from major international festivals.
The eighteenth edition of the Leiden International Film Festival focuses on the three pillars that have made the festival so great, each with its own competition during the festival: Independent (independent films, American Indie Competition), Emerging (makers of the future, First Feature Competition) and Extraordinary (exceptionally special, Bonkers! Competition).
That is what LIFF is all about: screening the best films (for the first time) in the Netherlands, and all that without making a big fuss about it!
Independent
Films from established authors and independent makers with their own style. Premieres, previews, and festival favorites.
American Indie Competition
Original, authentic, and always special. American indie is filmmaking without the big money of Hollywood. In this program, you will see not only the best independent American films but also the stars of the future. The makers are talented, promising, and at the beginning of their careers. Today in the LIFF American Indie Competition – tomorrow on stage at the Oscars. But we know how they started: as filmmakers who want to do things their own way. And that’s something you keep seeing.
| Year | Movie | Director(s) |
| 2022 | Vengeance | B. J. Novak |
| 2021 | Mass | Fran Kranz |
| 2020 | Nomadland | Chloé Zhao |
| 2019 | The Peanut Butter Falcon | Tyler Nilson, Michael Schwartz |
| 2018 | Leave No Trace | Debra Granik |
| 2017 | Menashe | Joshua Z Weinstein |
| 2016 | Burn Your Maps | Jordan Roberts |
| 2015 | Me and Earl and the Dying Girl | Alfonso Gomez-Rejon |
| 2014 | Whiplash | Damien Chazelle |
| 2013 | Short Term 12 | Destin Cretton |
Emerging
Discoveries from all over the world. Upcoming and standout films by talented and promising directors and actors.
First Feature Competition
In the First Feature Competition, we present international filmmakers and their first full-length films. Discover your future favorite director today – at the Leiden International Film Festival.
| Year | Film | Director(s) |
| 2022 | Everybody Hates Johan | Hallvar Witzø |
| 2021 | Death of a virgin, and the sin of not living | George Peter Barbari |
Extraordinary
A film festival is often about more than just watching films. The screenings that are so special that they simply don’t fit inside a box can be found under Extraordinary: Selections.
Bonkers! Competition
Bonkers! is a whirlwind trip through innovative, strange, and otherworldly films that break the boundaries of genres and look for new ways to reverently smash sacred houses. Sometimes absurd, sometimes shocking, but always good, or at least good for a discussion afterwards. Join us down the rabbit hole and experience the film festival in its, shall we say, purest form.
| Year | Film | Director(s) |
| 2022 | The Menu | Mark Mylod |
| 2021 | Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes | Junta Yamaguchi |
| 2018 | Sorry to bother you | Boots Riley |
Press
Looking for more information or wish to come into contact with LIFF directly? Check out the LIFF Press page. Here you will also find images, logos and information about press accreditation for Leiden International Film Festival.
Awards
Alexander Mouret Award
Named after our former festival director, the Alexander Mouret Award celebrates excellence for a film that dares to take risks, is driven by genuine interest and is clear of pretentiousness. It’s our ultimate LIFF film of the year.
| Year | Movie | Director(s) |
| 2022 | How to blow up a pipeline | Daniel Goldhaber |
| 2021 | Ich Bin Dein Mensch | Maria Schrader |
Youth Jury Award
The Youth Jury has been part of LIFF since 2021. Young talent and enthusiasm for film come together in this jury. The youth jury adds a new, fresh look to the film festival.
| Year | Movie | Director(s) |
| 2022 | Close | Lukas Dhont |
| 2021 | Ninja Baby | Yngvild Sve Flikke |
Audience Award
The title says it all: the Audience Award is won by the film that has been given the highest score by the LIFF audience. Your vote counts!
| Year | Film | Director(s) |
| 2022 | Rose | Niels Arden Oplev |
| 2021 | Maixabel | Icíar Bollaín |
| 2020 | Supernova | Harry McQueen |
| 2019 | Hors Normes | Éric Toledano en Olivier Nakache |
| 2018 | Werk Ohne Autor | Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck |
| 2017 | Vele hemels boven de zevende | Jan Matthys |
| 2016 | Toni Erdmann | Maren Ade |
| 2015 | Le Tout Nouveau Testament | Jaco van Dormael |
| 2014 | Pride | Matthew Warchus |
LIFF throughout the year
The Leiden International Film Festival has devoted itself to defining the cinematic image of Leiden throughout the year. We do so by providing programs in collaboration with other events such as the ‘El Cid’ introduction week for students. In addition to collaboration, we host our own programs, such as the annual LIFF Summer Special – three days of open-air cinema at a beautiful location in Leiden.
Education
LIFF is active in secondary schools throughout the year. With film teaching materials, and with the Scholieren Filmfestival Leiden, a unique project in which we help six Leiden schools organize their own film festival.