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International Film Festival Network (IFFN)

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Membership benefits Fees Sign up Trailer FAQs IFFN members
The International Film Festival Network (IFFN) is a membership-based community of film festivals founded in 2023 by the Independent Cinema Office (ICO).

The mission of the network is to secure a vibrant future for film festivals across the world by:

  • fostering new partnerships between festivals
  • promoting best practice and strategic innovation in programming and reaching audiences
  • developing strong organisational structures that encourage the discovery and celebration of the art of film
  • developing the network in collaboration with members so the IFFN continuously evolves and reflects the current needs of festivals
Why ICO?

The ICO is a leading provider of professional development opportunities, training over 5,000 people from over 1,200 organisations and over 80 countries in the last 20 years. This includes over 300 festival professionals via our one-of-a-kind, international Developing Your Film Festival programme.

It is crucial to stay connected with other professionals to share knowledge and expertise across the industry.

We are excited to be part of such an open and collaborative forum, where we can have honest and constructive discussions about practical issues festivals face on a day-to-day basis.

Exclusive membership benefits

  • An invitation to attend an International Film Festival summit hosted in person
  • Invitations to member meetings at major festivals
  • Invitations to regular online discussion sessions (next up in January 2025)
  • Access to best practice case studies and resources
  • Access to online networking with the group – an open forum to share information on key topics including film rights, restorations and job opportunities
  • Facilitation of peer-to-peer knowledge sharing – matching you with one of your peers facing similar challenges or with particular expertise helpful to you 
  • Early-bird access and discounts for ICO training opportunities (currently a range of online courses via our Online Learning Platform are free to access for members)

Become a member

Please note that sessions are conducted in English.

Fees

Membership fees: 

  • €400 per year for smaller festivals (less than 20,000 admissions)
  • €400 per year freelancer rate
  • €800 per year for larger festivals

Sign up

Ready to join? Just fill in our short registration form and we’ll be in touch to confirm your membership, finalise payment and invite you to upcoming IFFN events. We can’t wait to welcome you to the IFFN community. 

Registration form

If you have any questions or would like to speak to a member of the team, please contact: training@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk.

The International Film Festival Network was established after discussions at the ICO’s 2023 Future of Film Festivals Forum, funded by the British Council’s International Collaboration Grant.

Trailer

ICO Director Catharine Des Forges explains why we created the IFFN

FAQs

How do I become a member?

The registration process is quick and simple. When you are ready to register, simply fill in our online registration form and we’ll be in touch to confirm your membership, provide you with more member information and finalise payment.

Is my festival eligible to become a member?

To be eligible you just need to have run at least one edition of your festival.

How long will my membership take to process?

We will take a maximum of four weeks to finalise your membership details. During that time, if we have any questions about your registration, we will be in touch.

How will the membership fees payment be processed?

Once your membership has been finalised, you will be sent an invoice by a member of the ICO team to be paid by the festival. Once the ICO has received the membership fee then your membership is confirmed.

How long does my membership last?

The membership is valid from the date of your membership approval for 12 months.

My festival isn't a member, but I would like to attend an IFFN event.

IFFN events and opportunities are only open to members. If you wish to attend an event at short notice and your festival is not yet a member, simply contact a member of our team as soon as you have completed the registration form and we will try our best to accommodate you.

What other information will be needed to confirm my membership?

Once your membership has been approved, you will be sent a member information survey. After this has been completed and the ICO has received payment for your membership fee, then your membership will be confirmed.

Can other people in my team join IFFN events?

On registration we will ask you if you’d like to include a secondary contact for your festival, who will also receive all IFFN-related communications and will be able to attend events.

I am an individual, not part of a film festival. Am I eligible for membership?

Yes, freelance festival professionals are eligible to join the network at the discretion of the ICO, as long as you can demonstrate at least two years working in film festivals.

What language do you conduct sessions in?

The sessions are conducted in English.

What do I do if I have further questions about membership?

If you have any further queries, please contact our training team via training@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk.

IFFN members

The IFFN has grown to include 24 members from 17 countries, with a combined annual attendance of over 500,000 film fans across the world. Here is our list of members:

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