Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Film Festival

The Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF) is an annual springtime film festival in the U.S. state of Minnesota that has been held since 1981. It began as the Rivertown Film Festival of Pine City and eventually grew to become the largest film event in the Upper Midwest, with an annual attendance that exceeds 40,000.

Historically lauded for being one of the world's finest showcases of Scandinavian films, the festival features an eclectic lineup of films from more than 70 countries and cultures around the world. Locally produced material is also highlighted through a series called Minnesota Made, or MN Made.

Organization

The Festival is organized by the MSP Film Society, a 501(c)(3) non-profit film exhibition organization that also operates The Main Cinema along the Mississippi River on historic Main Street across from downtown Minneapolis. Several other venues around the Twin Cities also participate in the film festival.

In addition to film screenings, the festival also hosts a number of panels and discussions. Some of these panels relate to a specific film included within the festival lineup, with others pertaining to general industry topics.

History

In 2023, MSPIFF screened ''Cue the Strings: a Film about Low'', a documentary about the Minnesota band Low directed by Twin Cities filmmaker Philip Harder.

In 2024, two-time Academy Award winning cinematographer Roger Deakins, a frequent collaborator of Minnesota filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen, attended MSPIFF and took part in an industry night event, book signing, and screening of Fargo followed by a Q&A.

Reception

In December 2014, the Film Society attracted national attention when it became one of the few distributors in the country to exhibit the controversial film ''The Interview'' after Sony Pictures reinstated the film's theatrical release after scrapping it amidst threats from hackers purportedly associated with the North Korean government.

Awards

Juried Competition Awards

Emerging Filmaker Competition

MSPIFF43 - 2024

* Winner: '' Girls Will Be Girls'', dir. Shuchi Talati, India/France/USA/Norway, 2024
* Special Jury Award: '' Foremost by Night'', dir. Victor Iriarte, Spain/Portugal/France, 2023

Documentary Competition

MSPIFF43 - 2024

* Winner: ''Sugarcane'', dir. Julian Brave NoiseCat & Emily Kassie, Canada/USA, 2024
* Special Jury Award for Innovation: ''Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted'', dir. Isaac Gale & Ryan Olson, USA, 2024
* Special Jury Award for Directing: '' Porcelain War'', dir. Brendan Bellomo & Slava Leontyev, Ukraine/USA/Australia, 2024

Animated Shorts Competition

MSPIFF43 - 2024

* Winner: ''Tennis, Oranges'', dir. Sean Pecknold, USA, 2024
* Honorable Mention: ''Bluebird in the Wind'', dir. Ellis Kayin Chan, Hong Kong, 2023

Documentary Shorts Competition

MSPIFF43 - 2024

* Winner: '' The Only Girl in the Orchestra'', dir. Molly O'Brien, USA, 2023
* Special Jury Award: ''Through the Storm'', dir. Fritz Bitsole & Charles Frank, USA, 2023
* Artistic Merit Award: ''Salone Love'', dir. Tajana B Williams, USA/Sierra Leone, 2023

Fiction Shorts Competition

MSPIFF43 - 2024

* Winner: ''Muna'', dir. Warda Mohamed, UK, 2023
* Honorable Mention: ''Layaway'', dir. Kaitlyn T. Busbee, USA, 2023

Audience Choice Awards

MSPIFF43 - 2024

* Fiction Feature: ''Bonjour Switzerland'', dir. Peter Luisi, Switzerland, 2023
* Documentary Feature: ''Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted'', dir. Isaac Gale & Ryan Olson, USA, 2024
* Fiction Short: ''Mis-Alignment'', dir. Pablo Riesgo Almonacid, USA, 2023
* Documentary Short: ''Uncle Bully's Surf Skool'', dir. Leah Warshowski, USA, 2023
* Animated Short: ''Luki and the Lights'', dir. Toni Cochran, Netherlands, 2023

References

External links

MSPIFF and Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival
website

Film festivals in Minnesota
Culture of Minneapolis
Culture of Saint Paul, Minnesota
Tourist attractions in Minneapolis

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