Saint Petersburg International Experimental Film Festival (SPIEXFF)
emerged as a response to the fragmentation of the experimental filmmaking community in Russia and as a platform for collaboration with international filmmakers and curators. We aim to bring together people passionate about unconventional practices for the exchange of experience and the promotion of independent cinema.
SPIEXFF focuses on films that defy clear classification: they balance on the border between narrative and documentary approaches, cinematic and exhibition spaces, analog and digital practices.
We are also dedicated to exploring experimentation itself, asking how this cinema resists established genres, methods, institutions, and industries, while simultaneously transforming them, which makes it experimental, and examining the place it occupies within the visual arts.
The festival is open to both emerging and experienced filmmakers who are not afraid to experiment and fail, as well as to invent their own methods of shooting, editing, and presenting films.
SPIEXFF is an independent, non-profit project run by a curatorial team from around the world.
emerged as a response to the fragmentation of the experimental filmmaking community in Russia and as a platform for collaboration with international filmmakers and curators. We aim to bring together people passionate about unconventional practices for the exchange of experience and the promotion of independent cinema.
SPIEXFF focuses on films that defy clear classification: they balance on the border between narrative and documentary approaches, cinematic and exhibition spaces, analog and digital practices.
We are also dedicated to exploring experimentation itself, asking how this cinema resists established genres, methods, institutions, and industries, while simultaneously transforming them, which makes it experimental, and examining the place it occupies within the visual arts.
The festival is open to both emerging and experienced filmmakers who are not afraid to experiment and fail, as well as to invent their own methods of shooting, editing, and presenting films.
SPIEXFF is an independent, non-profit project run by a curatorial team from around the world.
about
SPIEXFF is now calling for entries for first edition.
The festival focuses on new works that develop their own visual language and explore unconventional perspectives and forms. SPIEXFF has been conceived as an open platform for innovative, surprising, and original approaches to experimental cinema.
The festival focuses on new works that develop their own visual language and explore unconventional perspectives and forms. SPIEXFF has been conceived as an open platform for innovative, surprising, and original approaches to experimental cinema.
Submission
Language
Films in languages other than English must include English subtitles.
Selection
- All submissions are reviewed by the SPIEXFF selection committee.
- Selected films will be notified by email.
- Selected films may not be withdrawn from the festival program.
Eligibility
- Films completed after 1 January 2025 are eligible.
- Maximum running time: 30 minutes.
- The competition is open to filmmakers of all nationalities.
- Premiere requirement: Russian premiere
General Conditions
The International Competition is open to citizens or residents of all countries worldwide, as well as Russian films produced in co-production with other countries.
- By submitting a film, the applicant confirms that all necessary rights have been secured.
- SPIEXFF reserves the right to use excerpts (up to 15 seconds) and submitted materials for non-commercial promotional purposes.
- Submission implies acceptance of these regulations.
Please read the regulations carefully before you submit.
Submission Period
Submissions open : 20 February 2026.
Submission deadline: 10 June 2026.
Submission Fee: 500 rub / 5 euro
Submission deadline: 10 June 2026.
- Submissions must be made via the official Google form.
- An online screener is required.
- The screener link must remain valid until the end of the selection process.
Submission Fee: 500 rub / 5 euro
international competition
General Conditions
- By submitting a film, the applicant confirms that all necessary rights have been secured.
- SPIEXFF reserves the right to use excerpts (up to 15 seconds) and submitted materials for non-commercial promotional purposes.
- Submission implies acceptance of these regulations.
Please read the regulations carefully before you submit.
Submission Period
Submissions open : 20 February 2026.
Submission deadline: 10 June 2026.
Submission Fee: 500 rub / 5 euro
Submission deadline: 10 June 2026.
- Submissions must be made via the official Google form.
- An online screener is required.
- The screener link must remain valid until the end of the selection process.
Submission Fee: 500 rub / 5 euro
Language
All films must include English subtitles.
Selection
- All submissions are reviewed by the SPIEXFF selection committee.
- Selected films will be notified by email.
- Selected films may not be withdrawn from the festival program.
Eligibility
The competition is open to filmmakers who are citizens of the Russian Federation, residents of Russia, or whose films are produced in Russia.
- Films completed after 1 January 2025 are eligible.
- Maximum running time: 30 minutes.
- Premiere requirement: Russian premiere
RUSSIAN COMPETITION
SPIEXFF is now calling for entries for first edition.
The festival focuses on new works that develop their own visual language and explore unconventional perspectives and forms. SPIEXFF has been conceived as an open platform for innovative, surprising, and original approaches to experimental cinema.
The festival focuses on new works that develop their own visual language and explore unconventional perspectives and forms. SPIEXFF has been conceived as an open platform for innovative, surprising, and original approaches to experimental cinema.
Submission
Language
Films in languages other than English must include English subtitles.
Selection
- All submissions are reviewed by the SPIEXFF selection committee.
- Selected films will be notified by email.
- Selected films may not be withdrawn from the festival program.
Eligibility
The International Competition is open to citizens or residents of all countries worldwide, as well as Russian films produced in co-production with other countries.
- Films completed after 1 January 2025 are eligible.
- Maximum running time: 30 minutes.
- The competition is open to filmmakers of all nationalities.
- Premiere requirement: Russian premiere.
General Conditions
- By submitting a film, the applicant confirms that all necessary rights have been secured.
- SPIEXFF reserves the right to use excerpts (up to 15 seconds) and submitted materials for non-commercial promotional purposes.
- Submission implies acceptance of these regulations.
Please read the regulations carefully before you submit.
Submission Period
Submissions open : 20 February 2026.
Submission deadline: 10 June 2026.
Submission Fee: 500 rub / 5 euro
Submission deadline: 10 June 2026.
- Submissions must be made via the official Google form.
- An online screener is required.
- The screener link must remain valid until the end of the selection process.
Submission Fee: 500 rub / 5 euro
international competition
General Conditions
- By submitting a film, the applicant confirms that all necessary rights have been secured.
- SPIEXFF reserves the right to use excerpts (up to 15 seconds) and submitted materials for non-commercial promotional purposes.
- Submission implies acceptance of these regulations.
Please read the regulations carefully before you submit.
Submission Period
Submissions open : 20 February 2026.
Submission deadline: 10 June 2026.
Submission Fee: 500 rub / 5 euro
Submission deadline: 10 June 2026.
- Submissions must be made via the official Google form.
- An online screener is required.
- The screener link must remain valid until the end of the selection process.
Submission Fee: 500 rub / 5 euro
Language
All films must include English subtitles.
Selection
- All submissions are reviewed by the SPIEXFF selection committee.
- Selected films will be notified by email.
- Selected films may not be withdrawn from the festival program.
Eligibility
The competition is open to filmmakers who are citizens of the Russian Federation, residents of Russia, or whose films are produced in Russia.
- Films completed after 1 January 2025 are eligible.
- Maximum running time: 30 minutes.
- Premiere requirement: Russian premiere
RUSSIAN COMPETITION
TEAM
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Social Media
Polina Antipova
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Designer
margarita asylgaraeva
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Curator
Francisco Rojas
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Submission Coordinator
Anastasia Nikolaenko
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Designer
anastasia dargis
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Submission Coordinator
Masha Demyanova
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Curator
Mark Petrovitsky
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Curator
Kim Ji-hwan
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Founder, Curator
Gevorg Galstian
