For the past thirty-six years, Liffe has featured the finest specimens of world cinema and winners of the most prominent festivals (Cannes, Berlin, Venice and Locarno), as well as bold up-and-coming names. The festival is also a place where local filmmakers encounter global trends and dialogue becomes part of the film experience.

The screenings are accompanied by talks with filmmakers, workshops, and round tables, investing our day-to day city living with festive vibe for twelve days. Since its first edition in 1990, the event, launched by Jelka Stergel, has grown into one of Slovenia’s main cultural hubs, annually attracting more than 45,000 viewers. Helmed by Festival Director Simon Popek since 2007, Liffe’s aim remains unchanged: discovering new voices, especially young European filmmakers, and provide Slovenian audiences with an illuminating insight into their work.

The festival presents several awards each year: the Kingfisher Award for Best Young Filmmaker, the Audience Award, the FIPRESCI Prize, and the Best Short Film Award. In recent years, the focus has also been on introducing digital innovation and programmes for young audiences.

Liffe takes place at seven venues in Ljubljana, also bringing the latest cinematic stories to venues across Slovenia (Maribor, Novo mesto and Celje). In 1992, Liffe acquired a license as an official festival of the International Association of Film Producers – FIAPF, thus firmly establishing itself on the map of global film festivals. 

Since its beginning, the festival’s producer has been Cankarjev dom, Cultural and Congress Centre Ljubljana, whose programme is co-financed by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia.