IN THE PALACE International Short Film Festival

Founded in 2003 IN THE PALACE is a renowned international festival dedicated to the promotion of short films, new media and digital arts up to 27 minutes in length.

The main purpose of the Festival is to present and promote the contemporary short film art from Bulgaria, Europe, and the world. In 2017 IN THE PALACE received an EFFE Festival Label from The European Festivals Association, and with its most recent – 15th – edition in 2018, it holds the honor of being approved by the OSCAR® Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to choose a number of eligible films for their consideration in the categories of Best Animation, Best Fiction and Best National Film of the Academy Awards®.

The festival traditionally take place within a week, in the former residence of Queen Marie, situated in the beautiful seaside town of Balchik and consists of several essential activities, such as:

  • International and national competitive programme in 4 genres: fiction, documentary, animation, experimental
  • ON FOCUS programme
  • Q&A-sessions
  • Filmer Forge: Educational Programme for young professionals, Industry Meetings and Pitching Panel
  • Videolibrary
  • USHI Film Festival – side kids programme
  • MUSIC PALACE FEST – side musical programme and open-air parties every night

IN THE PALACE is organized by Format SFF Foundation, Veshtina Municipal Centre and National Institute for Culture Research and Policies, in partnership and with the support of National Cultural Institute – Cultural Center “The Palace” – Balchik, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Bulgarian National Film Center and the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Commission.