About LIFF

Founded in 2006, the Leiden International Film Festival (LIFF) has become one of the leading film festivals in the Netherlands showcasing feature films that examine the border between art-house and mainstream from all over the world. The 2022 edition will take place from November 3 till November 13, and will feature over 100 films from all over the globe, ranging from arthouse to mainstream, and everything in between.

For sixteen years now, the Leiden International Film Festival has shown a wonderful selection of films that are all worth discovering. Premières of gems that no one yet knows about, indies that we will be talked about for years to come, and award-winning crowd pleasers from major international festivals.

The seventeenth edition of Leiden International Film Festival focuses on the three pillars that made the festival great, each with its own competition during the festival: Independent (independent films, American Indie Competition), Emerging (makers of the future, First Feature Competition) and Extraordinary (exceptionally special, Bonkers! Competition).

That is what LIFF is all about: screening the best films (as the very first) in the Netherlands, and all that without making a big fuss about it.

Alexander Mouret Award

Named after our former festival director, the Alexander Mouret Award celebrates excellence for a film that dares to take risks, is driven by genuine interest and clear of pretentiousness. It's our ultimate LIFF-film of this year:

2022 - How To Blow Up A Pipeline - Daniel Goldhaber
2021 - Ich Bin Dein Mensch - Maria Schrader

American Indie Competition

The American Indie Competition is LIFF’s main competition that focuses entirely on American independent cinema. Young American talents who are yet unknown to international audiences are invited to enter the competition, where they can take their first steps into the global limelight. The competition films are selected from among the year’s newest productions.

Previous winners:
2021 - Mass - Fran Kranz
2020 - Nomadland - Chloé Zhao
2019 - The Peanut Butter Falcon - Tyler Nilson, Michael Schwartz
2018 - Leave No Trace - Debra Granik
2017 - Menashe - Joshua Z Weinstein
2016 - Burn Your Maps - Jordan Roberts
2015 - Me and Earl and the Dying Girl - Alfonso Gomez-Rejon
2014 - Whiplash - Damien Chazelle
2013 - Short Term 12 - Destin Cretton

Throughout the year

The LIFF devotes itself to define the cinematic image of Leiden throughout the year. By providing programs in collaboration with other events such as the Leiden Comedy Festival, the Museum Night or the ‘El Cid’ introduction week for students. But also by expanding our own programs such as the annual LIFF Summer Special – three days of open air cinema in Leiden.