The Gateshead International Film Festival (GIFF) is a three-day annual event celebrating distinctive, challenging cinema from around the world, with a particular focus on underrepresented voices, international co-productions, and filmmakers working outside the dominant commercial centres.
Our mission is to bring new audiences to the North East of England, support local and regional talent, and create a genuine cultural bridge between the North East of England and the wider world of international cinema.
We aim to forge a film festival that will ultimately launch the careers of writers and filmmakers.
The official symbol of our festival is the wild goat, inspired by the town's original name. The goat symbolises pioneerism, curiosity and exploration.
They also represent independence, perseverance, determination and inspire us to pursue our goals even in the face of obstacles. Just as a Goat climbs into the unknown with confidence, we shall embrace the unknown with an adventurous spirit, allowing us to learn more about ourselves and the world around us.
