2025
The Slavic International Film Festival in Los Angeles invites filmmakers of Slavic heritage to submit their work.
We are seeking documentaries and short films that showcase the creative endeavors of filmmakers from various Slavic countries, including but not limited to Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Russia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Ukraine, Croatia, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, North Macedonia and Montenegro. Our festival aims to highlight the voices and stories of Slavic culture in all its diversity.
Submissions should align with our festival's mission to not only showcase films but also to foster a deeper understanding of Slavic cultures, promote dialogue among diverse audiences, and inspire artists worldwide.
September 20, 2026.
Online
The Best Documentary
Awarded to the producers and director for outstanding documentary filmmaking.
The Best Cultural Representation
Recognizes a documentary that excellently portrays Slavic culture.
Faith and Foundation Award
Honors a documentary that explores the Slavic religious community in the US.
The Best Cinematography
For outstanding cinematography by a cinematographer of Slavic heritage.
The Best Debut
Given to the producers, director, or cinematographer for the best first independent or student documentary film.
Audience Choice Award
Determined by audience votes for their favorite short film.
The Best Short
Awarded to the producers and director for the best short film.
The Best Cultural Integration
Recognizes a short film that effectively integrates Slavic culture into its narrative.
The Best Slavic Character
Awarded to the producers, director, and actor for creating and portraying a compelling Slavic character.
The Best Cinematography
For outstanding cinematography by a cinematographer of Slavic heritage.
The Best Debut
Given to the producers, director, or cinematographer for the best first independent or student documentary film.
Audience Choice Award
Determined by audience votes for their favorite short film.
Eligibility
Open to filmmakers of Slavic heritage or films centered on Slavic themes.
Film Length
Documentaries should not exceed 20 minutes; short films should not exceed 20 minutes.
Language
Films can be in any language but must include English subtitles if not in English.
Submission Format: Accept digital submissions via secure screener links (e.g., Vimeo).
JUDGES
Sasha Razor is a screenwriter and lecturer in Germanic and Slavic Studies and Film and Media Studies at UC Santa Barbara. She earned her PhD in Slavic Languages and Literatures from UCLA in 2020, with a dissertation focused on Soviet screenwriting in the 1920s and 1930s.
Michelson produced few films including the feature film "Sonhos de Peixe," which won award at the Cannes Film Festival in 2006.
Festival crew
Director of the festival
Rimma Panina is an accomplished cinematographer, writer, and producer with a rich background in film production. She is currently spearheading an exciting new project, the International Slavic Film Festival, in collaboration with a diverse and trusted team of friends. This initiative aims to shift the perception of the Slavic world from Russian-centric to Slavic-centric and address the underrepresentation of Slavic culture in the US. In addition to her creative endeavors, Rimma enhances the academic and creative environment at Saddleback College as a laboratory technician in the Cinema, TV, and Radio Department, and supports female filmmakers as an event coordinator for the on-campus club LoFI. Her work organizing the LoFI Film Festival for the last four years further showcases her dedication to fostering talent and promoting diverse cultural narratives within the cinematic landscape.
Producer, host
Misha Suvorov is a trained actor from the city of theaters, Saint Petersburg, Russia. He graduated Sanford Meisner Center in 2016 and works on stage, TV and in film. Coming from an artsy soviet intelligentsia family, he enjoyed a privilege of having the best of what late soviet era of underground arts could offer. As of his acting style, Misha undertook Konstantin Stanislavski's method study and additional training in Mikhail Chekov's technique. In 2013 Misha arrived at Hollywood were he studied at Sanford Meisner Center of Los Angeles to learn an American way of acting. In 2024 his solo acting stage performance The Boarder won the Best of The Actors' group during the Hollywood Fringe festival.
Content Manager
Igor has been working in the movie industry for more than a decade, specializing in audio. Born and raised in Moscow, where his early life experience shaped his appreciation for art as a medium for social and political expression, he then moved to Los Angeles in 2014 to pursue a career in film and video production and honed his craft through former training in audio production in LA Film School and in
Partnership, sponsorship and accreditation
We invite you to join our network of partners in supporting a vision of peaceful coexistence and meaningful collaboration, transcending political agendas and conflicts of dominance.
DeepARTment, the organizational body behind thefestival, is a nonprofit charity powered by volunteers and donations from generous individuals and organizations. We are committed to helping creative immigrants rediscover their voices and express themselves in their new environments, alleviating the stresses of survival and cultural adaptation.
If you’re looking to engage with our audience through your products, services, or ideas, consider opportunities such as providing catering, coffee breaks, custom T-shirts and merchandise, or printing services. Your team could also volunteer to assist with greeting guests, preparing event spaces, or handling post-event cleanup. We’re always open to your suggestions for new ways to collaborate.
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By supporting DeepARTment, you indirectly foster opportunities for artists to enrich society through their work. DeepARTment exists to enable creators to produce more art, and art is the essence of what makes us human.
Let’s celebrate creativity as a force for peace and humanity— your support can help us achieve this.
We’re here to make your job easier! Our team is happy to provide information, ideas, interviews, stills, and videos to help you create compelling stories for your audience.
If you’re interested in using festival as a promotional opportunity for your media outlet, we’d love to discuss options for coverage in exchange for placing your logo on our flyers, banners, festival programs, website, ticketing platforms, and social media. Let’s collaborate creatively and establish a partnership that benefits us both.
Additionally, offering informational support to a nonprofit is considered a charitable contribution and may benefit your tax filings.
With our team of media professionals who understand the needs of your audience, working with DeepARTment is sure to be a smooth and rewarding experience.
September 20, 2025
Online
5 PM PDT. West Hollywood International Film Festival.
Presented by Russian Speaking Advisory Board of City of West Hollywood and RimoVision Group.
With the support of Navalny LA Group and RADR (Russian Americans for Democracy in Russia).
We believe that when people create together, it becomes difficult to remain enemies.
Collaboration fosters trust, a sense of safety, and ultimately, happiness.