Welcome to the second edition of Joutseno Art Summer International Film Festival. After a successful experience in June 2023, we are more determined to organise another enriching event in September 2024 to highlight the importance of the UN SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) and celebrate independent filmmaking.

To highlight the importance of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), Joutseno College (Joutsenon Opisto in Finnish) is holding the second international film festival called Joutseno Art Summer International Film Festival 2024 (JASIFF 2024) in the pleasant atmosphere and the great natural scenery of Lake Saimaa just 2.5 hours train trip from Helsinki, the capital city of Finland.

Joutseno College, which organises the festival, has been an established educational provider of arts and languages for over 70 years, and it is well equipped and has partnerships to allow the preparation of such a programme that includes both outdoor and indoor activities.

As an addition to the college's Art Summer programme running for decades, this festival provides not only a novel cinematic experience for audiences as well as filmmakers, but it also renders an opportunity to reflect on the future of our planet emphasising on the role and responsibilities of us as human beings.

Our main goal with Joutseno Art Summer International Film Festival series is to help maximise the engagement of select independent filmmakers who choose to challenge and reflect on global scale problems. The festival would offer filmmakers a unique opportunity to screen their works in one of the most scenic venues and locations in Finland!

In addition to live screenings, we offer:
❄ networking events
❄ open dialogue sessions
❄ pre/post festival sessions
❄ an extensive network of different stakeholders
❄ a guided tour of Lappeenranta

Visit our website https://www.joutsenonopisto.fi/ff2024 for more information and updates.

Joutseno Art Summer International Film Festival, its partners, and a team of internationally recognised judges hope to bring various enriching experiences of the “silver screen” and its related fields to highlight message of sustainable development.

We encourage submissions of a variety of genres and lengths, released in or after 2021. Artists whose works concentrate on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are welcome to submit their films using the special track and discounted fees offered. UN Sustainable Development Goals 1(No poverty), 2 (Zero hunger), 12 (responsible consumption and production), and 13 (Climate action) are discounted. We are excited to review and showcase feature films, social impact documentaries, and films with a focus on education, human rights, gender equality, and justice.

• Best Feature Film (More than 40 minutes)
• Best Short Film (Less than 40 minutes)
• Best Feature Documentary (More than 40 minutes)
• Best Short Documentary (Less than 40 minutes)
• Special Track SDG Goal 1: No Poverty (More than 20 minutes)
• Special Track SDG Goal 2: Zero Hunger (More than 20 minutes)
• Special Track SDG Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
(More than 20minutes)
• Special Track SDG Goal 13: Climate Action (More than 20 minutes)
• Best Student Production (Between 10 and 40 minutes: proof of studentship is required)
• Best Animation (More than 12 minutes)
• Best Mobile Phone Production (More than 6 minutes)
• Best Video Game Art (Between 2 and 5 minutes)

✓All films must be submitted in English or with English subtitles (if made in a different language).
✓ All films must be made in/after 2021.
✓ They must not have been among previous edition's nominations or winners.
✓ Films must adhere to the time specified for the category they sign up for.
✓ Filmmakers are responsible for sorting out the copyright on their own materials.
✓ By submitting your project, you give us consent and right to screen your film in front of live audience, and, under special circumstances, online screening. Joutseno Art Summer International Film Festival does not pay for screenings nor is it liable for any compensation thereunto.
✓ Nominations: These are all the films that have been nominated for an award in one of the categories. The festival organiser decides, how many and which movies will be chosen for the official selection, and which of these films will be screened at the festival. The number and distribution of films that will be screened is decided by the festival organiser within the framework of the arrangements and schedules.
✓ We may promote clips from your film on social media, based on the press kits you provide us with. To achieve maximum visibility, make sure that you have a 30-second trailer, a poster, some photos, and other promotional materials (if available) and that you upload to FilmFreeway before you click the button to finalise your submission.
✓ We retain the right to change the date and venue of the festival under special circumstances. All filmmakers will be informed about any such changes through email and on our online platforms.
✓ We place no restrictions on your work in terms of premiere status or whether it has been shown earlier.
✓ We do not accept partial screeners, trailers, or screener links that require any access other than password protected links.
✓ Any technical issues with the submitted films are 100% the responsibility of the filmmakers. If, at the time of judging, your video file does not work or does not have English subtitles (if in a language other than English), it will be automatically disqualified, without a refund. Please contact the festival team in good time if there are any issues with the submission process.
✓ We do not provide refunds, nor do we pay for screenings.
✓ We do not offer visa assistance; however, we can provide a letter if your submission has received the "Nomination" status. This letter could be presented to the Finnish immigration authorities as part of your application material. We, however, bear no responsibility of the final decision made by the concerned parties.
✓ Film representatives who have submitted their film are welcome to take part in the film festival events on site. Travelling to the festival venue is one’s own decision for which they are fully responsible. Each nominated film or one on official selection gets two (2) festival passes which will give free access to the festival red carpet, opening ceremony and screenings. All travel arrangements and the due expenses are the sole responsibility of the film representatives.
✓ By submitting to Joutseno Art Summer International Film Festival, you agree to our terms and conditions and to receiving marketing newsletters and discounts about film festivals in the form of emails. We will never sell your information to third parties.
✓ We reserve the right to update our terms and conditions.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Arvind Appadourai

    Excellent festival with a clear editorial line. Really enjoyed being a part of it.

    September 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you Arvind!
    It was so nice to see you in Lappeenranta during the festival and enjoyed the chats we had.
    And congratulations on the award you won; you deserved it!
    We hope to see you again in our future events.

  • Lony Ruhmann

    Uplifting, good energy film festival.

    July 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you very much. It was a pleasure to arrange the festival that has brought us good reviews such as yours.
    We hope our next edition will be better and more exciting.
    See you next year!