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Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Film Festival

Coordinates: 44°59′5.3″N 93°15′17″W / 44.984806°N 93.25472°W / 44.984806; -93.25472
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The Main Cinema, where most of over 200 films in the MSPIFF are shown.

The Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF) is an annual springtime film festival in the U.S. state of Minnesota that has been held since 1981. It began as the Rivertown Film Festival[1] of Pine City and eventually grew to become the largest film event in the Upper Midwest, with an annual attendance that exceeds 40,000.

Historically lauded for being one of the world's finest showcases of Scandinavian films, the festival features an eclectic lineup of films from more than 70 countries and cultures around the world. Locally produced material is also highlighted through a series called Minnesota Made, or MN Made.

Organization

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The Festival is organized by the MSP Film Society, a 501(c)(3) non-profit film exhibition organization that also operates The Main Cinema along the Mississippi River on historic Main Street across from downtown Minneapolis. Several other venues around the Twin Cities also participate in the film festival.

In addition to film screenings, the festival also hosts a number of panels and discussions. Some of these panels relate to a specific film included within the festival lineup, with others pertaining to general industry topics.[2]

History

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In 2023, MSPIFF screened Cue the Strings: a Film about Low, a documentary about the Minnesota band Low directed by Twin Cities filmmaker Philip Harder.[3]

In 2024, two-time Academy Award winning cinematographer Roger Deakins, a frequent collaborator of Minnesota filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen, attended MSPIFF and took part in an industry night event, book signing, and screening of Fargo followed by a Q&A.[4]

Reception

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In December 2014, the Film Society attracted national attention when it became one of the few distributors in the country to exhibit the controversial film The Interview after Sony Pictures reinstated the film's theatrical release after scrapping it amidst threats from hackers purportedly associated with the North Korean government.[5]

Awards

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Juried Competition Awards

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Emerging Filmaker Competition

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MSPIFF43 - 2024[6]

Documentary Competition

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MSPIFF43 - 2024[6]

Animated Shorts Competition

MSPIFF43 - 2024[6]

  • Winner: Tennis, Oranges, dir. Sean Pecknold, USA, 2024
  • Honorable Mention: Bluebird in the Wind, dir. Ellis Kayin Chan, Hong Kong, 2023

Documentary Shorts Competition

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MSPIFF43 - 2024[6]

  • Winner: The Only Girl in the Orchestra, dir. Molly O'Brien, USA, 2023
  • Special Jury Award: Through the Storm, dir. Fritz Bitsole & Charles Frank, USA, 2023
  • Artistic Merit Award: Salone Love, dir. Tajana B Williams, USA/Sierra Leone, 2023

Fiction Shorts Competition

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MSPIFF43 - 2024[6]

  • Winner: Muna, dir. Warda Mohamed, UK, 2023
  • Honorable Mention: Layaway, dir. Kaitlyn T. Busbee, USA, 2023

Audience Choice Awards

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MSPIFF43 - 2024[6]

  • Fiction Feature: Bonjour Switzerland, dir. Peter Luisi, Switzerland, 2023
  • Documentary Feature: Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted, dir. Isaac Gale & Ryan Olson, USA, 2024
  • Fiction Short: Mis-Alignment, dir. Pablo Riesgo Almonacid, USA, 2023
  • Documentary Short: Uncle Bully's Surf Skool, dir. Leah Warshowski, USA, 2023
  • Animated Short: Luki and the Lights, dir. Toni Cochran, Netherlands, 2023

References

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  1. ^ Becca Most (December 23, 2020). "Al Milgrom, 'founder' of Twin Cities film scene, dies at 98". West Central Tribune. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  2. ^ "43nd Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival - APRIL 11-25, 2024 – MSPIFF42 PARTIES / PANELS". MSP Film Society. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  3. ^ Riemenschneider, Chris (2023-04-20). "Twin Cities filmmaker premieres movie on Duluth band Low after singer Mimi Parker's death". www.startribune.com. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  4. ^ Hewitt, Chris (2024-04-16). "Two-time Oscar winner Roger Deakins will be at Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival". www.startribune.com. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  5. ^ "Mpls. Film Society to screen 'The Interview'". KARE. December 23, 2014. Archived from the original on December 24, 2014. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h "MSPIFF | MSPIFF43 JURY AWARD WINNERS – FEATURE FILMS". MSP Film. Archived from the original on 2025-03-22. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
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44°59′5.3″N 93°15′17″W / 44.984806°N 93.25472°W / 44.984806; -93.25472