The Madeira Film Festival intends to be Europe’s most exclusive and independent festival. Held at the prestigious Reid’s Palace Hotel The Madeira Film Festival serves as a platform to showcase independent feature, short and documentary films from directors around the world. Indicative of Madeira’s continued commitment to preserve the Natural History, flora and fauna of the island, the festival will present a special environmental category screening worldwide nature orientated films. The aim of the Madeira Film Festival is to encourage creativity in all aspects of film production, not dependent on financial and physical restrictions, gender, geographical location, age or ability. We acknowledge and encourage film making through diversity and ‘out of the box’ thinking and we pay special attention to films ( shorts, docs and features ) pertaining to the environment and it’s relevance and importance in the world we live in today.

The world’s largest Laurissilva forest is located on the island of Madeira. In 1999 the 15,000 hectare indigenous ‘living relic’ was awarded the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site. Through the medium of film MFF intends to enhance education and global awareness of the Laurissilva and its importance to the ecological balance of Madeira thus sustaining the endemic flora and fauna.

The Madeira Film Festival recognizes the integrity of filmmakers around the world and consequently will present the ‘Laurissilva Award’ to the best documentary, short, feature and nature oriented film judged by an International Jury. MFF acts as a service to the local community and audience as a launchpad providing an attractive slate of films.

We are a festival with cultural aspirations. We are both a public and a pilgrimage festival. One of our roles is to discover talent and support, not necessarily financially. Although we aren’t in the business of film distribution we believe festivals play an ever increasing role in distribution due to the advent of new technology. MFF has a small yet critical role to play in this formula by helping the viewer at home decide what to watch i.e. Who is in it? What’s the film about? What have I heard about it? Basically festivals can help push the right button.