The world’s most rare event to showcase a new film.
The Pyongyang International Film Festival 2025 is confirmed.
PIFF will be held on 22nd - 27th October, 2025.
Film submissions for North Korea's Pyongyang International Film Festival are now open. Koryo Tours are the official coordinators for international film submissions for PIFF 2025.
The world’s most rare event to showcase a new film.
Pyongyang International Film Festival Submissions
Pyongyang International Film Festival (General Info)
Pyongyang International Film Festival (PIFF 2025)
Previous Films at the Pyongyang International Film Festival
Pyongyang International Film Festival Venue
Pyongyang International Film Festival Schedule / Screenings
North Korean Film
Further Info
Pyongyang International Film Festival Submissions
Pyongyang International Film Festival Website
Pyongyang International Film Festival Updates
Pyongyang International Film Festival Submissions
PIFF submissions are now open.
You should send 4 forms as well as your film file to [email protected].
Upon email, we will provide the steps for sending the .mov or MP4 file or DCP.
Deadline: 15th August 2025
PIFF Submission Guidelines
Screeners can be transferred. If preferred, a 15-minute preview will be accepted for the initial application.
PIFF is an international film festival. Entries should be professional, long and short documentaries.
Genres:
Historical / Comedy / Action / Rom-com
Pyongyang International Film Festival
18th Edition of the Pyongyang International Film Festival
The Pyongyang International Film Festival, otherwise known as PIFF, is an International Film Festival held in Pyongyang since 2002.
This biennial festival has been run as a true international festival, welcoming films from around the world.
Independence, Peace and Friendship
The 17th Pyongyang International Film Festival was held in Pyongyang, DPRK, in September 2019.
This was the last time the Pyongyang International Film Festival was held. All following editions of PIFF have been cancelled due to North Korea border closures and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2019 PIFF has a stated aim of 'breaking new ground of film art by promoting exchange and cooperation between world film-makers with the ideals of Independence, Peace and Friendship'.
Koryo Tours & Pyongyang International Film Festival
Koryo Tours has worked closely with the festival organisers over the years. We have helped to expand and improve the range of films shown at the festival and thus seen by large numbers of locals. Films that are ultimately viewed by large audiences across the DPRK.
Amongst others, we screened 'Bend it like Beckham' to a total audience of over 12,000.
Koryo Tours has worked hand-in-hand with the festival organisers to broaden and enhance the selection of films shown.
In collaboration with the British Embassy and Ealing Studios, Koryo Tours has helped bring a wide range of international films into the competition.
Some of the best-known titles to have featured include ‘Bend it Like Beckham’, ‘Mr. Bean’s Holiday', ‘March of the Penguins’, and ‘Bride and Prejudice’.
Pyongyang International Film Festival (PIFF) 2025
What can we expect?
North Korean actors and filmmakers will be at the various festival ceremonies and the official banquet.
The main focus for many of the guests will be films in the new North Korean style of filmmaking, shot on digital cameras. This includes the titles ‘A Day and Night’ and ’72 Hours’.
In 2013, when Koryo Tours released their film ‘Comrade Kim Goes Flying’, 35 mm film was the only accepted standard.
Films are shown in Pyongyang’s 14 cinemas or around the countryside, where they are shown in cinemas in cities, towns, and cooperative farms.
Bollywood films and European films were always popular.
North Koreans at PIFF
It is rare for Pyongyang citizens to get access to foreign films. Tickets for popular films are sought after.
When a film is recognised as good, both the rarity (and price) of a ticket increase.
Films at the Pyongyang International Film Festival (PIFF)
Previous editions have featured over 70 titles in the program of old and new pics, including features, documentaries, shorts and cartoons.
Nicholas Bonner who has had two documentaries and a feature film Comrade Kim Goes Fling at the festival remarks that 'comedies, romantic comedies, and action are most popular amongst the audiences'.
'For Mr Bean, the cinemas were swamped with locals trying to get in to see the film. When a film is popular, the word on the street spreads like wildfire'.
Pyongyang International Film Festival (PIFF) Venue
A collection of official delegates, helmers, producers, buyers and critics will stay at the festival hub. The 47-story Yanggakdo Hotel on an island in the Taedong River that flows through Pyongyang.
The festival’s main venue is the five-plex Pyongyang International Cinema House next to the hotel. However, bigger movies, like German opener 'The Miracle of Bern', U.K. comedies 'Mr. Bean' and 'Nanny McPhee', as well as and French drama 'Cache', have been shown in Pyongyang's downtown.
This large venue of the People's Palace of Culture has a 3,000-seat capacity. Larger productions have both subtitles and occasionally live voice-overs.
North Korean Films
Very few North Korean films have made it onto the world stage.
The classic Flower Girl (1972), Hong Kil Dong (1986) and The Schoolgirls Diary (2006) are perhaps the best known. They all belong to one of the three state-owned movie studios.
Pyongyang International Film Festival Schedule & Screenings
Please note that the final schedule of events is only announced a few days before the festival begins.
PIFF Further Reading
Koryo Tours
Pyongyang International Film Festival
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