INTRO is organized yearly by KyivMusicFilm. It takes place in May 2025 in Kyiv at one of the most atmospheric cinema letf in the city — Zhovten. The festival for us is a tool to promote ideas of openness, tolerance, and freedom of expression.

INTRO is the beginning of something new and unknown. This is a peculiar impulse that pushes us for changes in ourselves, our surroundings, the world. Not only the beginning but also a risk, a step forward, a manifesto of the reluctance to be like everyone else. And when you cross this line, your life will never be the same again. That is what characterizes the heroes of our films — they begin to move forward, inspire, dream, change themselves, and leave their mark on history.

Rules & Terms

We are open to all kinds of documentary films and films on the edge between documentary and fiction, which are focused on music and culture. We do not restrict films by the year of production, premiere status, country, etc.

Our topics include music, culture, modern society, art, photo, architecture, nightlife, fashion, activism.

From 2020 we start a new, short film program at INTRO, which will fit films up to 40 minutes. Films that are over 40 minutes have to be submitted to the full-length category.

All copyright questions regarding using excerpts for the festival trailers and such are discussed individually.

We ask films to provide the following materials after the selection:
— English subtitles in .srt for all films with dialogues
— trailer
— short synopsis
— 3-5 film stills
— artwork (optional)

For the selection process, we need all films to be either in English, Ukrainian, or Russian originally, or with English subtitles.

If you are submitting films in bulk (over 5 at a time), you can apply for a discount at alika.kharchenko@kisff.org.

Films, produced in Ukraine by Ukrainian filmmakers are free to submit. Please apply for a waiver at alika.kharchenko@kisff.org.

The festival is non-competitive.

Looking forward to your submissions!