About WVIFF
Our Mission
The West Virginia International Film Festival inspires a love of cinema through diverse and inclusive films.
History
The WVIFF was organized in October 1985 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and hosted its first annual Fall Film Festival at the historic WVSU Capitol Center Theater, 123 Summers Street. The first Spring Festival was in 1986. Filmmakers, film distributors, film producers, animators, screenwriters, film scholars, and journalists have appeared as guests during both the Spring and Fall Film Festivals.
Since at least 1987, the WVIFF has approached West Virginia artists to create promotional designs for placement on official WVIFF merchandise. In 2001 the WVIFF was honored by Governor Bob Wise. The governor’s recognition of the WVIFF ‘s impact on the culture and economy was the reason the organization was dubbed the “Official State Film Festival of the State of West Virginia”. Over the years WVIFF has embraced and celebrated diversity and tolerance through the film arts and have offered unique opportunities to break down barriers sometimes associated with race, color, creed, religion, ethnicity and other issues which are part of the human experience.