
The Festival
Watch films from all over the world in clean air and among friends, both indoors and outdoors.
Film Program
Each year we have a different thematic focus. International competition, Bulgarian competition, special screenings.
Events
Workshops, VR experience, professional meetings and discussions, concerts, walks in the Rhodope Mountains.

Rhodope Film Fest
RIFE revives an old tradition by becoming a free centre for young European and world cinema. The festival is an intersection between national and international documentary cinema and is responsive to current affairs. Each year, the festival focuses on a specific theme and showcases films that poignantly explore relevant issues and challenge the audience. An event of this scale with such a diverse and original programme enriches the cultural calendar of Smolyan and the region. Such systematic, consolidated access to quality culture is more than necessary today. Amidst the beautiful nature of the Rhodope Mountains, the festival creates a great environment for informal conversations, spontaneous meetings and emotional experiences of artists and audience.

The Rhodopes
The ancient homeland of the mythical poet Orpheus, the Rhodope Mountains stretch from southern Bulgaria all the way to the Aegean Sea. Here, legends come to life and nature reveals its most beautiful side. With their wild beauty and tranquillity, the mountains are a magical place that attracts nature, adventure and tradition lovers, offering spiritual enrichment and spectacular landscapes. The festival town of Smolyan lies in the heart of this ancient mountain range, close to our neighbours Greece and Turkey. It is the ideal place for a festival that seeks unity and tries to build bridges between different cultures, ethnicities and artists. It is here, in this border territory, that our commonalities stand out: the things that bring us together and excite us.
