IN THE PALACE is an international festival dedicated to short films, new media and digital arts under 27 minutes in length. The main purpose of the Festival is to present contemporary film art from Bulgaria, Europe and the whole world. IN THE PALACE ISFF provides an exceptionally favorable environment and platform for expression for both young film artists and established professionals in this artistic field. Established in 2003, the festival had grown from a competitive forum for student films into the largest and most prestigious short film festival in Bulgaria and the region.
 
In the framework of the global European cultural processes in 2014 IN THE PALACE International Short Film Festival started a national wave of film events in Bulgaria – “IN THE PALACE of the marine, old and new capitals of Bulgaria”. The campaign is parallel to and initiated in support of European Capital of Culture 2019 and European Youth Capital 2017 and consists variety of short film events and non-formal educational programmes for young people using European audiovisual products.
 
The 14TH edition of IN THE PALACE International Short Film Festival is running in Sofia – City of Film of UNESCO (1-6.12.2016), Veliko Tarnovo (30.04. – 07.05.2017), Varna (28.05. - 04.06.2017) and the picturesque Black sea town of Balchik (24.06. – 01.07.2017).
 
The film events in Sofia, Veliko Tarnovo and Varna consist of screenings of the national and international films in the 14th IN THE PALACE ISFF official selection where the audience will define the awards of the 3 cities. The programme also includes variety of film initiatives as satellite festival modules such as non-competitive screenings, educational film ateliers for youngsters, films discussion clubs, workshops, presentations, etc.
 
The main IN THE PALACE International Short Film Festival event will be held in Balchik between 24.06. – 01.07.2017 in the former residence of the Romanian Queen Marie Victoria of Edinburgh and consists of several main components:
 
Competitive programme in 4 genres : fiction, documentary, animation, experimental
ON FOCUS programme
Q & A sessions
Filmer Forge educational programme
Pitching session
Film industry market
Videolibrary
USHI FILM FEST - kids programme
MUSIC PALACE FEST - music programme
The winners of the 14th IN THE PALACE International Short Film Festival will be announced by the international professional jury in the official award ceremony in Balchik and also representatives of Sofia, Veliko Tarnovo and Varna will present the awards of the 3 cities.
 
IN THE PALACE International Short Film Festival is organized by Format SFF Foundation and Municipal Center “Veshtina” in partnership and with the support of Bulgarian Ministry of Culture, Bulgarian Ministry of Youth and Sports, Municipality of Sofia, Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo, Municipality of Varna, Municipality of Balchik, National Film Center, National Palace of Culture, National Cultural Institute – Cultural Center “The Palace”, Sofia university “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Festival and Congress Center – Varna, Municipal Center “Nadejda – 1869”, Italian Cultural Institute, Italian Embassy, Instituto Cervantes in Sofia, Spanish Embassy and other.