Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival

What Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival does

Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization founded in 1986 and operated by the Broward County Film Society. It runs the annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival each February, featuring 60+ American independent and international films with red-carpet premieres and celebrity guests, plus year-round daily programming at two arthouse cinemas — Savor Cinema (a 212-seat renovated 1947 church in downtown Fort Lauderdale) and Cinema Paradiso (Hollywood, Florida). FLIFF is designated as one of five Major Cultural Institutions by the Broward Cultural Council and is among the highest-rated film festivals in Florida per the Florida Arts Council.

Revenue is generated across five streams: annual festival ticket sales, year-round theater ticket sales, an annual membership program, Savor Cinema venue rentals (corporate events, weddings, receptions), and tax-deductible donations/corporate sponsorships (including grants from Broward Cultural Division, Funding Arts Broward, and the Florida Arts Council). Distribution is regional (Broward County / South Florida), direct-to-consumer via the fliff.com website, physical box offices, and a third-party ticketing platform (Elevent). Marketing runs primarily through owned social channels (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube) and email newsletters, with additional reach via local arts partnerships and event photography.

The underlying technology stack is minimal and non-proprietary: no mobile app, no AI/ML components, and no data platform. The organization is event-driven and content-curation-based, relying on third-party ticketing infrastructure and standard digital marketing tools. Supporting programs include the free Broward Student Film Festival, After School Film Institute (ASFI) youth programming, Cool Summer Nights retro film series, Filmed in Peru Festival screenings, and National Arthouse Theater Day participation. Leadership consists of President & CEO Lisa Grigorian and Chair Steve Savor, with a board of directors; the organization is independent with no parent company, PE, or VC ownership.

Name

Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival

Legal name

Broward County Film Society

Website

https://fliff.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit running an annual February film festival and two year-round arthouse cinemas (Savor Cinema, Cinema Paradiso) in Broward County, Florida, serving independent film audiences, students, and event clients through ticket sales, memberships, rentals, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Festival & Arthouse Cinema

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)

akta.pro primary industry

Film Festivals & Festival Organizers (MPADAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Independent & Art-house Cinemas (MPADAKAB)

Keywords

• Film festival
• Arthouse cinema
• Independent film exhibition
• Cinema venue rental
• Film membership program

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Lauderdale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Annual Film Festival: The flagship annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival held each February, featuring red carpet premieres, celebrity guests, filmmaker appearances, and over-the-top parties. Revenue generated through ticket sales and event attendance.
2. Year-Round Theater Operations: Daily programming at Savor Cinema (Fort Lauderdale) and Cinema Paradiso (Hollywood) showing American Indie and international films year-round. Revenue from individual ticket sales.
3. Membership Program: Annual membership program offering benefits to supporters of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Includes free advance tickets for some events and member pricing.
4. Venue Rentals: Savor Cinema available for private events including corporate events, parties, networking events, receptions, and wedding services. Features 212 seats, proscenium stage, full lighting/audio/projection systems, and courtyard.
5. Donations and Sponsorships: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and corporate sponsorships from local and regional businesses supporting the arts and cultural programming.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

FLIFF runs the annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, screening independent, foreign, and Florida-made films for general audiences, filmmakers, and local cinephiles. Year-round, it operates two arthouse cinemas — Savor Cinema (Fort Lauderdale) and Cinema Paradiso (Hollywood) — that show curated independent and repertory programming and host private events and venue rentals.

Product overview

Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) operates as a nonprofit arts organization with a multi-venue film exhibition and festival structure. The core offering is the annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival held each February featuring over 60 American indie and international films with celebrity premieres and filmmaker events. Year-round operations include two arthouse theaters—Savor Cinema in Fort Lauderdale and Cinema Paradiso in Hollywood—both operated by the Broward County Film Society (501(c)(3)). Supporting programs include the Broward Student Film Festival, arthouse theater day celebrations, special film series like Cool Summer Nights, venue rental services, and membership programs. The organization serves as one of five Major Cultural Institutions designated by Broward Cultural Council.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival Annual international film festival held each November in Fort Lauderdale that screens independent, foreign, and Florida-made films, hosts filmmaker Q&As, and presents opening/closing galas for local cinephiles and visiting filmmakers.
• Savor Cinema

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Broward County Film SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization that operates FLIFF, Savor Cinema, and Cinema Paradiso. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization manages all film festival operations and year-round theater programming.
• Broward Cultural CouncilcoreOthersFLIFF is designated as one of five Major Cultural Institutions by the Broward Cultural Council, providing official recognition and cultural authority.
• Florida Arts CouncilminorOthersState arts council that rates FLIFF among the highest-rated film festivals in Florida, providing statewide recognition and credibility.
• Broward Cultural DivisionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal government cultural agency that provides funding and support for arts programming, featured as a sponsor on event materials.
• Florida Arts and CultureminorGTM or Marketing PartnerState arts organization providing funding and promotional support, featured as a sponsor on event materials.
• Film FloridaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStatewide film industry organization supporting Florida film productions and festivals.
• Film LauderdaleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal film commission supporting film-related activities in Fort Lauderdale, co-presenting the Broward Student Film Festival.
• National Arthouse Theater DayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNationwide celebration of independent cinemas; Savor Cinema participates annually as one of the country's premier nonprofit arthouse theaters.
• Filmed in Peru FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual touring festival showcasing Peruvian cinema that partners with Savor Cinema to present films at the Fort Lauderdale venue.
• Kino LorberminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorU.S. distribution company that acquired 'Black Zombie' documentary for theatrical release following its world premiere at SXSW 2026 and screening at FLIFF.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Miami Film Festival: Annual film festival in Greater Miami featuring international and indie cinema; operates year-round screening programming. Direct regional peer with overlapping audience, similar nonprofit model, and parallel South Florida cultural positioning.
• Sarasota Film Festival: Annual Florida film festival with year-round arthouse programming and similar festival structure. Comparable scale, nonprofit status, and reliance on indie/international film exhibition in a regional Florida market.
• Tampa Bay Film Festival: Regional Florida film festival with comparable indie/international programming focus. Similar nonprofit operating model, festival scale, and competition for regional film enthusiasts and sponsors.
• American Cinematheque: Los Angeles-based nonprofit operating year-round arthouse cinemas (Egyptian Theatre, Aero Theatre) and festivals. Most structurally similar U.S. peer given the combined festival + year-round arthouse theater nonprofit model.
• Film Forum: New York City nonprofit arthouse cinema with year-round independent and international film programming. Closely comparable in mission, nonprofit status, and single-market arthouse exhibition model.
• Palm Springs International Film Festival: Major regional U.S. film festival with nonprofit structure, year-round programming components, and red-carpet celebrity programming. Comparable scale, mission, and revenue mix of ticket sales, memberships, and sponsorships.

Broad incumbents

• Sundance Film Festival: The preeminent U.S. independent film festival run by the Sundance Institute nonprofit. Significantly larger and more influential than FLIFF; comparable in nonprofit festival model and indie curation role.
• Telluride Film Festival: Highly prestigious U.S. film festival in Colorado with nonprofit governance and curated independent/international programming. Comparable in nonprofit model and curatorial identity, though at materially higher scale and brand prestige.
• Angelika Film Center: Commercial arthouse cinema chain showing independent and foreign films. Comparable in core exhibition product (arthouse cinema) and target audience, but operates on a for-profit multi-location model rather than a nonprofit single-market model.
• Alamo Drafthouse Cinema: U.S. cinema chain with a strong indie/arthouse programming focus and food-and-beverage integration. Comparable in arthouse curation and event-driven programming approach, though for-profit and multi-market at substantially larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fliffnmore
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/fliff
• Facebookfacebook.com/FLiFFnmore
• Instagraminstagram.com/savorcinema

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival