<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4/A</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-22</periodOfReport><dateOfOriginalSubmission>2003-05-27</dateOfOriginalSubmission><issuer><issuerCik>0000828678</issuerCik><issuerName>FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>fcfc</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001237802</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>SARTAIN JAMES T</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>CEO</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-22</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-05-22</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>P</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>1.8</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>479747</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The number of shares beneficially owned is being amended to correct the amount erroneously reported on original filing</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>James T. Sartain</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-19</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

