<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-22</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><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>6400 IMPERIAL DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>WACO</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>76712</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>CEO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-22</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>P</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1900</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>2.95</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>484647</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>James T. Sartain</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-25</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

