Festival

Festival presentation: 

BIFF is a showcase of the best independent film from around the world. The line-up includes: winners from the world`s leading fests, new features, docs and shorts from emerging directors, a sidebar from a particular country, and a music sidebar.

 

April 12 to 18, 2013

The 16th Annual Bermuda International Film Festival (BIFF), infusing the festival circuit with an exotic luxury and unforgettable hospitality unique to Bermuda. With a stellar reputation and stunning backdrop, BIFF has welcomed some of the biggest names in the entertainment arena, including Academy Award nominee Willem Dafoe and Academy Award winners Michael Douglas and Richard Dreyfuss. An exciting destination for established stars, emerging talents, and film fans of all stripes, BIFF offers up a warm ray of sunlight that adds heat to any filmmaker's career.

BIFF is an Academy Award-qualifying festival in the Live-Action Short Film category through its famed Bermuda Shorts Awards. Shorts with a running time of 41 minutes or less are eligible to compete, provided that they have not previously been broadcast online or on television. The festival has proudly shepherded two Bermuda Shorts Award-winners, Wasp (2005) and Toyland (2009), to Oscar gold. BIFF also honors submissions with Audience Awards bestowed by the festival's diverse and passionate supporters who converge in Bermuda from around the world, and occasionally presents Special Juried Awards to films deemed worthy of extra attention.

Every attending filmmaker is provided with a festival pass, granting free entry to all social events, film screenings, panel presentations, workshops, lectures, and more. Participants additionally receive discounted hotel rates and complimentary local transportation. With a festival environment that fosters discussion and forging new connections, filmmakers are also invited to participate in post-screening Q&As with eager audiences as well as networking events with equally enthusiastic industry guests.

Festival Nickname: 

BIFF

Edition: 

16

Festival Logo: 

Theme: 

International

Rave Reviews

Since our first festival in 1997, visiting filmmakers, industry professionals and members of the international press have had some kind words for our festival. Here are just some of their comments:

"The Bermuda International Film Festival is a small festival that remembers why film festivals began in the first place ... to expose filmmakers with unique stories and uncompromising visions." - Michael Ferraro,www.filmthreat.com, at BIFF 2006.

"With a full roster of intriguing films....BIFF continues to emerge as an intimate and increasingly significant launch pad for an array of movies audiences are sure to be talking about in the months to come, all set against a charming and incredibly hospitable island backdrop." - Scott Huver, www.hollywood.com, at BIFF 2006.

"Festival guests got what they bargained for ... a trip to a lovely island, and a festival that increases in stature every year." - Wendy Mitchell, www.indiewire.com, at BIFF 2004.

Cultural Event of the Year: The Bermuda International Film Festival has been held over as the award winner and deservedly so. With great films from places as diverse as Denmark, Mexico, Ireland, Brazil, India and Bermuda plus the best parties of the year, it's no wonder BIFF's tough to beat - The Bermudian 2004.

"The most amazing thing about Bermuda is how it seems to bring the festival guests together each year. Real friendships are made in the festival sun." - David Poland, www.thehotbutton.com, at BIFF 2003.

"One of the pleasures of the Bermuda International Film Festival is the opportunity for everyone to debate the merits of the movies at nightly social events, often with the filmmakers themselves." - Kevin Lally, Film Journal International, at BIFF 2003."

"BIFF has it all, really, from an unbeatable location to the right mix of films, guests, sponsors and, perhaps most importantly, attitude ... it was one of the best-run, best programmed mid-sized festivals I'd ever experienced." - Tim Rhys, Publisher/Editor, MovieMaker magazine, at BIFF 2003.

"BIFF dishes up a lively slate of pickings from around the world to appreciative local audiences...the standard is surprisingly and consistently high." - Nick Bradshaw, Time Out London film critic, May 15-22, 2002.

"BIFF is a relaxed but ambitious event which attracts filmmakers from around the Atlantic Rim, and boasts industry heavyweights such as Canada's Victor Loewy and LA lawyer Mark Litwak among its international advisers...BIFF jurors, TIME magazine film critic Richard Schickel and the near-legendary New York critic Rex Reed, would have been more than qualified to sit on any festival jury in the world, including Cannes." - Nick Roddick, Preview Magazine, May/June 2002 'Cannes Film Festival Special'.