May 29 – June 7, 2020
The 23rd BFF is scheduled to run online from May 29 through June 7, around the clock. With this year’s edition, ‘Turning Point’, BFF plans to highlight the global profile of the 2020 lineup throughout the opening day of the festival as we slowly release 4 slates of programming, “Quadrants”, travelling counterclockwise from one corner of the globe to another.
‘Turning Point’ is about refreshing our own point of view. It’s about rethinking our old assumptions and learning from the people who share our screen whether they live on a different continent or across the street. ‘Turning Point’ is about reinventing our planet and our lives.
06:00 am EST | Quadrant #1 | film lineup
Dir: Jun WANG, China, 105 min, 2019, Narrative Feature
Sha Tao is a village girl with mental disorders. She is married to gambler Ma Saike, who plans to take Sha Tao to a boss in Shanxi Province in exchange for … more »
Dir: Robert Hixon, United States, Bhutan, 78 min, 2019, Documentary Feature
When the Kingdom of Bhutan joined the United Nations in 1971, archery was designated as its national sport. Indeed, archery in Bhutan is a rich part of the … more »
Documentary Short Block #3
Animation Block #1
Experimental Block #1
Narrative Short – Block #4
Dir: Christopher Smith, Malaysia, Cambodia, 91 min, 2020, Documentary Feature
A feature-length, environmental thriller that follows investigative journalist, Matt Blomberg, and ocean activist, Paul Ferber, in their dangerous efforts … more »
Dir: John Kingman, United States, 85 min, 2019, Narrative Feature
A rough-hewn Mennonite witnesses a meteor rip apart the skies on his farm, leaving behind a smoking crater filled with glowing corn husks. A lesbian couple … more »
Dir: Kenya Márquez, Mexico, 88 min, 2018, Narrative Feature
After getting out of jail, where she learned to care for the sick, Alma, an albino woman, is determined to recover something much more important than her … more »
10:00 am EST | Quadrant #2 | film lineup
KFF aims to discover and promote children’s filmmakers as well as expose filmmakers of all ages who make films for younger crowds. All films are rated “G”. Both programs consist of several animated shorts, live-action films, and documentaries…
Dir: Gibrey Allen, United States, Jamaica, 80 min, 2019, Narrative Feature
When prominent Jamaican sprinter Jeffrey Jacobs is brutally murdered, rumors about the secret life he may have lived create public uproar, causing obstacles … more »
Dir: Marcos Prado, Brazil, 100 min, 2019, Narrative Feature
Macabre is a feature film based on the true story of the "Necrophil Brothers", two young brothers who were accused of brutal murders in the 90's, in Brazil … more »
Dir: Michael Lees, Dominica, 71 min, 2019, Documentary Feature
Disenchanted by the modern world, Michael Lees heads into the forest of Dominica with some basic survival gear, religious texts and a camera. "Why did man … more »
Dir: Adam Brown, United Kingdom, Peru, 84 min, 2020, Documentary Feature
A troubled teenager from a crime-ridden barrio of Lima, Peru, struggles against the odds to realise his dream of becoming a professional surfer and lift hi … more »
Dir: Chuang Xu, United States, 70 min, 2020, Documentary Feature
In 1971, Margaret Leng Tan was the first woman to earn a Doctorate degree from the Juilliard School. Since then, her five-decade career has made the musici … more »
Dir: Martin Busker, Germany, 90 min, 2019, Narrative Feature
A 13-year-old refugee from Afghanistan living in an emergency shelter in Germany joins a Christian boys' choir to save his father who was left stranded in … more »
2:00 pm EST | Quadrant #3 | film lineup
Dir: Piotr Dylewski, Poland, 61 min, 2019, Narrative Feature
ROTTEN EARS is a tale of a somewhat premature marital crisis caused by unfulfilled expectations and lack of communication. Yanek and Marzena will face their … more »
Dir: Lise Raven, United States, Germany, Iceland, 75 min, 2019, Narrative Feature
Set in Iceland and Berlin, this slow burn neo-noir focuses on a disgraced journalist and a story that could revive his career: is the wife of a local really … more »
Dir: Alessandro Rossetto, Italy, 107 min, 2019, Narrative Feature
By 2030, the fraction of the population aged 65 and over will exceed 30% in wealthy nations. In 2050, for the first time in human history, the elderly pop … more »
Dir: Timothy Wolfer, United States, Mexico, 86 min, 2019, Documentary Feature
Three young transgender women from El Salvador and Honduras – Valentina, Johanna and Chantal – travel through Southern Mexico within the high-profile "Migr … more »
Dir: Hasan Oswald, United States, 80 min, 2019, Documentary Feature
~WINNER: SLAMDANCE GRAND JURY AWARD~Daryl Gant is a Camden native, father of eight, and printing press operator. He was raised by a singl … more »
Narrative Short – Block #3
Experimental Block #2
Documentary Short Block #3
Narrative Short – Block #6
6:00 pm EST | Quadrant #4 | film lineup
Dir: Frank Vitale, United States, 80 min, 2019, Narrative Feature
Erotic Fire of the Unattainable is people carrying on at 60. Lovers trick each other, lie to each other, negotiate, have sex, break hearts, laugh, and come … more »
Dir: Morgan Ingari, United States, 102 min, 2019, Narrative Feature
Seeking direction and purpose, Milo rashly decides to become a surrogate and egg donor for an older gay man she meets in a bar. However, as Milo becomes in … more »
Dir: Catherine Legault, Canada, 85 min, 2019, Documentary Feature
Tyr and Jasa grew up in an artistic household where art was a way of life. Quirky and insightful sisters, Tyr is a musician and singer while Jasa is an in … more »
Dir: Casey Phillips, United States, 80 min, 2019, Documentary Feature
Did you know the next President of the United States could be decided by drawing names from a hat? … more »
Documentary Short Block #1
Dir: Arthur Egeli, United States, 95 min, 2019, Narrative Feature
By the time Charles Gilpin encountered Eugene O'Neill, he'd had a twenty-year career in Black Theatre. Starting out in Minstrel Shows and as a Jubilee Sing … more »
Dir: Joseph Mensch, United States, 90 min, 2019, Narrative Feature
A young stockbroker at a Mob-controlled Wall Street firm gets betrayed and sent to prison for six years. When he gets out, he seeks revenge. … more »
Dir: Iria Gómez Concheiro, Mexico, 103 min, 2019, Narrative Feature
Facing the threat of an eviction, the tenants of a vecindad (low-income tenement house) join in solidarity to come out of their self-absorption and fight f … more »
Dir: Jeanne Leblanc, Canada, 103 min, 2019, Narrative Feature
When faced with life’s challenges, Ste-Adeline’s community has always stuck together. But this time, a scandal sends shockwaves through the quiet little to … more »
Dir: Cam Cowan, United States, Argentina, Madagascar, 89 min, 2019, Doc Feature
An iron-willed Argentine priest inspires hope for an entire nation by teaching people living in Madagascar's largest landfill to build a highly … more »
Narrative Short – Block #5
Animation Block #2
29.05.2020 | Editor's blog
Cat. : FESTIVALS