Press release from BIFF
Screen Queensland CEO Maureen Barron, has today announced QUEENSLAND’S premiere film festival – the St.George Bank Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF) – is set to unveil a new look with a new Spring timeslot, festival director, venues and refreshed programming and awards.
Ms Barron said that while the festival would still feature the distinct flavour people have come to know and love, it would be revitalised with some exciting and original elements.
“The core strength of BIFF – its quality of film – will remain the same. BIFF will continue to have its own identity and provide cinema-goers with a stunning array of films from Australia and across the world; powerful documentaries and animation, late night thrillers, retrospectives and dynamic music films,” Ms Barron said.
This year BIFF will be held between November 4 – 14 designed to align it with the Asia-Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) held annually on the Gold Coast in December.
“We look forward to announcing more details of this year’s BIFF programme over the coming weeks.”
Screen Queensland’s new Head of Screen Culture, and acclaimed former Director of the Melbourne International Film Festival, Richard Moore, has announced this year’s festival will be staged across three venues – Palace Centro in the Valley, Palace Barracks at Petrie Terrace and the Tribal Theatre in Brisbane City.
“It’s the beginning of a new era for the festival and one that we’re really excited about.” Mr Moore said.
One of the Festival components to receive a significant makeover this year is the Queensland Short Film Competition (QSFC), a program designed to reward and develop the creative talents of Queensland short filmmakers.
The judges and audience awards of previous years will be maintained and joined by a new award for best project pitch for a new project and short film.
The new award, to be called the Chauvel Award, will attract a development investment of $15,000 from Screen Queensland. This joins two other awards being the Kinetone Award for Best Short Film with a cash prize of $2,500 and the Audience Favourite Award, cash prize $2,500.
Since its inception in 1992, more than 400,000 film-goers have experienced BIFF with it growing in size and reputation to become one of the most respected film festivals in Australia.
Tickets for this year’s festival go on sale on October 21.
For more information about St.George Bank BIFF, visit www.stgeorgebiff.com.au