The Brisbane International Film Festival is ready to return in 2017 with its first screening program in three years, thanks to the support of the Queensland Government through Screen Queensland and the expertise of industry partner Palace Cinemas.
The Brisbane International Film Festival will run from August 17th until September 3rd and will be co-directed by experienced film curator Richard Sowada and Brisbane’s Maxine Williamson, previously Film Director of the Asia Pacific Screen Awards and the Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival.
Palace Cinemas will host BIFF at its two Brisbane locations and will also provide infrastructure support to the organisation.
“I haven’t seen a period of more change, excitement and challenge in the film industry than in the last 18 months” says BIFF Co-Director Richard Sowada. “A breaking down of creative and business territoriality and a real sense of political and artistic immediacy has changed the face of what a festival needs to be and what audiences expect from cinema. Being part of the new BIFF team and bringing that freshness, excitement and creative propulsion to Brisbane in a reinvigorated event is thrilling for me – and I hope for audiences.”
Co-director Maxine Williamson said: “I am so happy we are ‘rebooting the BIFF!’ – Brisbane’s iconic and popular world film festival with an international reputation for showcasing new and emergent talent, award-winners from the circuit and crowd-pleasers from across the globe. We will continue BIFF’s long legacy of presenting films that expand our hearts and minds, that educate us about our region and closest neighbours, that comment on what cinema is and can be. The 23rd edition of BIFF provides an important platform for filmmakers to present their artistic responses to what is happening in their worlds. I look forward to engaging with industry in a meaningful way and to contribute to the growth of this vibrant creative arts sector. As a Brissie girl I am happy to play a part in this celebratory reboot.”
The 2017 Festival will be the forerunner of an event that will continue to build in the years to come. The 2017 program will screen around 60 international and Australian films and will include collaborations with existing Queensland screen culture organisations including the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA), a Queensland Short Film Competition, a free family event, national and international guests, talks, panels and seminars.
Again, The Brisbane International Film Festival will run from August 17 – September 3.
For all information, stay tuned to the OFFICIAL SITE. The full program will be released in early July.
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