Barbados Independent Film Festival

7th Edition of BIFF - 2023
BIFF has a focus to cater to a broad and diverse audience. We celebrate resilience and our capacity to overcome adversity.
Seeking narrative, documentary and short films
Our festival DNA: We hold space for the pressing issues of our time: sociocultural and environmental issues by listening to the most affected ones, and building community, inclusivity and regeneration
Subaltern narratives from the cinematic and artistic peripheries brought to the physical and cultural landscape of Barbados. Through stories on a micro level, we question the global currents of our time.
Themes of particular interest this year: The human condition. Street art. Environment. Regeneration

Filmmakers will compete for a series of jury, festival Honours and audience Awards. Each night films are paired with events like our cine-cuisine night, a very special night which brings together farmers, chefs and film.

The Walled Garden-Barbados Film Festival Trust (WGBFFT) was formed in tandem with the Walled Garden Theatre Trust –whose mission is to support the conservation and restoration of the Barbados Museum and Garrison District (UNESCO world heritage sites) and invigorate them through the arts.

Best Feature Film
Best Documentary Film
Best Short Film (films of up to 50 mins)

Carmichael Award for Exceptional Storytelling- $5000.00 award for stories of any length in line with this year’s theme of the human condition.

McNeel Impact Award – $5000.00 award for films of any length on environmental regeneration.

BIFF + Parachute Film Studios collaboration grant for Barbadian filmmakers to a value $10,000.00 award (applicants must be age 18+ and resident of Barbados) for short films 10 minutes and under.

** all films that meet the thematic criteria for the McNeel and Carmichael awards will be considered by our selection committee**

All films must comply with the Submissions Guidelines including deadlines, exhibition format, entry material, etc. NO LATE SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED. Final deadline for 2023 Festival submissions is January 15, 2023. Films should be no more than one year old and have a release date of November 2021.

Your film will be viewed, in its entirety, by our selection committee. We therefore suggest that you submit your film as early as possible. Films submitted must be available in English or in the original language with English subtitles.

Entrants are responsible for obtaining any necessary licenses, royalties, release forms, clearances, permits which are necessary to present their work. Neither the Walled Garden Barbados Film Festival Trust nor any of BIFF's venues are responsible for any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, or royalty infringement related to the work.

Notification will be emailed on February 1, 2023. All correspondence will be conducted through EMAIL ONLY to the original submitter.

The Barbados Independent Film Festival accepts entries via FilmFreeway.com, an online submissions platform.

Overall Rating

Quality

Value

Communication

Hospitality

Networking

Deborah Anderson

I felt so welcomed at the festival, great communication from the BIFF team and an overall sense of inclusion in all of the films and activities that were held during the festival. I met some wonderful people as well as Barbadian dignitaries that showed such a passion for the films presented. An honor to get to show my film here and an incredible backdrop to be on the island of Barbados.

May 2023

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Andrea Ware

Wow what an amazing festival! 5 days of brilliant films & events. I connected with such great filmmakers and creatives from all over the world. BIFF is seriously passionate about what they do and do I even need to mention location...a very special festival, can't recommend enough

April 2023

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Gerald Toth

If you're invited to show your film here, please do yourself a favor and go to Barbados for the festival. Beautiful open-air venues, fun parties, interesting people, really good films, and they treat the filmmakers extremely well. And you're in Barbados. You get to swim in the Caribbean every day. It's an absolute no-brainer.

March 2023

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Damian Paul Daniel

Gotta thank Jennifer and Sir Trevor and the rest of the BIFF team for putting on such a wonderful festival. We were so glad to be able to travel from London and be a part of the event. There were some really strong films in the programme and interesting seminars and then to watch our films on the beach on the closing night was really special. Thank you. Dx

March 2022

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Anthony Sherwood

The 2022 Barbados Independent Film Festival was one of the best film festivals I have ever attended. The organizers of the festival were so kind and generous and went out of their way to ensure the filmmakers enjoyed their stay in Barbados. Thank you for your amazing hospitality.

March 2022

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