9th Edition of BIFF - 2025
BIFF provides a platform for the pressing issues of our time from sociocultural to environmental issues by listening to those most affected, and building a community of inclusivity and regeneration. The festival particularly celebrates subaltern and indigenous narratives from the Caribbean and global filmmakers. Through stories on a local level, BIFF provides the space to question the global currents of our time.

BIFF celebrates resilience and our capacity to overcome adversity. We welcome narrative, documentary and short films to our annual festival.

Filmmakers will compete for a series of jury, festival honours and audience awards. Each night films are paired with thematic events like our Gala night, shorts on the beach, the pink church and 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.

Awards & Prizes

Best Feature Film
Best Documentary Film Feature
Best Short Film narrative
Best short film ( doc)
Best Environmentally focused film ( Impact award)
Best experimental film
Best Comedy
Best Student Director ( shorts)
Best Actor

Carmichael Award for Exceptional Storytelling- up to $5000 award for stories of any length on the theme of the human condition.

McNeel Impact Award – up to $5000 award for films of any length on the environment

Parachute Film Studios+ BIFF collaboration grant for Barbadian filmmakers (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 the selection committee**

Rules & Terms

All films must comply with the Submissions Guidelines including deadlines, exhibition format, entry material, etc. NO LATE SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

The Final deadline for 2025 Festival submissions is October 4th 2024 Films should be no more than one year old and have a release date of no earlier than May 2023.

Your film will be reviewed, 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.
FILMS
All film submissions must be completed online.
Films in foreign languages must be subtitled in English.
Please indicate whether your film will have its Barbadian Premiere, Caribbean Premiere or global Premiere at the time it is screened in January 2025.

MARKETING REQUIRMENTS 
When submitting your film, please provide at least:
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A poster
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Two Stills Shots

A Director’s headshot

A Director’s biography
A Synopsis

A trailer
An EPK.
All submitted files must be high resolution. A more detailed list of requested marketing materials will be submitted upon acceptance into the festival.
AWARD ELIGIBILITY
Films having their Barbadian premiere will be considered for Awards.
Waivers and screening fees:
if you are granted a waiver you forfeit the right for a screening fee. A waiver is also not a confirmation of acceptance into the festival. We do not pay screening fee to film accepted to the festival
**Please note all monetary awards can only be made by wire transfer via an international intermediary bank.
Notification will be emailed on December 15, 2024. 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.
22 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Rasheed Stephens

    I had such a phenomenal time at the Barbados Film Festival. Honestly, it’s one of the best festivals I’ve ever been to. The people were so kind, the films were amazing, and the love—through all the smiles and hugs—was just beyond beautiful. I can’t recommend this festival enough. I love y’all .

    May 2025
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  • Miro Alleyne-McCarthy

    A wonderful festival. I was thrilled that my film SHATTERED TIDES was a semi-finalist. Great work by the organisers. It's such an important cultural event.

    February 2025
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    Response from festival:

    Dear Miro, thankyou for submitting your beautiful film and we hope to see you at BIFF season 10

  • Keylon Keymer Whitlock

    We are happy to have made our maiden film Festival entry at the Barbados independent film festival. The overall experience and networking opportunities through this festival were priceless. To have had the opportunity to connect with other Caribbean storytellers was special for Team GLORY Forbidden Love. Thank you BIFF and continued success !

    February 2025
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    Response from festival:

    Dear Keylon, it was such a pleasure to host you and the Glory team, we hope to see you again soon and we look forward to seeing your continued success with the film.

  • Bianca O'Neill

    A truly amazing festival. The organisers are so friendly and consistently communicate. It was an honour to have Yellow Dasiy Butterfly part of the festival. I'm really sorry that we couldn't be there in person because it looks like we missed a great time. Hopefully can attend in the future

    February 2025
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    Response from festival:

    Hi Bianca, we were so pleased to be able to show your beautiful film and hope to see you next time!

  • Joan Hillery

    I ask every film maker GLOBALLY to enter this epic Barbados Independent Film Festival. Don't be shy. Just enter because the judges are looking for OUR STORIES told OUR WAY. I was there last year (I am from uk) and it was an extremely validating experience... not just because the festival directors, producers and volunteers were so passionate about film and the people behind those films, not just because my film was screened and i got to be there, not just because I met the incredible SIR TREVOUR CARMICHAEL (the founder) Sanna Allsop, and De Carla Applewhaite who are the heartbeat of this festival, not just because the screenings themselves were held in magnficent and unique places which made the experience immersive, not just because the selection of films showed how connected we are globally, not just because i was nervous and they helped me to feel comfortable, not just because the festival has high production values and is really rather glamourous but because this festival understands that there are a lot of creative genius film makers out there that are breaking new cinematic ground and their films need to be seen by those who otherwise might not. Basically, it was one of the highlights of my year. Its helped me to realise that i am a great director and it helped me realise that there are festivals that VALUE OUR STORIES told OUR WAY. I kid you not. this is a genuine review.

    July 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you for the very kind words, it was an honour to host Joan, we are delighted at how well her beautiful and important film has gone on to do at festivals across the world and we hope to have you back very soon with your next project.