Brisbane International Film Union [BIFU] is a recurring event that presents the finest independent films from around the globe. It serves as a launching pad for both emerging and established filmmakers, enabling them to exhibit their work to a diverse audience. Every quarter, BIFU highlights the power of cinema to educate, entertain, and inspire, making it a genuine tribute to the art of filmmaking.

The mission of BIFU is to promote and celebrate independent cinema and to provide a platform for emerging and established filmmakers to showcase their work. BIFU aims to showcase films that challenge and inspire, that push boundaries and provoke thought. BIFU is committed to supporting diversity and inclusivity in filmmaking, and to encouraging the development of new talent in the industry.

The festival features a wide range of films, including but not limited to feature-length and short films, documentaries, and experimental works. It also includes a varied range of submission categories for screenplays.

Team Members and their Roles:

BIFU is run by a dedicated team of industry professionals, who work tirelessly to ensure the success of the festival. The festival director oversees the overall program, while the programming team selects the films that will be screened. The marketing team is responsible for promoting the festival and attracting audiences, while the events team organizes the program of talks and workshops. The technical team ensures that the screenings run smoothly, while the volunteers provide essential support throughout the festival and generate educational content and academic resources.

Lachlan Cook is an experienced event manager with a passion for film and the arts. Born and raised in Brisbane, Australia, Lachlan has always been drawn to the creative industries. he studied event management at university, and after graduating, he began his career in event planning, working for a range of organizations including music festivals, art galleries, and film events.

Lachlan's role as Event Manager involves overseeing all aspects of the festival's events, from coordinating and logistics to managing the festival's team of volunteers. his attention to detail and excellent organizational skills ensure that all events run smoothly and that attendees have an unforgettable experience.

In his personal life, Lachlan is an avid film buff and enjoys attending film festivals and screenings in his spare time. He is also passionate about travel and has visited many countries around the world, often attending film festivals while on his travels.

Liam Murphy - Programming Team Member
Liam Murphy is a member of the programming team for Brisbane International Film Union. Originally from Cork, Ireland, Liam has a degree in film studies from Trinity College Dublin and has worked in the film industry for over a decade. Liam's expertise in film programming and his keen eye for new talent make him an invaluable member of the BIFU team.

As a programming team member, Liam's role involves watching and evaluating film submissions and making recommendations for the festival program. Liam has a broad knowledge of cinema, from classic Hollywood to contemporary independent films, and is always on the lookout for new and exciting filmmakers to showcase at BIFU.

In his personal life, Liam is a keen cyclist and enjoys exploring the city on his bike. He is also a big music fan and can often be found attending gigs and festivals around the city.

Noah Thompson - Marketing Coordinator
Noah Thompson is the Marketing Coordinator for Brisbane International Film Union. He has a degree in marketing and has worked in marketing and communications for a range of organizations in Adelaide and Brisbane.

Noah's role at BIFU involves promoting the festival to a wide audience, from film industry professionals to casual film fans. He works closely with the programming team to create promotional materials that showcase the festival's diverse range of films and events. Noah's expertise in social media and digital marketing ensures that BIFU has a strong online presence, attracting audiences from around the world.

In his personal life, Noah is a keen photographer and enjoys exploring Brisbane's streets and alleyways, capturing the city's unique character through his lens.

Award Categories:

BIFU offers a range of awards, including but not limited to Best Feature Film, Best Short Film, Best Documentary, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, and Best Actress.

The festival also offers awards for technical achievements such as Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Sound Design, etc.

Screenplays are awarded on the basis of genres and technical parameters.

Please see the various submission categories to know more about them.

Submission Guidelines:

BIFU welcomes submissions from filmmakers around the world. Submissions can be made via the festival's website and or FilmFreeway, the submission must include a completed submission form, a screener of the film, and any relevant supporting materials. The festival accepts films and screenplays in all genres.

Rules and Regulations:

The festival does not have any production year barrier.

The festival accepts films that have been previously screened at other festivals, but special care is given to premieres.

Films must be in English or have English subtitles.

Screenplays should be in .PDF format.

We prefer screenplays to be submitted along with the logline and author's bio.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Our goal for submitting Terror in Toulouse: Has the Community Recovered?" to film festivals like the Brisbane International Film Union is to draw awareness to the issue of antisemitism. I am grateful for the award we received and for this festival's acknowledgement of our work to fight antisemitism.

    April 2024
  • Awesome festival, thank you for everything.

    April 2024
  • I was honored and delighted to have my short comedy A Texas Trilogy named a finalist in the competition, and Liam, Lachlan and Noah were great in communicating and also giving a thoughtful and kind review of the film. I wish I could have been there, hopefully next time.
    Noah Thompson
    Programming Team Member
    Liam Murphy
    Event Manager
    Lachlan Cook

    March 2024
  • Having won awards all over the world, I needed to come home to experience the greatest of all. Thank you for `Best Australian Screenwriter` for my script, `Untouchable!`.

    March 2024
  • Da BlueIsle

    Thank you for show casing RabbitWell.com's short film Soul as Finalist!

    March 2024