The Brussels International Film Festival (BIFF) takes place annually at the end of August in Brussels, Belgium. The Festival consists of a main program and four sub-programs.

BIFF include of a competition program and several special programs:
screenings, a co-production market, international screenwriting competition, meetings, workshops on acting and casting, production design and much more. The organizers want to show all the inhabitants of Belgium, Luxembourg and Netherlands the best masterpieces of world cinema, which will please audiences of all ages.

Program:

-International competition program of short films
-International feature film competition program
-First Feature Competition
-Student Films Competition
-Screenplay Competition
- Animation Competition
-Out-of-competition information programs, retrospectives and special presentations

Subprogram:

Participants are selected in one of the 4 preseasons before entering the main festival program. Every 3-4 months we will collect entries, award prizes, and invite the seasonal winners to the annual event.

The festival's mission is to showcase the best feature, short and animated films of all genres from cutting edge talents and bold visionaries across the world

Awards & Prizes


Official Selection – Competition

Short Film Competition Program:
• Grand Prix for the Best Film (Jury prize, Trophy, special gifts; shared by the Director and Producer)
• Best Director (Jury prize)
• Best Cinematography (Jury prize)
• Best Script
• Best Actor
• Best Actress
• Best Original Score
• Best Production Design

Feature Film Competition Program:
• Grand Prix for the Best Film (Jury prize, Trophy, special gifts; shared by the Director and Producer)
• Best Director (Jury prize)
• Best Cinematography (Jury prize)
• Best Script
• Best Actor
• Best Actress
• Best Original Score
• Best Production Design

First Feature Competition:
• The Award for the Best First Feature Film (Jury prize, Trophy, special gifts; shared by the Director and Producer)

Screenplay Competition:
• Best Short Script ( Jury prize, Trophy, Producers Guild Special Award (IPG))
*Not yet screened
• Best Feature Script ( Jury prize, Trophy, Producers Guild Special Award (IPG))
*Not yet screened

Student Films Competition:
• The Best Student Film (Jury prize)

Animation Competition:
• The Best Animation (Jury prize, Trophy, special gifts)

Docymentary Competition:
• The Award for the Best Docymentary Feature Film
• The Award for the Best Docymentary Short Film

Additional awards presented:

• Audience Award (Jury prize, the award for Director)
* Award can be presented for either film from the main Festival program.

Rules & Terms

BIFF | Brussels International Film Festival is a film festival open to all organizations - producers / agencies - independent – directors.
All participants who will send movies to BIFF | Brussels International Film Festival agree that they understand and comply with all the Rules, conditions, guidelines and disclaimers listed below related to the festival.
Participants agree that the films and other materials they send to the festival can be used and / or published on the website, in digital and printed event programs, and for any promotional purposes deemed appropriate by the festival.
If a film is selected, all commercial or private property including all trademark or copyrighted materials shown or recorded are the responsibility of the filmmaker.

BIFF reserves the right to make any necessary changes in regulations or festival scheduling to end the festival.
1- All submissions and payments must be received by deadline dates listed on FilmFreeway platform.
2- Films to be sent must be completed after 2017.
3. All films to compete must include English subtitles (unless the spoken language is English).
4- Short films up to 40 minutes and feature films up to 160 minutes are accepted for the festival.
5. All Entry fees are paid through the FilmFreeway platform and are non-refundable.
6. We only accept the movie as a digital copy or as a YouTube / Vimeo link. If there is a password, don't forget to send it. We cannot accept movies with poor film quality. Films that are not in English, in another language but without English subtitles and with low video resolution will not be accepted.
7. All movies must be ready to show in HD format.
8. The selected films will be announced according to the notification date published on the FilmFreeway platform. Movies selected for Official Finalist Screening must provide a download link or full quality 720p or 1080p online screening file no later than one week before the festival screening.
9. The announcement of the winners on the platform will be according to the official date.
10. The decisions of the election boards and juries are final.
11. Participants are obliged to obtain the release forms and permissions of all licenses and copyrights required to present their work. BIFF is not responsible for any claims that involve business copyright, trademark, credit, or copyright infringement. Films accepted within the scope of copyright disputes can be shot from the festival.
12. Before attending our festival, please carefully read the BIFF Guidelines and all Terms and Conditions, as well as the Disclaimer and Rights below.
13. Applicants will not receive a notification that their films have not been selected.
14 BIFF reserves the right to make changes to the Rules. The winning films will be announced on the festival website.
15. BIFF may make changes to the films categories. Once accepted and approved, movies cannot be released from the festival.
16. Due to the current situation in the world, the Festival also reserves the right to organise the Festival online.
17. The online screenings will be streaming on BIFF Youtube Channel. The Award Ceremony will be held in Belgium.
18. BIFF have rights to change the Date and Place of event.

--- Copyrights ---
The filmmaker or institution sending the film must have full rights and take responsibility for the content.
Only your movie will be placed online, if you wish. There must be an express acceptance of you; Otherwise, only the poster or trailer will be posted online.
--- Disclaimer ---
The applicant agrees to have read and understood the rules and regulations for BIFF participation. The applicant confirms that he/she has the requisite authority or has obtained the requisite authority from the producer/right holder to enter this film in the BIFF. The winners of the festival may obtain an official winners plate.

12 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Ric Murphy

    It's an honor to have our film, “Arrival of the First Documented Africans in English America” picked as a WINNER alongside other films from other brilliant filmmakers! Highly recommended festival! Thanks for everything!

    November 2023
    Helpful
  • Lydia Campbell

    So incredibly grateful to see my short film script "Liminal" awarded. Associates with the festival were pleasant to work with and my overall experience was a good one. I look forward to the coming years of BIFF and all the exceptional films they will showcase in their wonderful festival.

    November 2023
    Helpful
  • Angela Andersen

    Great festival! An honor for our documentary UTOPIA to have been chosen by the BIFF committee. Wishing you all the best and hoping for further cooperation in the future.

    June 2023
    Helpful
  • Keishi Suenaga

    BIFF is a very good film festival.
    Film Festival gave my film "The Stars My Destination" a very high rating.
    And festival staff support is very polite and helpful.
    I want to go be sure next time.

    April 2023
    Helpful
  • SHUBHANJAN DAS

    It is a profound privilege and honor that my short script TEA TELL TALE was awarded as BEST SHORT SCRIPT in this festival. Means a lot to me. Highly grateful to the organizers and jury of this festival. Thanks once again.

    March 2023
    Helpful