The Beloit International Film Festival (BIFF) will celebrate its 19th year in 2024. One of the key principles the festival was founded on was a respect for, and celebration of, the filmmakers who share their art with us. More than 100 filmmakers attend each year, finding a cheerful welcome in Beloit’s charming downtown area and the warm reception of our engaged audiences. Featuring upwards of 100 independent and international films, as well as many special events, the festival provides free admission to everything for all visiting filmmakers (4 all-access passes per film for actors and crew, too).

BIFF's past honorary chairpersons have included Steve McEveety ("Braveheart," "Passion of the Christ," "What Women Want"), David Zucker ("Airplane," "The Naked Gun") and John Shepherd, President of MPower Pictures.

Historically, many BIFF films have received reviews in outlets such as The Hollywood Reporter, MadisonMovies.org, Cultured Vultures, EveryMovieHasALesson, Keeping-It-Reel, White City Cinema, and several different TV affiliates local to areas of significance to the films and the festival.

The Beloit International Film Festival will run from April 5, 2024 through April 14, 2024.

Awards are given (by Jury and Audience Choice) in the following categories: Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary Feature, Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Short, Best Regional Short, Best Regional Feature, Best Music Video, The Power of Film Award, The President's Award, The Executive Director's Award, The BIFF People's Choice Award, and additional jury awards for select films and contributions that may vary from year to year.

The selection committee requires that all entries/screeners be submitted as a Secure Online Screener. Please fill out your entry form as completely as possible. Should your film be accepted, we will use that entered data to put together our program book, build your website page, and reach out to you, or your representatives, with important festival details.

There is no limit to the amount of entries you may submit. Select the category that seems most appropriate. If you wish to enter multiple categories, you must select your primary category and then send an email to the festival requesting consideration for additional categories. There will be no additional fee for this if the festival grants permission.

A short synopsis of 2 to 4 lines is required for Short categories. A short synopsis in addition to a longer synopsis of approximately 125 words is required for feature-length categories. You are required to submit this with the entry. The synopsis will be used for the selection committee, the program book and web site, if accepted.

Each submission should also include at least one still production photo or slide, a press kit, and bio and photo of the director. Notification of acceptance will be emailed on approximately December 15, 2023. You will be notified for each submission.

The festival cannot be responsible for damage to, or loss of, material submitted. Additionally, the festival is held harmless from damage to or loss of print en route to the festival.

The Beloit International Film Festival does not pay screening or licensing fees for films submitted to the festival. If you submit to the Beloit International Film Festival, you automatically acknowledge this term. The festival reserves the right to screen submitted films to pre-screening committees, Film Society of Beloit event-goers, festival-goers and at festival volunteer & organizer appreciation events. The festival will have the option to screen encore showings for up to three years after the closing date of the festival.

ELIGIBILITY


Works in progress, and industrial/instructional works are not eligible. All entries must be submitted no later than November 15, 2023. The completed entry form, entry fee for each submission, synopsis, resume and photo must be included. If you cannot meet the eligibility requirement, you may apply but will not be considered for awards.

ACCEPTANCES


All films submitted must be available for festival presentation in .mp4 or .mov formats. Please be aware that if you have not submitted a photo or synopsis it will not be included in the program book or web site. Any corrections to the original submission material must be received in writing by December 31, 2023. Changes will not be made after this date.

The Beloit International Film Festival reserves the right to use clips from accepted entries (up to 3 minutes in length) for publicity purposes. The festival reserves the right to show the submission for promotion and fund raising events up to three years past the date of the festival.

The choices for number of screenings, screening dates and screening venues is at the sole discretion of the festival.

RELEASE


I acknowledge that, if accepted to participate, I will agree to comply with the 2024 Beloit International Film Festival Rules & Terms as included with this application, and agree to be bound by and comply with all pertinent documents. I understand that the Beloit International Film Festival administrative staff is responsible for making final decisions with regard to festival operations, and I agree to abide by its decisions. I agree to provide the festival an .mp4 or .mov file(s) of my film(s) upon acceptance, and I release the festival committee and any festival representative from any responsibility for the theft, damage or loss of the print en route to the festival or otherwise during the course of the festival’s possession of the film.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Christina YR Lim

    A real treasure of a festival! BIFF creates a great sense of community for the filmmakers and their work. Their program was very well curated - full of diverse and thought-provoking films. They also went above and beyond to welcome the filmmakers to Beloit! Couldn’t recommend the festival more!

    April 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you Christina! It was so wonderful to have you here in Beloit. We absolutely loved your film and the power it brought to our community.

  • An honor to have Mis-Alignment play at your festival! Thank you!

    April 2024
  • Justin MacGregor

    Grateful for the selection and inclusion of our film THE FOUNDER EFFECT. Looks like a fantastic event and great fun had by all. Wish we could have attended in person!

    April 2024
  • We really really wanted to attend but were not able to afford the trip. Everyone leading up to the fest were extremely nice and very organized.

    April 2024
  • I just rated BIFF with 5 stars across all categories, and every single one of them are well deserved. The quality of films at BIFF was top-notch, communication and hospitality from Greg, Sabrina, and team was inviting and empowering, and the festival is well-designed to facilitate new relationships with other filmmakers.

    BIFF does it right. Thank you for a great experience.

    April 2024
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    Response from festival:

    It was an absolute pleasure to have you and your family at our festival and eve more importantly your film. My goal is to always have our filmmakers leave we as many "new friends" as they can and maybe those connections will bring you back to Beloit in the future :) - Sabrina