Welcome to the UK’s premiere competition for amateur filmmakers!

Movies may be on any subject, and of any length. Selected entries will be shown at the British International Amateur Film Festival from 12th to 14th April 2024 at the Crescent Theatre in Birmingham, UK. Additional online screenings will take place from Monday 8th to Thursday 11th April. Registration details coming soon.

All movies accepted into the competition will receive written comments from the judging panel.

For more details and booking information please see our website www.biaff.org.uk

IAC members enjoy free entry until the Earlybird deadline of 5th November 2023 and discounted rates thereafter.

Not an IAC member? To receive entry fee discounts and discover the other benefits of IAC membership visit https://www.theiac.org.uk/join/member.html

Films will be graded on a “Star” system (1 to 5) plus eight Diamond Awards for the best entries. With the exception of the IAC Diamond Awards, there is no limit to the number of awards in each category.

• The movie judged to be the best production in the competition will be announced at the Festival and awarded a special trophy, together with a cash prize of £500

• The “Best British” entry will receive a cash prize of £250

• Other awards include those considered to be the best: Documentary; Story; Animation; Editing; Sound; Acting; Humour; Photography; “One Minute” Movie

• In addition, there will be awards for the best films by those in the Under 16 and 16-21 age groups. The overall best British young filmmaker will receive a prize of £250

• One-off Judges’ Special Awards such as Pop-Video, Experimental, Abstract, Computer-Generated, Public-Awareness, may be given.

• There will also be a trophy for the best entry from an IAC affiliated club.
Makers of the 5 Star films and all award winners listed above will be provided with a distinctive BIAFF laurel which may be appended to future releases of the film.
Through the generosity of our sponsors additional prizes may also be awarded. Note: Certain awards may not be given if, in the opinion of the Judges, there is no deserving entry.

This competition is for films made by individuals or groups for no commercial gain

Please note the following competition rules.

1. Financing, however sourced, must only be used to cover the direct costs of producing the film, including (but not limited to) transportation, equipment hire, copyright fees, catering, and actual expenses incurred by actors and crew. Paid assistance from professionals, including for production, talent or postproduction is not permitted. If it is discovered, either before or after making any award, that a film has infringed these requirements, the organisers reserve the right to disqualify it, revoke any awards and reclaim any prizes.

2. Films may be on any subject, and of any length. A selection of the entries will be shown at the British International Amateur Film Festival, 12th to 14th April 2024. However, it may not be possible to include winning films in the Award Show if they are over 30 minutes long. Extracts may be shown. Please refer to the festival website www.biaff.org.uk nearer the event.

3. Films will be graded on a “Star” system (1 to 5) plus Diamond Awards for the best 8 entries. Except for the IAC Diamond Awards, there is no limit to the number of awards in each category.

4. The film judged to be the best production in the competition will be announced at the festival and awarded an IAC trophy, together with a cash prize of £500.

5. The “Best British” entry will receive a cash prize of £250.

6. Other awards include those considered to be the best: Documentary; Story; Animation; Editing; Sound; Acting; Humour; Photography; “1-Minute” Film; entry from an IAC affiliated club.

7. In addition, there will be awards for the best films in the Under 16 and 16-21 age groups. The overall best British young filmmaker will receive a prize of £250.

8. One-off Judges’ Special Awards may be given at the discretion of the final round judges.

9. Makers of 5-Star films and all other award winners will receive a distinctive BIAFF laurel which may be appended to the film after the festival.

10. All films accepted into the competition will receive written comments from the judging panel. The judges will be allowed to view the film again after the main judging event to assist in preparing the appraisal. The award will be based solely on the decision reached following the judging panel’s first viewing of the film.

11. “One Minute” entries must not exceed a screen time of 60 seconds, including titles and credits.

12. Entries may be submitted on-line via www.wetransfer.com or similar. Online transfers should be directed to biaffcompetition@gmail.com. Alternatively, entries may be on DVD, Blu-Ray disc or memory stick/card in most formats – mp4
preferred.

13. There is no limit to the number of entries from an individual maker. Forms are available at www.biaff.org.uk. If return of discs and memory sticks is required after the festival, prepaid stamped addressed packaging must be supplied.

14. Copyright clearance of all material, both sound and picture, is the sole responsibility of the entrant.

15. The IAC and BIAFF logos may not be used in connection with any film without express permission from the organisers. The IAC reserves the right: (a) to present any entry or part of any entry at the International Festival; (b) without prejudice to the maker’s copyright, to make copies for the IAC Film Library or for the purpose of training judges; (c) to release all or part of any entry for publicity purposes; (d) to exclude any entry.

16. To qualify for reduced entry fees, young filmmakers must be in either the Under 16 or 16-21 age groups at the closing date of 31st December 2023.

17. The overall awards for Best Under 16, Best 16-21 and Best British Young Filmmaker will be selected from the winners of both competitions.

18. Films entered in this competition in a previous year may not be entered again unless substantially revised. (If in doubt, please ask.)

19. Entry to the competition is free for IAC members and affiliated clubs if received no later than 5th November 2023.

20. The judges’ decisions are final.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Robby Baldwin

    What a lovely welcoming festival!
    I would like to thank all the team at BIAFF for their hospitality and generosity. They really gave my film their time and attention, and were supportive and kind enough to provide not one but two pieces of constructive feedback about it. It meant so much to know that my film was being engaged with in such a intentional and serious way. They also were so welcoming during the showing, and asked really fun questions for me to answer during the director interview.
    I would absolutely recommend anyone to enter their passion project into this festival as I did, I know I will enter every future film I make too!

    August 2023
  • Vittorio Caratozzolo

    Very happy to have been your guests. Next year we'll try again to surprise you!

    May 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks for supporting our festival, Vittorio. Best wishes to you and your students.

    The BIAFF Team

  • Alan Sinclair

    This is one of the very few competitions for non commercial films that gives a valuable critique with EVERY entry included in the cost of entry and if you happen to be an IAC member you get free entry . For sure , the best film festival I have been involved with.

    May 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks for your review, Alan and thanks for joining us in person in Birmingham. We hope to see you again next year.

    The BIAFF Team

  • Ian Bennett

    This is a festival for amateur films but the way BIAFF is run is far from amateur, it is indeed, very professional. A tremendous amount of hard work goes on behind the scenes to make the live screening of the films a joy to watch. The Crescent Theatre is a superb venue and location with great hotels and transport links. Congratulations to Simon Sumner and his team for making this festival a five star must.

    May 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks for your kind words, Ian and thanks for your support with our festival.

    The BIAFF Team

  • Keith Large

    Superb selection of quality films and very well hosted and presented by IAC Chairman Simon Sumner. A superbly organised festival with plenty of networking opportunities and hosted in a great venue. Loved also how through Zoom they made the award winners screening event a hybrid show and linked up to film makers from all over the world. A truly international film festival which I highly recommend attending.

    May 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you for your kind words, Keith. It was terrific to receive your film this year - the first film received into the 2023 competition. It was also great to see you in person in Birmingham. Good luck with your filmmaking.

    The BIAFF Team