Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF)

Overview

The Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF) is Queensland's premier film festival. The 2025 edition runs November 27-30 across Palace Centro, Palace Barracks, New Farm Cinemas, Elizabeth Street Picture House, The Star Brisbane, Streets Beach, and South Bank Piazza. The festival celebrates 33 years in 2025, presenting 62 films including 29 Australian premieres, organized by emotion rather than genre across six categories: Be Delighted, Be Moved, Be Afraid, Be Ignited, Be Surprised, and Be Challenged.

BIFF enters a bold new era in 2025, reimagined for a contemporary, international Brisbane. The festival's 2025 program includes approximately 42 percent of films directed by women, reflecting a commitment to diversity. Academy Award winner George Miller serves as Festival Patron, and the 2025 program introduces the Patron's Pick, with Miller selecting Robert Altman's 1970 black comedy "MAS*H" as the inaugural selection.

The 2025 edition opens with a black-tie gala at Howard Smith Wharves featuring the Australian premiere of "Agon," directed by Giulio Bertelli, fresh from its Venice premiere. Director Bertelli joins audiences in Brisbane to present the film, followed by a conversation with Australia's leading female Olympians. The festival closes at South Bank Piazza with the Queensland premiere of "It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley," followed by a live concert performance of Buckley's "Grace" album with Queensland music legends.

BIFF will be paused in 2026 as Screen Queensland lays the foundations for a new operating model. The festival will return in 2027 under a co-designed approach with key partners and stakeholders, positioning it as a distinctly Brisbane-first, world-class event.

Key Sections

• Gala Events - opening night gala, special screenings, and closing night events at premium venues
• International Feature Program - curated world cinema including 29 Australian premieres in 2025
• Australian Cinema - new Australian features including Queensland-made work
• Moving Image Commission - a new commission launched in 2025 celebrating Australian filmmakers blurring lines between fiction, documentary, and experimental cinema
• Patron's Pick - curated selection by Festival Patron George Miller (inaugural: "MAS*H")
• Special Events - outdoor screenings at Streets Beach, live music collaborations, and themed activations
• Short Film Program - Australian and international short films

Submission Details

BIFF has historically accepted submissions through FilmFreeway for both feature films and short films, with all genres and countries of origin welcome.

Current status:

• The 2025 edition is programmed and running November 27-30
• BIFF will be paused in 2026 for redevelopment under a new Screen Queensland operating model
• The festival will return in 2027 with a new delivery model
• Submission details for the 2027 edition will be announced through the official BIFF website and Screen Queensland

Historical eligibility (subject to change for 2027):

• Short films: 40 minutes or under
• Films must have been completed within the past 12 months
• Films should not have screened publicly in Brisbane prior to the festival
• Films should be subtitled in English if they feature substantial dialogue in another language
• Entry fees apply, with discounted early-bird rates available

Filmmakers interested in future editions should monitor the BIFF website and Screen Queensland announcements for the new submission framework.

What Filmmakers Should Know

The 2025 Moving Image Commission is a new initiative for Australian filmmakers. The inaugural commission spotlights Jayden Martin, a Logan-born filmmaker whose debut feature "Flathead" premiered in competition at the 2024 International Film Festival Rotterdam and was hailed by The Guardian as "an outstanding feature debut." Martin's work is exhibited at Metro Arts throughout the festival with free entry, as part of BIFF's commitment to showcasing visionary Australian voices that transcend form.

BIFF's 2025 program of 62 films includes direct-from-festival premieres: Park Chan-wook's "No Other Choice," Takashi Miike's "Blazing Fists," Ildiko Enyedi's "Silent Friend" (from Venice), Radu Jude's Berlin Award-winning "Kontinental '25" and the Australian premiere of "Dracula," Stephanie Laing's "Tow" (international premiere, from Tribeca), and Egyptian filmmaker Sarah Goher's "Happy Birthday."

For Queensland filmmakers, BIFF provides the primary platform for local work. The 2025 program includes "FLATHEAD" by South-East Queensland local Jayden Martin, about an ageing man returning to his Queensland hometown. The festival's geographic position as a gateway to the Asia-Pacific creates natural regional connections for filmmakers from the broader region.

The 6FLIX Pass at AUD $119 provides 6 entries to any standard screening, offering flexibility for attendees. Galas, special events, and activations are sold separately. Individual event pricing varies.

Screen Queensland's decision to pause BIFF in 2026 reflects a shift away from the current licensing model toward a coalition-based approach. The agency is working with key stakeholders to co-design a future-focused festival specific to Brisbane. Prior funding for BIFF was AUD $250,000 per year for three years. The successful applicant for the new delivery model will be contracted for an initial three-year period with a possible two-year extension.

Major Awards

BIFF's award structure has evolved across editions. Historical awards include:

• Best Festival Short Film - AUD $2,000, all submissions eligible
• Best Australian Short Film - AUD $1,000, open to Australian short films only
• Special Jury Award - AUD $1,000, all submissions eligible
• Innovation in Form Award - AUD $1,000, all submissions eligible
• Screen Queensland Short Film Award - valued at AUD $7,500, open to Queensland residents only. Includes concept development funding and mentoring, plus a meeting with Screen Queensland
• Audience Award - voted by Brisbane audiences
• Best Australian Film

The award structure for the 2027 relaunch edition will be determined as part of the new operating model. Filmmakers should check the BIFF website for updated information.

Festival History

BIFF was founded in 1992, making it one of Australia's longest-running film festivals. Founding directors Anne Demy-Geroe, Gary Ellis, and programmer David Stratton established the Chauvel Award and Cinesparks as part of the festival's early identity. The Chauvel Award recognizes outstanding contribution to Australian cinema.

The festival has operated through multiple iterations. After a period under QAGOMA (Queensland Art Gallery / Gallery of Modern Art) management, BIFF was reimagined for 2025 under a new delivery model. The 2025 edition marks a "bold new era" with a four-day format across multiple venues, including unconventional spaces like Streets Beach and Howard Smith Wharves.

Screen Queensland announced that BIFF will be paused in 2026 to allow time to lay foundations for a new operating model. The agency is moving away from the current licensing model to lead a coalition of key partners and stakeholders to co-design a future-focused festival. The new-look BIFF will launch in 2027, with the goal of positioning it as a distinctly Brisbane-first, world-class event that reflects the momentum across Queensland's screen sector.

Brisbane's identity as a gateway city to the Asia-Pacific region, positioned between Australia's southern cities and the Pacific Islands and Southeast Asia, gives the festival a natural regional orientation. The city's warm, outdoor culture and its growing arts infrastructure provide a receptive context for international cinema. With Brisbane gearing up for its global spotlight in 2032, BIFF is positioned to grow alongside the city's expanding cultural ambitions.

See Also

To calculate the return on your festival submission spending, use the Festival ROI Calculator. To estimate your probability of acceptance based on festival tier and film characteristics, use the Festival Acceptance Odds Estimator. For festival circuit planning, see Film Festival Strategy. For Australian cinema and Asia-Pacific markets, see International Film Markets. For another major Australian festival with a commissioning model, see Adelaide Film Festival.