Beirut International Film Festival (BIFF)

Overview

The Beirut International Film Festival (BIFF) is Lebanon's international film festival, founded in 1997. Over 18 editions spanning 28 years, the festival has screened 835 films from Lebanon, the Arab world, and beyond. The festival is currently paused due to regional conflict in Lebanon, with no date announced for its next edition.

BIFF's Official Competition covers short films, documentary films, and feature films from the Middle East. An International Panorama section showcases out-of-competition films from outside the region. The festival's top prize is the Aleph, awarded by an independent jury of industry professionals across three competition categories.

The festival states that submissions will open once the next edition is announced. Filmmakers should monitor the official website and social media channels for updates.

Submission Details

• Submission platform: Direct via the official website (when open)
• Entry fee: Not publicly listed. Historically, submissions opened several months before each edition.
• Submission status: Currently closed. The submissions page reads "Coming Soon."
• Premiere requirement: Lebanese premiere (based on British Council festival database)
• Festival month: Historically October. The 18th edition was held April 22-28, 2019.
• Deadline month: Historically June (based on British Council festival database)
• Eligibility: Middle East films for Official Competition. International films for Panorama section (out of competition).
• Categories: Short films (30 minutes or less, including animation and experimental), Documentary films, Feature films

Competition Sections and Awards

Official Competition

Three categories, each judged by an independent jury:

Short Films:

• Gold Aleph for Best Short Film
• Silver Aleph for Second Best Short
• Bronze Aleph for Third Best Short

Documentary Films:

• Gold Aleph for Best Documentary Film
• Gold Aleph for Best Director (Documentary)
• Silver Aleph for Second Best Documentary
• Bronze Aleph for Third Best Documentary

Feature Films:

• Gold Aleph for Best Feature Film
• Gold Aleph for Best Director (Feature)
• Silver Aleph for Second Best Feature
• Bronze Aleph for Third Best Feature

The jury may also award a Jury Special Prize at its discretion. Past editions have included an Audience Vote for Best Feature Film.

International Panorama

Out-of-competition section presenting films from outside the Middle East. Programming includes award-winning films from major international festivals, breakthrough works by emerging global talents, and special screenings with filmmaker Q&As when possible.

What Filmmakers Should Know

BIFF is currently inactive. The festival's last edition was the 18th, held April 22-28, 2019. The festival has not operated since due to Lebanon's political crises, economic collapse, the 2020 Beirut port explosion, and ongoing regional conflict. Filmmakers should verify the festival's operational status before planning submissions.

When operational, BIFF requires Lebanese premiere status. Films previously screened at other festivals in Lebanon are not eligible. The festival accepts films from the Middle East for competition and international films for its Panorama section.

The festival has a history of programming films that faced censorship or banning in other countries. The "Rejection Front" section, introduced in an earlier edition, specifically included films that were sanctioned, censored, or banned in previous years.

BIFF does not have an attached film market or industry sales platform. Its value lies in regional exposure within the Arab world and access to Lebanese audiences in one of the Middle East's most culturally active cities.

The Beirut Film Foundation, established in 2003, manages the festival. The foundation's board includes Oliver Naufal, Naji Naufal, Elias Doummar, Rany Sarouphim, Rozy Beainy, Serena El Chami, and Robert Trad.

Festival History

BIFF launched its first edition in 1997, screening 29 films and establishing itself as Lebanon's film festival. The Beirut Film Foundation was created in 2003 to institutionalize the festival's operations.

The festival reached its record edition with 88 films showcased across 8 sections, the largest program in its history. The 14th edition (2014) featured 78 films with an expanded program, introducing new sections including "Public Square" and "Tribute and Retrospective."

The 18th edition (April 2019) was the last before the festival paused operations. That edition screened 42 films from around the world, with award winners including "McQueen" (Audience Vote Best Feature), "Facing Death with Wire Cutter" (Best Documentary), and "Wasati" (SGBL Award for Best Short Film). Films from Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Iran, Turkey, and the UK were featured.

Lebanon has a filmmaking tradition that includes internationally recognized directors such as Nadine Labaki, whose films have competed at Cannes and received Academy Award nominations. BIFF has served as a domestic platform for Lebanese cinema and a regional platform for Arab filmmaking.

Note: The Beirut International Women Film Festival (BWFF) is a separate event that has continued operating through the crisis, holding its 9th edition April 27-30, 2026 at Grand Cinemas ABC Dbayeh. It accepts submissions via FilmFreeway.

See Also

Use the Festival ROI Calculator to evaluate submission costs and potential audience reach. For festival strategy guidance, see Film Festival Strategy. For Arab cinema context, see International Film Markets.