Watch this year's festival trailer
The Bfm International Film Festival (BIFF) is one of the premier UK annual black events held in central London each year. The Festival was established in 1999 with the aim of filling a void within London film exhibition scene. There was a complete absence of black world cinema both in terms of the multiplexes or existing festivals like London, Edinburgh which would show the occasional film but this was a long way short of the wealth and depth of work available.
There was therefore an opportunity for a new cinema. Most importantly there were audiences particularly within the African-Caribbean community for films that reflected their cultural experience. Also lacking was opportunities for the work of UK filmmakers who had become virtually marginalized.
The festival therefore was established to make a difference and to bring the unseen to light.
This year, BIFF ’07 presented a week of screenings from 7th – 14th September at the following cinemas; ICA and the Odeon Leicester square. There was screenings of latest films, classic films, music videos, animation, documentaries, comedy and more.
This year’s festival included two major competitions; “Are you the next Hype Williams†and the “BET Short Film Awardsâ€.
During September to October ’07 the festival will tour the rest of the UK with weekend screenings in Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Liverpool.
The Festival's presence has been important in introducing audiences to black world cinema, and is an important resource all year round for International Festivals.
For example in Europe (Milano African Film Festival, Black Film Festival (Amsterdam) and the USA African Diaspora Film Festival (NY) and Pan African Film Festival (LA).