Bergen International Film Festival

Last updated
Bergen International Film Festival
BIFF logo.png
Location Bergen, Norway
Founded2000
LanguageNorwegian & English
Website http://www.biff.no/

The Bergen International Film Festival (BIFF) is a film festival held annually in October in Bergen, Norway since 2000. It is one of the biggest film festivals in Norway and among the most important documentary film festivals in the Nordic countries. The festival celebrated its 25th edition in 2024, featuring more than 120 films in the program and received more than 55.000 admissions. The festival is owned by Bergen kino.

Contents

The festival´s main venue is Bergen kino, with additional screenings taking place at Kvarteret and the cultural hub USF Verftet (Georgernes Verft), where the art film theatre Cinemateket and the event venue Røkeriet is located.

The festival is especially renowned for its strong documentary selection, with programs on human rights, the climate and environment, architecture, and academic research. These programs are presented in collaboration with relevant organizations, and screenings are often combined with introductions or panel debates, further enhancing the festival´s ability to inspire and spark a conversation. As a vibrant hub for new films and perspectives, the festival has become a destination for film-lovers in Norway, and a platform for a more informed, connected, and creative society.

History

Bergen kino, the main venue of BIFF. Bergen Kino - Magnus Barfot.JPG
Bergen kino, the main venue of BIFF.

In 2000, Bergen was a European Capital of Culture. Due to the occasion, the city of Bergen through Bergen kino established the Bergen International Film Festival, with the most important films from the festival circuit of the year and many sneak previews of movies already picked up for Norwegian distribution. BIFF was one of the most successful events to take place during the celebration of the Cultural City, and was arranged again the year after.

Over the years the festival has grown to become the biggest film festival in Norway, with more than 120 films and 55.000 admissions in 2024.

Programmes

Bergen International Film Festival is organised in various sections:

BIFF and education

Bergen International Film Festival has an extensive program for high school and junior high school students in Bergen. BIFFs offers schools in the area to participate in two different programs:

BIFF for Schools

For more than 20 years, Bergen International Film Festival has offered free film screenings with educational materials for schools. The selection is linked to the three cross-curricular themes in the Norwegian school system: democracy, sustainability and public health.

In 2010, former mayors of Bogotá, Antanas Mockus and Enrique Peñalosa held strong appeals to students of the power of local democracy after the showings of Bogota Change.

The School Film Festival

From 2003 to 2019 BIFF offered a crash course film school for junior high schools, with professional filmmakers holding seminars. The festival made camera and editing stations available for the students, and awarded one school each year for best student film.

Audience Numbers

Audience numbers [1]
YearAdmissions
20009.000
200123.000
200225.000
200330.500
200433.800
200533.500
200637.400
200739.780
200843.700
200944.059
201044.582
201150.788
201250.385
201353.333
201456.302
201557.292
201664.246
201763.840
201868.500
201961.073
202031.014
202148.455
202252.374
202351.329
202455.889

Awards at Bergen International Film Festival

Cinema Extraordinare

The main award at Bergen International Film Festival, awarded to the best feature film 2000–2010 and 2016-2024. The prize has had its present name since 2007. 2000–2005 it was called The Jury's Award, and 2006–2007 it was named The Norwegian Film Institute's Import Award, with the prize being Norwegian distribution.

Best International Documentary/Documentaire Extraordinaire

Awarded since 2004. The prize is 30,000 NOK, since 2013 awarded by NRK.

Best Norwegian Documentary

Awarded since 2011. The prize is awarded by NRK.

Checkpoints

Awarded since 2010 and one of the main prizes at BIFF, selected by a jury from a competition program consisting of films focusing on human rights.

The Golden Owl

Awarded by the University of Bergen since 2014 to the best science documentary, selected by a jury.

Best Norwegian Short Film

Awarded since 2004.

Best Norwegian Short Documentary

Awarded since 2011. Awarded by VGTV.

Best Norwegian Music Video

Awarded 2017-2020. Replaced Best Scandinavian Music Video.

The Audience Award

Youth Jury's Documentary Award

A prize awarded since 2004 by a jury consisting of high school students that choose from the films that is a part of the BIFF for Schools program.

Young Talent Award

A cash prize awarded from Vestnorsk Filmsenter since 2005.

Best Scandinavian Music Video (discontinued)

Awarded 2010-2013.

The Critic's Award (discontinued)

Only awarded once, by the film journalists attending the festival in 2003.

The Festival by year

References

  1. ↑ "Besøkstall og Historie".
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 https://www.biff.no/arkiv/2017/article1336243.ece [ dead link ]
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Årets prisvinnere 2018". www.biff.no. Archived from the original on 2020-08-03.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Årets prisvinnere 2019". www.biff.no. Archived from the original on 2020-12-02.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Årets prisvinnere 2020". www.biff.no. Archived from the original on 2020-10-26.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Årets prisvinnere 2021". BIFF 2021 (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Årets prisvinnere 2022". BIFF 2022 (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-02-25.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Årets prisvinnere 2023". BIFF 2023 (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-02-25.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Årets prisvinnere 2024". BIFF 2024 (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-02-25.
  10. ↑ "Årets vinnere er kåret! - BIFF". Archived from the original on 2014-01-16. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
  11. ↑

60°23′29.4″N5°19′6.9″E / 60.391500°N 5.318583°E / 60.391500; 5.318583

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