BIFF provides a focus for film culture in Queensland by showcasing the best and most interesting world cinema. Each year BIFF draws film enthusiasts to view the entertaining mix of local and international films, retrospectives and colourful events that capture the imagination and embrace the vibrant art of filmmaking.

Since the first Festival in 1992, more than 230,000 film-goers have immersed themselves in the BIFF experience of international films and colourful events that capture the imagination and embrace the vibrant art of filmmaking.

BIFF has become famous for launching films like The Full Monty, Strictly Ballroom, The Usual Suspects, Gettin' Square and In America . It’s no wonder BIFF has attracted some of the biggest names in showbiz, such as Kevin Spacey, Bryan Brown, Geoffrey Rush, Miranda Otto, and David Wenham, and has George Miller (Babe 1 and 2, Mad Max 1and 2) as its patron.

From its inception, BIFF has been at the forefront of the resurgence of the Australian Film Industry. In the past held the world premiere of Baz Luhrmann’s screen extravaganza, Strictly Ballroom, Toni Collette introduced Muriel's Wedding, David Helfgott was presented to an audience for the first time accompanying his film Shine, and more recently BIFF was host to the world premieres of box office hits Chopper and Gettin' Square.

BIFF continues to present a diverse range of spectacular and celebrated feature films from around the world, powerful documentaries, films on filmmaking, retrospectives, animation, experimental work, late night thrillers, children's films, a short film competition and much more. The festival prides itself on showcasing work from the Asia Pacific region.

Past retrospectives have included tributes to Joseph Losey, Stanley Kubrick, Roman Polanski, Larry Cohen (with films presented by Cohen himself), Dennis Hopper, Seijun Suzuki, Tsui Hark, Jackie Chan, Yasujiro Ozu Abel Ferrara, ‘Shoot shoot shoot’ - the first decade of the London Film-Makers’ Co-operative and ‘A lens on the Beat Generation’.

To get a taste of previous BIFFs, click on the links below to past web sites.
2003 and 2002