Berkshire International Film Festival

Goes Virtual This Time

By: Kelley - Aug 20, 2021

 

We are writing to you during a very challenging time.  We had hoped this September would be safe for both our Berkshires community and our filmmaker community to come together for an in-person BIFF Festival, but it just isn’t possible to do so. The Festival has made the decision to shift to a virtual format.

While many of us are vaccinated, BIFF's unique tightly-scheduled, non-stop, four-day structure doesn’t allow for the vaccine-verification, intensive cleaning, and air handling between screenings that would be safest for an indoor event with hundreds of people attending, many from outside Berkshire County.

Although BIFF's format requires we switch to a virtual Festival this year, we hope you will continue to patronize our theater partners who are able to follow strict Covid protocols about scheduling, seating and sanitizing during their regularly scheduled show schedules. 

But in the meantime, to keep with BIFF's theme for this year, out of the darkness we are rising. The show must go on! 

What does this mean? Click here to read the FAQ

This years' festival showcases nearly 60 exciting narrative and documentary features and shorts from all over the world, and brings them into your living rooms which can be viewed any time over the weekend, as well as streaming Tea Talks, and hosting our Filmmaker summit virtually. We couldn't be more thrilled with the films in our program which include films from established filmmakers and films from first time filmmakers including many New England premieres and a few world premieres you might not see anywhere else. 

BIFF continues to celebrate independent film and this year we share stories of hope, of our future, of our past, of heroism, of inspiration and of laughter, loss and love.  So, we invite you to check out the program and watch all the films you want, whenever you want, wherever you want. Specific instructions will follow on the BIFF website for passholders and all others interested in the virtual event.

Thank you for your understanding and commitment. Thank you to our sponsors, theater partners, and business partners for their constant support through thick and thin. We look with hope toward a brighter 2022 and in the meantime, are grateful we can bring the BIFF to you virtually, September 9 - 12!

With appreciation,
Kelley 

Click here to view the list of streaming films. BIFF ONLINE virtual passes are still available.