BIFF News - Bournemouth International Film Festival

• Steve
• July 7, 2025
• 12 Comments
• Editorial

Why Some Films Just Feel Better on a Big Screen In the world of film festivals, the word “programmer” might not sound as glamorous as “director” or “producer,” but it’s the heartbeat of everything an audience sees. Every slot, pairing, and surprise moment is the result of thoughtful, deliberate curation. At BIFF, programming isn’t just about picking “the best” films. It’s about shaping an experience. And as we prepare for our very first edition, we’re making choices that reflect not just taste, but values. We’ve all done it, watched something beautiful on our phones while distracted by another tab. Or streamed a film late at night while half-scrolling Instagram. That’s modern life. But it’s also a reminder of what we lose when we stop watching with intention. Some films simply feel better on a big screen. And it’s not just about visuals. It’s about presence. The Screen Isn’t Just a Surface. It’s a Space. There’s a reason cinematographers still talk about “frame” like it’s a sacred word. The size of the image affects how we relate to a story. A vast landscape or a tight close-up lands differently in a cinema. It pulls you in. It silences everything else. The distractions, the notifications, the self-consciousness gone. That experience changes not just what we see, but how we feel it. “Some films don’t translate to small screens. And that’s not a technical failure. It’s a deliberate intention.” Steve McCarten, Festival Director We want people to come out of a BIFF screening and immediately talk about what they saw, not because it was loud, but because it landed. Curation as a Creative Act It’s Also About Who You’re Watching With The other part of the magic is the crowd. Whether it’s 30 people or 300, something happens when we experience a film together. Laughter lands differently. Stillness feels heavier. Even silence feels charged. It’s a collective emotional contract. A moment where strangers sync up and share something wordlessly. That’s hard to find in most parts of life now. And that’s what we’re bringing back at BIFF. We’re Curating With the Room in Mind Some films belong on the big screen not because they’re big but because they’re delicate. Because they deserve your full attention. Because they risk subtlety. Because they speak slowly and expect you to listen. Those are the kinds of films we’re building our programme around. Some will be bold, others intimate. But all of them are chosen because we believe they give you something you can’t get anywhere else, especially not alone, on your phone, between emails. This festival isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about reclaiming the act of watching as something active. Intentional. Collective. “A great screening isn’t about pixels. It’s about presence.” Steve McCarten So yes, some films do feel better on a big screen. Not because they’re better. But because we are. Buy Your Tickets Today! Submit via CenterFrame All Posts BIFF Judges Commercial Partner Editorial Hospitality Partner News Venue Partner Why Some Films Just Feel Better on a Big Screen July 7, 2025/ Why Some Films Just Feel Better on a Big Screen In the world of film festivals, the word “programmer” might… Read More What the Return of Costa Rica’s Film Festival Tells Us About Resilience and Reinvention July 7, 2025/ What the Return of Costa Rica’s Film Festival Tells Us About Resilience — and Reinvention As the Costa Rica International… Read More Alice D. Cooper Joins BIFF July 2, 2025/ Alice D. Cooper Joins BIFF Senior Film Judge 2025 We’re thrilled to welcome Alice D. Cooper to the Bournemouth International Film… Read More Load More End of Content.

• Steve
• July 7, 2025June 19, 2025
• 5 Comments
• Editorial

What the Return of Costa Rica’s Film Festival Tells Us About Resilience — and Reinvention As the Costa Rica International Film Festival returns after a multi-year pause, there’s a quiet story underneath the headline — one about reinvention, leadership, and why festivals still matter. It’s not just about one country’s cinematic comeback. It’s about what happens when cultural events are treated as ecosystems, not just events. And for us at BIFF, still building our first edition, it’s a timely reminder of what’s at stake. New Leadership, New Era The appointment of María Lourdes Cortés as the festival’s new programming head is more than administrative reshuffling. It’s a statement of intent. Cortés brings decades of experience as a historian, critic, and scholar of Central American cinema — someone with deep roots in the region’s film identity. Why does this matter? Because programming isn’t just about taste. It’s about cultural memory. It’s about choosing what stories get centre stage — and what stories get reclaimed. “When you hand programming to someone who understands both the present and the past, you get more than a lineup. You get a vision.” — Steve McCarten, Festival Director Festivals as Cultural Archives Costa Rica’s return to the festival scene reflects something many of us feel post-pandemic: film events aren’t luxuries — they’re cultural infrastructure. They gather people. They reflect identity. They build bridges. And when those institutions pause or disappear, it’s not just a gap in the calendar. It’s a cultural silence. That’s why BIFF believes in long-term thinking. In building something that doesn’t just “run” once a year, but contributes meaningfully to how people in a place connect with cinema. Relevance Over Hype Costa Rica IFF’s reboot is grounded, not flashy. There’s no celebrity launch. No viral marketing campaign. Just a renewed focus on Latin American filmmaking and the rediscovery of neglected cinematic histories. And maybe that’s the point. At BIFF, we’re inspired by festivals that resist the noise and invest in relevance. The ones that ask: who’s not being heard right now? Whose work needs to be seen more than sold? “The best festivals don’t just premiere the newest film. They protect the ones that would otherwise get lost.” — Steve McCarten Setting the Standard from Year One A Model for BIFF — and a Reminder As we programme our first edition, Costa Rica’s return reminds us that festivals aren’t defined by how big they are — but by how deeply they’re connected to place, history, and people. Leadership matters. Taste matters. But above all, care matters. If BIFF can grow into a space that feels as necessary to Bournemouth as CRFIC is to San José, we’ll know we’re on the right path. Cinema isn’t just about what’s next. It’s about what still deserves to be seen. Buy Your Tickets Today! Submit via CenterFrame All Posts BIFF Judges Editorial Hospitality Partner News Venue Partner Lucy V Hay Joins BIFF June 19, 2025/ Lucy V Hay Joins BIFF Senior Scriptwriting Judge 2025 We’re thrilled to welcome Lucy V. Hay to the Bournemouth International… Read More Snorkeling, Stillness, and the Power of Intimate Storytelling June 19, 2025/ Snorkeling, Stillness, and the Power of Intimate Storytelling Sometimes it’s the quiet ones that hit hardest. The first trailer for… Read More Why Bournemouth Needs a Film Festival, And Why Now? June 16, 2025/ Why Bournemouth Needs a Film Festival — And Why Now In the ever-expanding world of film festivals, from the Cannes… Read More Load More End of Content.

• Steve
• June 30, 2025June 19, 2025
• 1 Comment
• Editorial

The Power of the Programmer: What We Look For in a Festival Film In the world of film festivals, the word “programmer” might not sound as glamorous as “director” or “producer,” but it’s the heartbeat of everything an audience sees. Every slot, pairing, and surprise moment is the result of thoughtful, deliberate curation. At BIFF, programming isn’t just about picking “the best” films. It’s about shaping an experience. And as we prepare for our very first edition, we’re making choices that reflect not just taste, but values. Building a Line-Up with Meaning Every film in a festival programme should belong — not just because it’s good, but because it contributes to the overall conversation. It’s about more than buzz or box office. We’re looking for films that feel alive. Urgent. Films that carry a point of view. That doesn’t mean everything has to be heavy or political. It means we want stories with intention. Stories that leave something behind.   So what do we look for?   We look for honesty. A rough, raw short film that knows what it’s saying will always stand out over a polished one that doesn’t. We look for voice — not imitation. And we look for shape: how does a story hold itself from beginning to end?   “I’ve sat in screening rooms where something scrappy made me lean forward. That’s programming. It’s not about polish — it’s about pulse.”— Steve McCarten, Festival Director Festivals Aren’t Just About Films — They’re About Flow Good programming is more than selecting individual films. It’s about the shape of the whole festival. How one screening leads into the next. How a comedy short makes room for a meditative documentary. How late-night programming feels different from a Sunday morning retrospective. It’s also about giving audiences space to discover something unexpected — not just something familiar. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rV9AZ88hC3chttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAIGkDDvIpw&pp=ygUYZmlsbSBmZXN0aXZhbCBwcm9ncmFtbWVy We want people to come out of a BIFF screening and immediately talk about what they saw — not because it was loud, but because it landed. Curation as a Creative Act At BIFF, we believe curation is creative. It’s not admin. It’s storytelling. The line-up should reflect the year we’re in, the town we’re in, and the conversations we want to have.   This means our programming will never just be a list of crowd-pleasers or prestige picks. It’ll include bold work. Debut filmmakers. Regional voices. Shorts that hit harder than features. And yes — strange, hard-to-define pieces that earn their place by sticking with you.   We’re building a programme that’s textured. Surprising. And grounded in the emotional and creative energy of the South Coast.   “This isn’t about what’s trendy. It’s about what feels necessary. What deserves to be in a room, with an audience, on a big screen.”— Steve McCarten Setting the Standard from Year One For our first year, we’re not trying to do everything. But we are trying to do it with intention. That means each programming choice is a small signal: about what we want to say, and who we want to say it to. And we want to say, loudly and clearly, that BIFF is a place where brave storytelling belongs. We’re not just filling a schedule. We’re creating a conversation. We hope you’ll join it. Buy Your Tickets Today! Submit via CenterFrame All Posts BIFF Judges Editorial Hospitality Partner News Venue Partner Lucy V Hay Joins BIFF June 19, 2025/ Lucy V Hay Joins BIFF Senior Scriptwriting Judge 2025 We’re thrilled to welcome Lucy V. Hay to the Bournemouth International… Read More Snorkeling, Stillness, and the Power of Intimate Storytelling June 19, 2025/ Snorkeling, Stillness, and the Power of Intimate Storytelling Sometimes it’s the quiet ones that hit hardest. The first trailer for… Read More Why Bournemouth Needs a Film Festival, And Why Now? June 16, 2025/ Why Bournemouth Needs a Film Festival — And Why Now In the ever-expanding world of film festivals, from the Cannes… Read More Load More End of Content.

• Steve
• June 26, 2025
• 0 Comments
• Editorial

Why Smart Brands Are Betting on Film Festivals (And Not Just Big Box Ads) The smartest brands aren’t buying more ads, they’re buying relevance. In a world flooded with banner blindness, skipped YouTube pre-rolls, and endless digital noise, brands are waking up to something the indie film world has always known: story wins. That’s why more and more forward-thinking companies are shifting their focus from traditional ad placements to cultural partnerships with events like the Bournemouth International Film Festival (BIFF). Because when your brand shows up where stories are told, communities are built, and creatives gather. You’re not just seen, you’re remembered. Why Film Festivals Work for Modern Brands? Unlike big box ads that scream for attention, festivals create a space where your brand can integrate authentically into real-life experiences. You’re not interrupting content, you’re part of it You’re not chasing impressions, you’re building connection You’re not guessing who sees you, you’re in front of passionate, creative, culturally engaged humans At BIFF, we’re bringing together filmmakers, industry professionals, students, artists, and film lovers under one roof for a weekend of immersive storytelling, conversation, and celebration. And for brands, that means built-in audience, built-in relevance, and built-in content. Brands that show up in culture aren’t just seen… they’re remembered. This Matters More Than Ever The numbers tell one story. But human behaviour tells another. This graphic compares the typical outcomes of traditional advertising versus cultural partnerships. While traditional ads often generate higher impressions (i.e., people seeing the ad), they tend to result in lower engagement (clicks, shares, conversations, or emotional resonance). Cultural partnerships such as those with BIFF may reach fewer people overall, but the connection is deeper, more targeted, and far more impactful. For brands looking to move beyond exposure and into relevance, cultural partnerships offer a smarter ROI path. Today’s audiences, especially younger, values-driven ones don’t just buy products. They align with brands that align with them. They ask: “Where does this brand show up?” “Who do they associate with?” “Are they actually doing something cool or just selling to me?” Partnering with a film festival answers those questions in the right way. What Do Commercial Partners Get at BIFF? Commercial partners receive: Multi-platform media exposure (web, social, PR, digital trailers) Content creation opportunities (co-branded videos, interviews, activations) Onsite visibility with real-world interactions Audience alignment with a curated, film-loving demographic And yes, shared content you can use long after the credits roll Ready to Get More Than Just “Exposure”? If you’re a brand that values taste, creativity, and connection, we’d love to talk. Let’s build a campaign together that elevates your presence through culture, not clutter. → Request to download the BIFF 2025 Commercial Partnership Kit → Book a 15-Minute Call With Our Partnership Director – info@bournemouthfilmfest.co.uk BIFF 2025October 3–4, 2025 | Hilton BournemouthStorytelling. Culture. Connection. Buy Your Tickets Today! Submit via CenterFrame All Posts BIFF Judges Commercial Partner Editorial Hospitality Partner News Venue Partner Why Some Films Just Feel Better on a Big Screen July 7, 2025/ Why Some Films Just Feel Better on a Big Screen In the world of film festivals, the word “programmer” might… Read More What the Return of Costa Rica’s Film Festival Tells Us About Resilience and Reinvention July 7, 2025/ What the Return of Costa Rica’s Film Festival Tells Us About Resilience — and Reinvention As the Costa Rica International… Read More Alice D. Cooper Joins BIFF July 2, 2025/ Alice D. Cooper Joins BIFF Senior Film Judge 2025 We’re thrilled to welcome Alice D. Cooper to the Bournemouth International Film… Read More Load More End of Content.

• Steve
• June 23, 2025June 18, 2025
• 2 Comments
• Editorial

How Film Festivals Shape Film Culture – Even Before a Single Screening When people think of film festivals, they often picture red carpets, packed screenings, and awards buzz. But long before the lights go down and the applause begins, festivals are already shaping the stories we talk about, the careers we follow, and the way we see cinema itself. In fact, a festival’s true power often starts months before anyone even takes their seat. Festivals Set the Tone for the Industry Look at the last decade of Oscar winners, critical hits, and breakout films. A huge number of them made their first impact at a festival. Whiplash, Get Out, Aftersun, Moonlight, Saint Maud, all of them started on festival circuits before reaching wider audiences. Festivals are often the first place bold stories get a chance to breathe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHtRhESo9Q0&pp=ygUVd2hpcGxhc2ggUSZBIHN1bmRhbmNl0gcJCd4JAYcqIYzvhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOPWgLvJ8_c&pp=ygU8U2FpbnQgTWF1ZCDigJMgRGlyZWN0b3IgUm9zZSBHbGFzcyBvbiBMYXVuY2hpbmcgYXQgRmVzdGl2YWxz What’s more, festivals can give early indicators of where film culture is headed, not just which titles are strong, but which kinds of stories are landing. This helps critics, curators, and even studios take note. They Launch Careers — Not Just Films The right screening in the right room can change everything for a filmmaker. Festivals give exposure, yes, but they also offer conversations, contacts, momentum. A great festival moment can lead to distribution deals, industry buzz, funding for a second feature, or simply the confidence to keep going.   “Festivals are where films start to live outside of the edit suite. It’s where the story meets the audience for the first time. That energy is electric.”— Steve McCarten, BIFF Festival Director   Even for those not in the room, the ripple effects are felt. Think of a short film that finds a programmer’s attention, a documentary that lands a streaming deal, or a micro-budget feature that turns into a word-of-mouth hit. Festivals Curate the Conversation Part of what makes a festival so powerful is its point of view. Every programme is a statement  about what matters, what excites, what deserves more space. BIFF’s inaugural edition is about doing just that. We’re not only screening films we love; we’re building a conversation we want others to join. We believe in new voices, in unexpected stories, and in giving space to films that might otherwise go unseen. The best festivals aren’t just watching trends, they’re setting them. Buy Your Tickets Today! Submit via CenterFrame All Posts BIFF Judges Editorial Hospitality Partner News Venue Partner Why Bournemouth Needs a Film Festival, And Why Now? June 16, 2025/ Why Bournemouth Needs a Film Festival — And Why Now In the ever-expanding world of film festivals, from the Cannes… Read More BIFF x Centerframe: A New Home for Filmmaker and Screenwriter Submissions June 6, 2025/ BIFF x Centerframe: A New Home for Filmmaker and Screenwriter Submissions BIFF x Centerframe: A New Home for Filmmaker and… Read More BIFF2025 Welcomes Chine Financial as Official Finance Partner June 4, 2025/ BIFF2025 Welcomes Chine Financial as Official Finance Partner We are proud to announce Chine Financial as the official Finance Partner… Read More Load More End of Content.