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.