By Travis Johnson
Screen Queensland have announced that the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) will present the Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF) for the next three years, up to 2020 inclusive.
In a statement, Screen Queensland Catherine O‘Sullivan said, “BIFF is Brisbane’s flagship film festival, screening the best in Australian and international cinema and I’m confident QAGOMA will deliver an extraordinary film culture event for the next three years.
“The Queensland Government values the cultural, social and economic contribution an active screen culture can deliver to Queensland – attracting locals and tourists, building the skillsets of local practitioners, boosting the economy and supporting local jobs.
“On top of this funding support for BIFF, the Queensland Government through Screen Queensland’s Screen Culture Funding Program has provided $1.05 million in funding to 36 film festivals and events across the state this financial year.”
BIFF 2018 will be moving forward in October at the Australian Cinémathèque, GOMA, plus a number of supporting venues across the city that are still to be announced.
QAGOMA Director Chris Saines said the festival would celebrate international and Australian contemporary screen culture.
“BIFF 2018 will feature new release titles and film retrospectives, alongside screenings with live music, conversations, panel discussions, gala events and more.
“I’m pleased to announce that QAGOMA’s acting Curatorial Manager of the Australian Cinémathèque, Amanda Slack-Smith will be Artistic Director for BIFF 2018.
“GOMA’s Australian Cinémathèque, the only cinema facility of its kind in an Australian art museum, will be the home for this year’s BIFF, with the festival showcasing films not yet seen in Queensland or Australia and positioning the new work of local filmmakers in a global context.”
“The opportunity to develop and present BIFF from 2018-2020 is an honour and an exciting challenge, and an opportunity for QAGOMA to welcome new audiences while further contributing to Queensland’s screen culture.
“We appreciate the support of Screen Queensland and Screen Australia, and look forward to presenting a dynamic program for film-lovers of all ages and backgrounds.
“QAGOMA will seek cinema and presenting partners to broaden the scope and capacity of the festival in 2018,” he said.
In addition to the festival’s public program, industry workshops, events and panel discussions are being planned to support the growth of the state’s screen industry, and QAGOMA is seeking a cinema partner to broaden the scope and capacity of the festival in 2018.
For updates on BIFF developments, click through here to sign up for QAGOMA’s mailing list.
This announcement comes after BIFF was resuscitated last year through a partnership with Palace Cinemas, but following the 2017 event, it went to tender, hence the shift to QAGOMA for the next 3 years. Whichever way it has fallen, it is still a win for Brisbane film fans.
