Great Barrington — The 18th annual Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFF) announces another blockbuster weekend line-up of films, events, and very special guests. The festival runs from May 30 through June 2, in Great Barrington and Lenox. Marked with strong international programming and an ongoing commitment to presenting the best in documentary, independent film, the festival brings together films, filmmakers, industry professionals, and fans for a four-day celebration. The lineup features 24 documentaries, 26 narrative features, 18 short films, and a free animated-shorts selection for kids. The festival brings stories from 22 countries, including Germany, Argentina, India, Austria, Sweden, France, Eritrea, Israel, Hungary, Iceland, Canada, Palestine, UK, Spain, Ukraine, Ireland, Brazil, Norway, and South Africa. This year’s festival promises to not only transport film fans to foreign lands but also deliver important, engaging, powerful, and entertaining stories from around the United States and here in the Berkshire community. BIFF is also proud to have expanded to the Lenox Town Hall where films will be presented throughout the weekend. And finally, BIFF will present a curated selection of feature films and three short film slots being presented at the in-person festival, to be screened virtually. For the complete selection of films and events, please visit BIFF’s website.
“We are honored to be celebrating the Academy Award-winning screenwriter and director James Ivory this year. Mr. Ivory, along with his collaborative partners Ismail Merchant and Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, created lush and beautiful films filled with romance and charm. They made films that were unrivaled and fresh that were completely unique to them. Mr. Ivory will share his time, stories, and five-decades-long career with us on the Mahaiwe stage with WAMC’s Joe Donahue. We are also thrilled to share an extraordinary lineup of films from near and far, many coming straight from their success at Sundance, including our opening-night film ‘Thelma,’ with actor Fred Hechinger in attendance, and ‘Diane Warren: Relentless,’ an intimate documentary filled with Diane’s signature humor. Marked by a distinctive songwriting approach, Warren is responsible for the soundtrack of our lives from Cher to Stephen Tyler to LeAnn Rimes,” said Kelley Vickery, BIFF founder and artistic director. “One of the things I love most about the BIFF is the diversity of films that our filmmakers bring to the Berkshires. Each year, we present films from around the world to reflect our ever-changing, ever-growing, and ever-hopeful global and local communities. It is my hope that BIFF will inspire our Berkshire audience with wonder, curiosity, engagement, laughter, and perhaps even a call to action. I continue to be amazed at the amount of inspired filmmaking that is being created, and I celebrate those filmmakers who share their stories and their talent. Independent film is alive and well and coming to the Berkshires!”
THURSDAY, MAY 30 — Opening Night at the Mahaiwe, Great Barrington, sponsored by Berkshire Bank: The festival opens with the Sundance hit “Thelma.” This feature directorial debut of Josh Margolin is a poignant action-comedy that gives veteran Oscar nominee June Squibb (“Nebraska”) her first leading role and features the final performance of trailblazing actor Richard Roundtree (“Shaft”). Squibb, who did most of her stunts in the film, plays Thelma Post, a feisty 93-year-old grandmother who gets conned by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson, Fred Hechinger (“White Lotus”), and sets on a treacherous quest across Los Angeles, accompanied by an aging friend and his motorized scooter to reclaim what was taken from her. “I’m excited to open our 18th annual film festival with this wonderful film that is funny and entertaining, but also very tender and with a great heart,” said Vickery. “The writer/director was inspired by his own grandma, and you get this love and tenderness towards the conditions of elderly people.” It has been a while since BIFF opened with a narrative feature, and the audience is sure to enjoy it and the conversation with actor Fred Hechinger following the screening.
Prior to the opening night film, BIFF will present “The Taste of the BIFF,” showcasing area restaurants in the Berkshires under the BIFF tent. This dinner-by-the-bite event includes The Breakroom, Dare Bottleshop & Provisions, The Elm, Frankie’s, Haven Cafe, JuJu’s, Moon Cloud, Morgan House, Number Ten, The Old Inn on the Green, The Red Lion Inn, SoCo Creamery, and SoMa Creative Cuisine. “The Taste of the BIFF” is a foodie festival within the festival!
The opening night begins with a presentation of the 14th annual “Next Great Filmmaker Award,” sponsored by Berkshire Bank. Voting begins May 1; be sure to cast your vote before May 30 on BIFF’s website and be part of the excitement!
SATURDAY, JUNE 1 — Tribute Night at the Mahaiwe with Oscar-winning screenwriter and director JAMES IVORY: It is a pleasure and an honor to pay tribute to the legendary James Ivory, who for many years worked extensively with his domestic as well as professional partner, Ismail Merchant, and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, who created Merchant Ivory Productions, whose films have won seven Academy Awards including “A Room with a View,” “Maurice,” “Howards End,” “The Remains of the Day, and “Call Me by Your Name.” The director Wes Anderson once wrote: “Jim, with [Merchant] and [Prawer Jhabvala], may be among the most independent of independent film-makers ever—and their longevity is possibly unrivalled? They initiated their own projects and worked with their team of regular collaborators for something like 50 years. And of course Jim is still at it … What don’t we learn from him/them? ‘Howard’s End’ and ‘A Room with a View’ were so popular (and good!)—maybe we overlook how wide-ranging and adventurous this body of work really is.” Mr. Ivory and Stephen Soucy, director of the documentary “Merchant Ivory,” will be in conversation with WAMC’s Joe Donahue on the stage of the Mahaiwe. BIFF is very proud to honor and recognize Mr. Ivory’s legendary and iconic career.
SATURDAY, JUNE 1 — BIFF’s popular Tea Talks, sponsored by Love Today Productions: This festival-favorite began six years ago, and this year’s selection includes in-depth conversations with special guests in the documentary film industry. The Tea Talks celebrates “The Doyennes of Documentary” with the award-winning Sheila Nevins and Barbara Kopple. They will screen and discuss Nevin’s 2023 Oscar-nominated documentary “ABCs of Book Banning” and Kopple’s Oscar-winning films, and share their illustrious careers as award-winning documentary filmmakers. The conversation will be with writer and BIFF board member Mary Mott at the Mahaiwe.
SUNDAY, JUNE 2 — Closing Night at the Mahaiwe: BIFF will close with the SXSW hit documentary film “Diane Warren: Relentless.” The film is an intimate look at the life, career, and process of one of the most accomplished and prolific songwriters of all time, and is responsible for the soundtrack of our lives. The film shares stories from Cher, Gloria Estefan, David Foster, Jennifer Hudson, Celine Dion, Kesha, and many more to showcase the creative genius that is Diane Warren. The film’s producers will be in attendance for a Q&A following the film, and a closing night party will be held at Number Ten next door to the Mahaiwe.
BIFF has proudly programmed films that include the new film “Cold Wallet,” which was filmed in Lenox and had its premiere at SXSW film festival; numerous award-winning Sundance narrative and documentary films; the 40th anniversary screening of “Stop Making Sense”; documentaries about the Black Keys and artist Jamie Wyeth; as well as two world premieres in the shorts selection, “Dr. No Means No” and “My Father’s Name.”
“Kelley and I are thrilled about this year’s globally sourced program,” said BIFF Film Programmer and board member Lillian Lennox. “We are blessed to have a dedicated team who work tirelessly to bring the very best independent narrative and documentary filmmaking to our audiences, films that offer inspirational new voices and fresh perspectives. We look forward to seeing old friends and new at this year’s festival.”
Passes are on sale now. Single tickets go on sale for REEL Friends of BIFF on Friday, April 26, and to the general public on Monday, April 29, by visiting BIFF’s website.
In addition to the dozens of remarkable films, BIFF will host special events throughout the weekend, including the Juried Prize Award for narrative and documentary filmmaking, free family film screenings, and panel discussions.
The Jury
The BIFF’s 2024 Jury includes distribution guru Josh Braun; director Kent Jones; actors Karen Allen and Michel Gill; casting director Gretchen Rennell; film publicist Laura Sok; and production designer Kristi Zea. In competition are four documentaries and four films in the narrative category. The award will be presented during a brunch on Sunday, June 2, at Number Ten in Great Barrington.
The 14th annual “Next Great Filmmaker” Competition, created and sponsored by Berkshire Bank, will kickoff online voting on Monday, May 1. Voting will continue through May 29, and the winner will be announced at the Opening Night presentation in Great Barrington on Thursday, May 30, at the Mahaiwe. The films in competition are: “The Bell,” “Blue Hour,” “Dr. No Means No,” “Help Is … on the Way?,” and “Break / Fix.”
BIFF Filmmaker Summit
In 2024, the BIFF will host its 14th annual Filmmaker Summit, a two-day talent academy for this year’s filmmakers. This diverse, multi-dimensional program of panel discussions, lectures, special events, and breakout sessions is led by known industry professionals. Beginning on Wednesday, May 29, the Filmmaker Summit is a truly unique introduction to the festival for filmmakers. The Filmmaker Summit is sponsored by Mary Mott and Gordon Simmering. Scholarship awards to the Filmmaker Summit are donated by The Frances Davis Fund in memory of Estelle Davis, who really appreciated a good movie.
