The Bergen International Film Festival (BIFF) is a film festival held annually in October in Bergen, Norway since 2000, and is the largest film festival in the nation in number of films. The festival celebrated its 20th edition in 2019, featuring more than 150 films in the program. The festival leader is Tor Fosse, and BIFF is owned by Bergen Cinema. The festival´s main venue is Bergen Cinema's Magnus Barefoot Cinema Centre, with additional screenings taking place at the local art film theatre Cinemateket at Georgernes Verft and at the student cinema at Kvarteret.

History

In 2000, Bergen was a European Capital of Culture. Due to the occasion, Bergen Cinema arranged Bergen International Film Festival, with the most important films from the festival circuit of the year and many sneak previews of movies already picked up for Norwegian distribution. BIFF was one of the most successful events to take place during the celebration of the Cultural City, and was arranged again the year after. Over the years the festival has grown to become the biggest film festival in Norway, with more than 150 films and 60,000 admissions in 2019.

Programmes

Bergen International Film Festival is organised in various sections:

BIFF and education

Bergen International Film Festival has an extensive program for high school and junior high school students in Bergen. BIFFs offers schools in the area to participate in two different programs:

BIFF for Schools

The festival offers free showing of documentaries that covers important subjects in history, democracy and human rights. BIFF also tries to bring filmmakers and even the characters the films portray to the screenings, making it possible for the students to converse with the talent afterwards. In 2010, former mayors of Bogotá, Antanas Mockus and Enrique Peñalosa held strong appeals to students of the power of local democracy after the showings of Bogota Change.

The School Film Festival

BIFF also offers a crash course film school for junior high schools, with professional filmmakers holding seminars. The festival then make camera and editing stations available for the students, and award one school each year for best student film.

Audience Numbers

Awards at Bergen International Film Festival

Cinema Extraordinare (discontinued in 2011, re-established in 2016)

The former main award at Bergen International Film Festival, awarded to the best feature film 2000–2011. The prize has had its present name since 2007. 2000–2005 it was called The Jury's Award, and 2006–2007 it was named The Norwegian Film Institute's Import Award, with the prize being Norwegian distribution.

Best International Documentary/Documentaire Extraordinaire

Awarded since 2004, after BIFF started to shift its focus more over to documentaries. The prize is 50,000 NOK, since 2013 awarded by NRK.

Best Norwegian Documentary

Awarded since 2011. The prize is 40,000 NOK, since 2013 awarded by NRK.

Checkpoints

Awarded since 2010 and one of the main prizes at BIFF, selected by a jury from a competition program consisting of films focusing on human rights.

The Golden Owl

Awarded by the University of Bergen since 2014 to the best science documentary. The prize is 25,000 NOK.

Best Norwegian Short Film

Awarded since 2004.

Best Norwegian Short Documentary

Awarded since 2011. The prize is 10,000 NOK, since 2013 awarded by NRK.

Best Norwegian Music Video

Awarded 2017-2020. Replaced Best Scandinavian Music Video.

The Audience Award

Youth Jury's Documentary Award

A prize awarded since 2004 by a jury consisting of high school students that choose from the films that is a part of the BIFF for Schools program.

Young Talent Award

A cash prize awarded from Vestnorsk Filmsenter since 2005.

Best Scandinavian Music Video (discontinued)

Awarded 2010-2013.

The Critic's Award (discontinued)

Only awarded once, by the film journalists attending the festival in 2003.

The Festival by year