Great Barrington — The 17th Annual Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFF) announces another blockbuster weekend line-up of films, events, and very special guests. The festival runs June 1-4 in Great Barrington and Lenox. Marked with strong international programming and an ongoing commitment to presenting the best in documentary film, the festival brings together films, filmmakers, industry professionals, and fans for a four-day celebration.
The lineup features 28 documentaries, 28 narrative features, 18 short films, and a free animated shorts selection for kids. The festival brings stories from 25 countries including Germany, Singapore, South Korea, Argentina, France, Switzerland, Poland, Pakistan, Morocco, China, Croatia, UK, Greece, Ukraine, Canada, India, Spain, Ireland, Chile, Norway, and Malaysia. 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 Linde Center at Tanglewood and 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 award-winning actor Stephen Lang this year. Stephen is a prolific actor in film, television, and the stage. He will share his time, stories, and four-decades-long career with us on the Mahaiwe stage with WAMC’s Joe Donahue. We are also thrilled to share an extraordinary line-up of films from near and far, many coming straight from their success at Sundance, including our opening night film ‘Food And Country’ with Ruth Reichl in attendance and ‘It’s Only Life After All’; about the Indigo Girls with director Alexandria Bombach in attendance,” said BIFF Founder and Artistic Director Kelley Vickery. “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 community. 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, JUNE 1 — Opening Night at the Mahaiwe, Great Barrington, sponsored by Berkshire Bank: The festival opens with “Food And Country” about America’s policy of producing cheap food at all costs, which has long hobbled small, independent farmers, ranchers, and chefs. Trailblazing food writer Ruth Reichl reaches out across political and social divides to uncover the country’s broken food system and the innovators risking it all to transform it. The film covers a rich cultural spectrum, from fine dining rooms to farmlands, discovering passionate, inspirational changemakers along the way. “I’m excited to open our 17th annual film festival with such a beautiful, inspiring, and meaningful documentary,” said Vickery. “And I’m thrilled that Ruth Reichl is not only sharing this wonderful film, but is also able to join us for a conversation on opening night.”
The opening night begins with a presentation of the 13th annual “Next Great Filmmaker Award,” sponsored by Berkshire Bank. Cast your vote here before May 31 and be part of the excitement!
SATURDAY, JUNE 3 —Tribute Night at the Mahaiwe, sponsored by GWFF USA: It is a pleasure and an honor to pay tribute to the award-winning actor, Stephen Lang. Today, he may be best known for his work in James Cameron’s mega franchise, “Avatar,” but he is also well known for his iconic roles in “Gettysburg,” “Gods And Generals,” “Tombstone,” “Don’t Breathe,” “Last Exit To Brooklyn,” and his extraordinary and critically acclaimed solo performance in “Beyond Glory,” which he also wrote and which won him numerous awards. With his passion, Lang has an accomplished career as an actor, not only in film, but also in television and theater, where his career began. His Broadway credits include “Death Of A Salesman,” “A Few Good Men,” “The Speed Of Darkness,” and “Hamlet.” Throughout his enduring critical and popular acclaim over the course of his distinguished career, his work has garnered him distinguished awards and nominations including The Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Helen Hays, and Joseph Jefferson awards. Proudly, he also received the Chairman’s Medal for Distinguished Service from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Bob Hope award from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society for “Beyond Glory.” BIFF will screen “White Irish Drinkers,” which also stars Karen Allen and Peter Riegert, and “The Last Exit To Brooklyn.” Mr. Lang will be in conversation with WAMC’s Joe Donahue on the stage of the Mahaiwe. The Berkshire International Film Festival is proud to honor and recognize his incredible body of work.
SATURDAY, JUNE 3 — BIFF’s popular TEA TALKS return! This festival-favorite began five years ago, and this year’s selections include in-depth conversations with special guests in the film industry. The Tea Talks include a “Celebrating Excellence in Film Through the Lens of Berkshire Female Filmmakers” featuring award-winning actor and director Karen Allen, academy award-winning director Barbara Koppel and academy award-winning director Cynthia Wade in conversation with BFMC director Diane Pearlman.
The other talk is entitled “Music and the Movies: A Conversation with David Friedman, hosted by Dr. Joshua Sherman.” With multi-platinum recordings, Disney Animated Films, TV scores, Broadway shows, books, and a teaching and lecturing career that spans the nation, David Friedman is truly someone who has made a major mark in all areas of show business, as well as in the Human Potential movement. Join Dr. Joshua Sherman, CEO of Old Mill Road Media and Founder of the NAMM TEC Award-winning Old Mill Road Recording, as he sits down with David to discuss his vast and varied experiences in show business; his longtime collaborations with Film, TV, Cabaret, and Broadway stars; and the critical importance of Music Supervision in film. This is a conversation not to be missed as David and Joshua will also announce an exciting opportunity about “Music and the Movies” at the event.
SUNDAY, JUNE 4 —Closing Night at the Mahaiwe, sponsored by Love Today Productions: BIFF will close with the Sundance hit documentary film, “It’s Only Life After All.” The film is about the acclaimed folk-rock duo, The Indigo Girls. Amy Ray and Emily Saliers have been performing together since the late 1980’s. The film is intimate, fun, and filled with great music, allowing Ray and Saliers to look back on their musical partnership, personal demons, and careers spanning three decades with self-criticism, humor, and honesty. The film’s director, Alexandria Bombach, 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.
The film line-up also includes Karen Allen’s new film “A Stage Of Twilight,” Barbara Koppel’s new film “Gumbo Coalition,” Cynthia Wade’s new film “The Flagmakers,” and her new Netflix docuseries “Merpeople.” BIFF has proudly programmed new films from Isabelle Huppert, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kristin Scott Thomas, Denis Menochet, Eliza Scanlen, Lewis Pullman, Melanie Laurent, Pio Marmai, and Annette Miller and documentary films featuring Jane Campion; Bethann Hardison; Joyce Carol Oates; Nikki Giovanni; artists Geoff McFetridge, Helen Britton, and Warner Friedman; and art collectors Ginny Williams and Geoff Young.
“Our BIFF programming team had a challenging time with so many high-quality film submissions,” said Lillian Lennox, BIFF Film Programmer and Board Member. “Through the hard work of reviewing over one thousand films, we’re thrilled and proud to offer a tightly curated BIFF 2023 program of narrative, documentary and short films.”
Passes are on sale now. Single tickets go on sale for Friends of BIFF on Friday, April 28 and to the general public on Monday, May 1, by visiting BIFF’s website.
In addition to the dozens of remarkable films, BIFF will host special events throughout the weekend including GWFF USA’s Juried Prize Award for narrative and documentary filmmaking, free family film screenings, and panel discussions.
The Jury
The BIFF’s 2023 Jury includes distribution guru Josh Braun; director Kent Jones; actors Jayne Atkinson, Michel Gill, Scott Cohen, and Peter Riegert; distributor and filmmaker Greg Rhem; and production designer Kristi Zea. In competition are four documentaries and four films in the narrative category. The award includes a $5,000 prize sponsored by GWFF USA to be presented during a brunch on Sunday, June 4 at Number Ten in Great Barrington.
The 13th annual “Next Great Filmmaker” competition, created and sponsored by Berkshire Bank, will kick-off online voting on Monday, May 1. Voting will continue through May 31 and the winner will be announced at the Opening Night presentation in Great Barrington on Thursday, June 2 at the Mahaiwe. The films in competition are “Pterry,” “As You Are, Swimming Through,” “The Space Between,” and “Below Surface.”
BIFF Filmmaker Summit
In 2023, the BIFF will host its 13th 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 31, 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 were donated by The Frances Davis Fund in memory of Estelle Davis who really appreciated a good movie.
BIFF Sponsors
Premiere sponsors of the festival include the Triplex Cinema, GWFF USA, Studio Two, Berkshire Bank, The Red Lion Inn, The Annie Selke Companies, Old Mill Road Media, The Frances Davis Fund, Love Today Productions, and Wheatleigh. Supporting sponsors include Karen Allen Fiber Arts, Berkshire Mountain Distillers, DéPart Wines, Stella Artois, Abbotts Livery, Haven Cafe, Granville House, and The Barrington.
