Lights, camera, global action! BIFF 2025 goes worldwide

The Barbados Independent Film Festival (BIFF) is set to dazzle audiences here with a cinematic voyage around the globe, showcasing an unprecedented 60 films from 20 countries over five exhilarating days. 

As the curtain rises on its ninth edition, BIFF promises a thought-provoking slate that will captivate both residents and visitors alike.

During the official media launch for the film festival on Monday, Festival Director De Carla Applewhaite said this year’s slate of movies promises to excite patrons, as a number of entries have been submitted from 20 countries.

“The Barbados Independent Film Festival this year has received over 350 entries,” she said. “Ten from Barbados, 11 from Turkey, one from Estonia, ten from Canada, four from Trinidad and Tobago, Nigeria, Suriname, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, France, Russian Federation, Islamic Republic of Iran, Palestine, Hong Kong, Sierra Leone, Egypt, Bermuda and Curacao [have entered]. This year’s theme has defined itself as ‘Global Cinema’ as we feature work from literally around the world. The largest yet over our nine seasons. Over five days we will be sharing with you 60 films across Barbados.”

The festival director also revealed that Mary Cecilia Walker, a filmmaker based in the US but born in Barbados, will also have her short film The Roads We Travel featured at BIFF 2025.

Applewhaite highlighted that environmental advocacy will take centre stage at this year’s festival, with several short films and local activists playing a prominent role.

She said: “We have with us some young filmmakers and some young activists that have come on board as ambassadors. Not only because of their love of film, [but] we think one of the things as a platform and the advocacy of the festival, is that we provide that inspiration and that mentorship.”

She added that with the festival continuing to grow from strength to strength every year, committee members are dedicated to using the platform to help promote and foster Barbadian talent.

“The festival, with a mission to support the development of film in Barbados, the Caribbean, and by extension influence the world, cements itself as a product of the creative orange economy,” she said.

The festival will officially kick off on January 29 with a red carpet event at the Barbados Museum and will conclude with the short-film event Shorts On The Beach at Southern Palms Hotel on February 2.

Tickets, including discounted student options, are now available for all festival events. Additional details can be found on the festival’s website, barbadosfilmfest.com. 

(SB)