When it comes to the most anticipated events of the summer in our region, the Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFF) ranks right up there at the top. For 15 years, BIFF has been bringing dozens of films and filmmakers to venues throughout Berkshire County for a multi-day festival that celebrates the best of independent feature, documentary, short, and family films.

Amid rising Covid rates, BIFF just recently announced that the festival is going virtual for the first time. “Like everyone else, we had to pivot and adapt,” says BIFF founder and artistic Director Kelley Vickery. "When I attended the virtual Sundance Festival, I was amazed at the quality and range of the films. We couldn't be more thrilled with our films this year, which include films from both established and first time filmmakers, including many New England premieres and a few world premieres you might not see anywhere else.”

This year’s virtual format offers attendees in Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut the freedom to watch over 60 feature films, documentaries, and short films from all over the world whenever and wherever they want during the festival dates of September 9-12.

Attendees can also look forward to voting to select the winner of the festival’s twelth annual Next Great Filmmaker Award. To participate, you can head over to the website to watch the five short films in the competition, then cast your vote. As a bonus, anyone who casts their vote will get a chance to win a $300 Amazon gift card. The winning filmmaker will be announced during the festival and the filmmaker with the most votes will win $2,500.

While the pandemic has certainly thrown the performing arts industry for several loops over the last year-and-a-half, BIFF is as dedicated as ever to inviting the region to celebrate the art of film. "The pandemic created a turning point between the actual and the virtual,” says BIFF’s new Executive Director David Tochterman. “BIFF ONLINE is giving us the opportunity to connect with old and new audiences in a new way,"

To learn more about the 2021 program or purchase passes to BIFF ONLINE, visit Biffma.org.

This content was produced by Chronogram Media Branded Content Studio in collaboration with our sponsor. It does not necessarily reflect the attitude, views, or opinions of the Rural Intelligence editorial staff.

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