The Black International Film Festival is a Film Festival with a difference, incorporating music, live arts and education while providing platforms for filmmakers and art creatives to exhibit their talents.
The festival, is a one week infusion of industry parties, showcases, networking events, educational seminars and screenings as well as the star studded 'MViSAs' Movie Video and Screen Awards. This Festival is the only event of its kind in the UK.
Over the last 11 years the festival has grown into a well know established event in the city’s social calendar which continues to attract celebrities and individuals from across the UK and the world. Headquartered in Birmingham, the Black International Film Festival makes use of stunning venues around the city.
Thanks to indie festivals all over the world and the 2016 #OscarsSoWhite brouhaha, diversity remains at the top of the agenda in the film industry, for now at least. As we enter another Festival year, our biggest fear is that the rise in protectionism, coupled with the bigotry which has been bundled up and legitimised as the voice of 'ordinary, working people' who have been silenced by political correctness, will lead to backward steps and greater division, and greater exclusion of those in the minority - women, people of colour, LGBT and those with disabilities.
It's as if the world's superpowers, who are so hard-done by, have suddenly decided to do away with globalism and getting along with one another. Instead each country, creed and colour has retreated to their respective corner. We hate corners. We champion the representation of people of colour in film in order to encourage more diversity in mainstream film, rather than to build a black film empire. No corners.
Best Feature
Best Short
Best Documentary
Shortlisted submissions will be screened online and in cinemas across the city during the Festival. All selected films for inclusion in the festival will also be entered into our awards program for the chance to win an MViSA Award. Winners which will be honoured at the Movie, Video & Screen Awards, (MViSAs) taking place at the prestigious ICC Birmingham on Saturday 28th October 2017.