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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
The Magnus Barefoot Cinema Centre i Bergen, the main venue of BIFF.
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:
Cinema Extraordinaire , the main international competition program of fiction films.
Documentaire Extraordinaire , the main international competition program of documentary films.
Checkpoints , a competition program consisting of documentaries focusing on human rights, in collaboration with the
Rafto Foundation for Human Rights . Since 2010, a jury has selected a winner, where the prize is awarded to the organization or cause depicted in the film.
The Golden Owl , a competition program consisting of documentaries focusing on the dissemination of science and research, in collaboration with the
University of Bergen .
Norwegian Documentary Program , with competition programs for best Norwegian documentary and best Norwegian short documentary.
Norwegian Short Film Competition , a competition program of best Norwegian short fiction film.
Norwegian Music Video Competition , a competition program of best Norwegian music video.
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
Audience numbers
[1]
Year
Admissions
2000
9.000
2001
23.000
2002
25.000
2003
30.500
2004
33.800
2005
33.500
2006
37.400
2007
39.780
2008
43.700
2009
44.059
2010
44.582
2011
50.788
2012
50.385
2013
53.333
2014
56.302
2015
57.292
2016
64.246
2017
63.840
2018
68.500
2019
61.073
2020
31.014
2021
48.455
Awards at Bergen International Film Festival
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.
2000:
Luna Papa , directed by
Bakhtyar Khudojnazarov
Tajikistan
2001:
Lagaan , directed by
Ashutosh Gowariker
India
2002:
Dog Days , directed by
Ulrich Seidl
Austria
2003:
Blind Shaft , directed by
Li Yang
China
2004:
Mysterious Skin , directed by
Gregg Araki
United States
2005:
Frozen Land , directed by
Aku Louhimies
Finland
2006:
The Minder , directed by
Rodrigo Moreno
Argentina
2007:
Silent Light , directed by
Carlos Reygadas
Mexico
2008:
The World is Big and Salvation Lurks Around the Corner , directed by Stefan Komandarev
Bulgaria
2009: No One's Son , directed by
Arsen Anton Ostojić
Croatia
2010: Le Quattro Volte , directed by Michelangelo Frammatino
Italy
2016: House of others , directed by Rusudan Glurjidze
Georgia
Croatia
Russia
Spain
2017:
A Ciambra , directed by Jonas Carpignano
Italy
[2]
2018:
Ayka , directed by Sergei Dvortsevoy
Germany
Chile
Russia
Kazakhstan
Poland
[3]
2019:
House of Hummingbird , directed by Bora Kim
South Korea and
La Llorona , directed by Jayro Bustamante
Guatemala
France
[4]
2020:
The Trouble With Being Born , directed by Sandra Wollner
Austria
Germany
[5]
2021:
Sundown , directed by Michel Franco
Mexico
Sweden
France
[6]
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 .
2004: The Master and His Pupil , directed by
Sonia Herman Dolz
Netherlands
2005:
The Boys of Baraka , directed by
Heidi Ewing and
Rachel Grady
United States
2006:
God Grew Tired of Us , directed by
Christopher Dillon Quinn
United States
2007: Forever , directed by
Heddy Honigmann
Netherlands
2008: War Child , directed by Christian Karim Chrobog
United States
2009:
Afghan Star , directed by
Havana Marking
United Kingdom
2010: The Autobiography of Nicolae Ceausescu , directed by
Andrei Ujică
Romania
2011:
Buck , directed by
Cindy Meehl
United States
2012:
2013:
The Unknown Known , directed by
Errol Morris
United States
2014: Waiting for August , directed by Teodora Ana Mihai
Belgium
Romania
2015:
Pervert Park , directed by Frida Barkfors and Lasse Barkfors
Denmark
Sweden
United States
2016:
Brothers of the Night , directed by
Patric Chiha
Austria
2017:
Makala , directed by Emmanuel Gras
France
[2]
2018:
Minding the Gap , directed by Bing Liu
United States
[3]
2019:
Midnight Family , directed by Luke Lorentzen
United States
Mexico
[4]
2020:
The Wall of Shadows , directed by Eliza Kubarska
Germany
Switzerland
Poland
[5]
2021:
Ascension , directed by Jessica Kingdon
United States
China
[6]
Best Norwegian Documentary
Awarded since 2011. The prize is 40,000
NOK , since 2013 awarded by
NRK .
2011: Folk ved fjorden , directed by Øyvind Sandberg
2012: De andre , directed by
Margreth Olin
2013:
Banaz A Love Story , directed by
Deeyah Khan
2014:
Drone , directed by Tonje Hessen Schei
2015: Voldtatt , directed by Linda Steinhoff
2016: Barneraneren , directed by Jon Haukeland
2017:
Nowhere to Hide , directed by Zaradasht Ahmed
[2]
2018: For vi er gutta , directed by Petter Sommer, Jo Vemund Svendsen
[3]
2019: Descent into the Maelstrom , directed by Jan Vardøen
[4]
2020: Odelsgut og Fantefølge , directed by Merethe Offerdal Tveit
[5]
2021: Sommerbarna , directed by Linn Helene Løken
[6]
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.
2010:
Budrus , directed by
Julia Bacha
Israel
2011:
The Last Mountain , directed by Bill Haney
United States
2012: Sons of the Clouds: The Last Colony , directed by
Alvaro Longoria
Spain
[7]
2013:
The Act of Killing , directed by
J. Oppenheimer
Indonesia
2014:
Drone (2014 film) , directed by
Tonje Hessen Schei
Norway
2015:
The Hunting Ground , directed by
Kirby Dick
United States
2016:
The War Show , directed by Obaidah Zytoon and Andreas M. Dalsgaard
United States
2017: Radio Kobani , directed by Reber Dosky
Netherlands
[2]
2018: Laila at the Bridge , directed by Elizabeth and Gulistan Mirzaei
Canada
Afghanistan
[3]
2019:
For Sama , directed by Waad Al-Khateab and Edward Watts
United Kingdom
Syria
[4]
2020:
Welcome to Chechnya , directed by David France
United States
[5]
2021:
Writing With Fire , directed by Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Gosh
India
[6]
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.
2003: Fear Less , directed by Therese Jacobsen
2004: The Bible , directed by Bjørn Amundlien
2005: Drømme kan du gjøre senere , directed by Thomas A. Østbye
2006: Drømmehuset , directed by Øystein Mamen
2007: Bo jo cie kochom (Fordi jeg elsker deg) , directed by Gine Therese Grønner
2008: Ekornet , directed by Stian Einar Forgaard
2009: Skylappjenta , directed by Iram Haq
2010: Jenny , directed by Ingvild Søderlind
2011: Asyl , directed by Jørn Utkilen
2012: Å vokte fjellet , directed by Izer Aliu
2013: Money Back Please , directed by Even Hafnor
2014: Ja vi elsker , directed by Hallvar Witzø
2015: Small Talk , directed by Even Hafnor
2016: The Committee , directed by Gunnhild Enger
2017: No Man is an Island , directed by Ali Parandian
[2]
2018: Kulturen , directed by Ernst De Geer
[3]
2019: Fun Factory , directed by Even Hafnor, Lisa Brooke Hansen
[4]
2020: Papapa , directed by Kerren Lumer-Klabbers
[5]
2021: Stikk , directed by Tobias Klemeyer Smith
[6]
Best Norwegian Short Documentary
Awarded since 2011. The prize is 10,000
NOK , since 2013 awarded by
NRK .
2011: Selger 327 , directed by Kari Anne Moe
2012: Havets sølv , directed by Are Pilskog
2013: Du velger selv , directed by Kajsa Næss
2014: Dette er Kabul , directed by Sadaf Fetrat,
Sahar Fetrat , Nargis Azaryun, Anders Sømme Hammer and Christoffer Næss
2015: Asylbarna: Farida , directed by Ragnhild Sørheim og Christer Fasmer
2016: Boys , directed by Sunniva Sundby
2017: I det fri , directed by Edvard Karijord, Bendik Mondal
[2]
2018: The Future of Iraq , directed by Thee Yezen Al-Obaide, Mats Muri
[3]
2019: Filmen om Farmor , directed by Anine Wiesner Barg
[4]
2020: Greetings From Myanmar , directed by Sunniva Sundby, Andreas J. Riiser
[5]
2021: Skolen ved Havet , directed by Solveig Melkeraaen
[6]
Best Norwegian Music Video
Awarded 2017-2020. Replaced Best Scandinavian Music Video.
2017: Daniel Kvammen feat. Lars Vaular - "Som om Himmelen Revna" , directed by Eivind Landsvik
2018: Hanne Hukkelberg feat. Emilie Nicolas - "Embroidery" , directed by Alam Ali
2019: Teddy and the Love Gang - "Nozomi" , directed by Håvard Glad
2020: The Musical Slave - "They can´t stop you" , directed by Kristin Vollset
2021: Ane Brun - "Crumbs" , directed by Stian Andersen
2022: Gundelach - "Golden" , directed by Fredrik Harper
The Audience Award
2000:
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon , directed by
Ang Lee
China
2001:
Das Experiment , directed by
Oliver Hirschbiegel
Germany
2002:
Bowling for Columbine , directed by
Michael Moore
United States
2003:
Kill Bill Vol. 1 , directed by
Quentin Tarantino
United States
2004:
Oldboy , directed by
Park Chan-wook
South Korea
2005: Sirkel , directed by Aleksander Nordaas
Norway
2006:
The Queen , directed by
Stephen Frears
United Kingdom
2007: Fashion Victims , directed by Ingo Rasper
Germany
2008:
Young@Heart , directed by
Stephen Walker
United Kingdom
2009: Bring Children from Streets , directed by Espen Faugstad and Eivind Nilsen
Norway
2010: World Peace and Other 4th Grade Achievements , directed by Chris Farina
United States
2011:
Bully , directed by
Lee Hirsch
United States
2012:
Beasts of the Southern Wild , directed by
Benh Zeitlin
United States
2013: Siblings are forever , directed by Frode Fimland
Norway
2014: Good Girl , directed by Solveig Melkeraaen
Norway
2015: Raped , directed by Linda Steinhoff
Norway
2016: The Handmaiden , directed by Park Chan-wook
South Korea
2017:
Call Me By Your Name , directed by Luca Guadagnino
Italy
[2]
2018: En affære , directed by Henrik Martin Dahlsbakken
Norway
[3]
2019:
Woman , directed by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Anastasia Mikova
France
[4]
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.
2004:
Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism , directed by
Robert Greenwald
United States
2005: Lost Children , directed by Oliver Stoltz
Germany
2006:
A Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash , directed by Basil Gelpke and Ray McCormack
Switzerland
2007:
Sharkwater , directed by
Rob Stewart
Canada
2008:
Yodok Stories , directed by
Andrzej Fidyk
Norway
2009:
The Cove , directed by
Louie Psihoyos
United States
2010: Bogota Change , directed by Andreas Møl Dalsgaard
Denmark
2011:
Bully , directed by
Lee Hirsch
United States
2012:
5 Broken Cameras , directed by
Emad Burnat &
Guy Davidi
Palestine
2013: The Human Scale , directed by Andreas Dalsgaard
Denmark
2014:
We Are the Giant , directed by
Greg Barker
United States
2015:
The Mask You Live In , directed by
Jennifer Siebel Newsom
United States
2016:
The Crossing , directed by George Kurian
Norway
2017:
Plastic China , directed by Jiuliang Wang
Chile
[2]
2018:
Silvana film) , directed by Mika Gustafson, Olivia Kastebring, Christina Tsiobanelis
Sweden
[3]
2019:
Drag Kids , directed by Megan Wennberg
Canada
[4]
2020:
Vinden Snur , directed by Kieran Kolle
Norway
[5]
2021: Faceless, directed by Jennifer Ngo
United States
Canada
[6]
Young Talent Award
A cash prize awarded from Vestnorsk Filmsenter since 2005.
2005: Aleksander Nordaas
2006: Morvary Samaré and Astrid Schau-Larsen
2007: Tor Kristian Liseth
2008: Olav Øyehaug
2009: Espen Faugstad and Eivind Nilsen
2010: Kedy Hassani
2011: Frida Eggum Michaelsen
2012: Are Pilskog
2013: Mads Andersen
2014: Kjell Mathiesen
2015: Hildegunn Wærness
2016: David Alræk
2017: Arne Daniel Storevold Haldorsen
[2]
2018: Thorvald Nilsen
[3]
2019: Unknown
[4]
2020: Selim Mutic
[5]
2021: Benjamin Garcia Langeland
[6]
Best Scandinavian Music Video (discontinued)
Awarded 2010-2013.
2010: Torgny - "The Only Game" , directed by Emil Trier
Norway
2011: Who Made Who - "Every Minute Alone" , directed by William Stahl
Denmark
2012: Todd Terje - "Inspector Norse" , directed by
Kristoffer Borgli
Norway
2013: The Knife - a Tooth for an Eye ,
Sweden
The Critic's Award (discontinued)
Only awarded once, by the film journalists attending the festival in 2003.
The Festival by year
References
60°23′29.4″N 5°19′6.9″E / 60.391500°N 5.318583°E / 60.391500; 5.318583
External links