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The Awards About BIFA News & Events Watch Films
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BIFA Qualifying Festivals

HOW TO BECOME A BIFA QUALIFYING FESTIVAL

BIFA accepts applications to become a qualifying festival every 5 years, with the most recent intake of new festivals in 2022/2023. However, our lists are subject to ongoing review and we may add new festivals to our lists on an ad hoc basis before each award cycle.
We publish updated lists when entries open in June each year.

If you wish to discuss how your festival might become a qualifying festival, please email hello@bifa.film. In order to keep both the Qualifying Festivals list and ongoing review manageable, we will not be able to include all festivals who apply and meet our criteria.

QUALIFYING FESTIVALS REVIEW

In 2021 BIFA reviewed its existing list of Shorts qualifying festivals in order to ensure that the festivals recognised are allied to BIFA’s values as an organisation and support the filmmakers whose work they show. We reviewed our qualifying festivals for features in 2022 and aim to conduct a full review of our lists every 5 years. The qualifying list will remain under regular review and we encourage anyone who would like to offer feedback on or discuss any of the festivals on our list to get in touch with us at hello@bifa.film

BIFA STANDARDS FOR QUALIFYING FESTIVALS

Based on the results of the review, we have produced a set of standards which we expect our qualifying festivals and awards bodies to meet. Festivals and awards bodies that receive BIFA-qualifying status must demonstrate a combination of the following attributes:

  • A rigorous and fair programming and/or awards process
  • Clear assessment criteria, communicated to all programmers and pre-selectors
  • A proactive approach to the training of staff, programmers and pre-selectors in areas such as unconscious bias
  • A clear and demonstrable interest in promoting diversity in filmmaking
  • Accessible entry fees and waiver policies
  • Additional filmmaker benefits, including a broad industry programme and alumni perks
  • A demonstrable level of quality in the films that are programmed and awarded

OUR QUALIFYING FESTIVALS

You can see the 2024 BIFA qualifying festivals, awards bodies and channels here.