Brooklyn, NY [April, 2009] – The Brooklyn International Film Festival (BiFF) is proud to announce its 12^th annual festival themed Open Source. The festival has received a record number of films this year: 2,780 film from 110 countries.

The competition will run from June 5 to June 14. All of the films will be shown at the Brooklyn Heights Cinema, where two screening rooms will operate side-by-side featuring 81, two-hour film programs.

“We are living in a time of free sharing information and knowledge. With that in mind, we are putting together a very inclusive and accessible festival that will represent many countries and about 150 films will each be shown twice throughout the festival,” said BiFF executive director, Marco Ursino.  

On June 5, the opening night film will kick-off the festival at the Brooklyn Heights Cinema. The after-party follows at Dumbo’s The powerHouse Arena, a multi-purpose venue which will also act as the festival headquarters. For 2009, the festival partners with The powerHouse Arena, reBar, Water Street, Superfine, Bubby's, Smack Mellon, and Speak Low.

“More than ever before, the festival is not only present at the screenings and the parties, but also in every web-based social network available,” added Ursino. “Our ‘friends’ and ‘followers’ are becoming more interactive by the day, and we truly welcome the invasion! At the end of the day, this is what keeps the festival open-minded and in touch with the world.”

BiFF will award the winners with prizes totaling over $80,000 in film services, products, and cash. A single prize of $5,000 cash, the “Diane Seligman Award”, sponsored by Lowel Light, will be given to Best Documentary.

The festival is also pleased to announce its 2009 Presenting sponsors: Stella Artois, Time Warner Cable, WNYC Radio, Hotel Chandler, and Stevia Sugar.

On June 7 and 14, BiFF will present the 5^th annual kidsfilmfest. The event will be held at the Brooklyn Heights Cinema on June 7 and at the New Museum in Manhattan on June 14.

BiFF 2009 Brooklyn Heights Cinema Schedule:

Weekends (June 6, 7, 13, 14): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10pm shows

Weekdays (June 8, 9, 10, 11, 12): 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10pm shows

BiFF started in 1998 as the first international competitive film festival in New York. BiFF’s primary goal is to connect filmmakers to distribution companies and expose them to the media. Many films that have premiered at BiFF in past years went on to be released theatrically and via DVD. 

Tags: Brooklyn