Bergen International Film Festival
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 ==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 ==
== Awards at Bergen International Film Festival ==
=== Cinema Extraordinare (discontinued in 2011, re-established in 2016) ===
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 
2018: Ayka, directed by  Sergei Dvortsevoy  Germany  Chile  Russia  Kazakhstan  Poland 
2019: House of Hummingbird,  directed by Bora Kim   South Korea and La Llorona,  directed by Jayro Bustamante    Guatemala  France 
2020: The Trouble With Being Born,  directed by Sandra Wollner    Austria  Germany 
2021: Sundown, directed by Michel Franco  Mexico  Sweden  France 
=== Best International Documentary/Documentaire Extraordinaire ===
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 
2018: Minding the Gap, directed by Bing Liu     United States 
2019: Midnight Family, directed by Luke Lorentzen   United States  Mexico 
2020: The Wall of Shadows, directed by Eliza Kubarska  Germany  Switzerland  Poland 
2021: Ascension, directed by Jessica Kingdon  United States  China 
=== 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  
2018: For vi er gutta, directed by Petter Sommer, Jo Vemund Svendsen 
2019: Descent into the Maelstrom,  directed by Jan Vardøen 
2020: Odelsgut og Fantefølge,  directed by Merethe Offerdal Tveit 
2021: Sommerbarna, directed by Linn Helene Løken 
=== 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 
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 
2018:  Laila at the Bridge, directed by Elizabeth and Gulistan Mirzaei  Canada  Afghanistan 
2019: For Sama, directed by Waad Al-Khateab and Edward Watts  United Kingdom  Syria 
2020: Welcome to Chechnya, directed by David France  United States 
2021: Writing With Fire, directed by Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Gosh  India 
=== The Golden Owl ===
Awarded by the University of Bergen since 2014 to the best science documentary. The prize is 25,000 NOK.2014: How I Came to Hate Math, directed by Olivier Peyon  France
2015: Ice and the Sky, directed by Luc Jacquet  France
2016: Monster in the mind, directed by Jean Carper  United States
2017: Let There Be Light, directed by Mila Aung-Thwin, Van Royko   Canada 
2018: The Serengeti Rules, directed by Nicholas Brown    United States 
2019: Jim Allison: Breakthrough,  directed by Bill Haney    United States 
2020: Lost in Face,  directed by Valentin Riedl    Germany 
2021: The Hunt for Planet B, directed by Nathaniel Kahn  United States 
=== 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 
2018: Kulturen, directed by Ernst De Geer 
2019: Fun Factory,  directed by Even Hafnor, Lisa Brooke Hansen 
2020: Papapa,  directed by Kerren Lumer-Klabbers 
2021: Stikk, directed by Tobias Klemeyer Smith 
=== 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 
2018: The Future of Iraq, directed by Thee Yezen Al-Obaide, Mats Muri 
2019: Filmen om Farmor, directed by Anine Wiesner Barg 
2020: Greetings From Myanmar, directed by Sunniva Sundby, Andreas J. Riiser 
2021: Skolen ved Havet, directed by Solveig Melkeraaen 
=== 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 
2018: En affære,  directed by Henrik Martin Dahlsbakken    Norway 
2019: Woman, directed by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Anastasia Mikova    France 
=== 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 
2018: Silvana film), directed by Mika Gustafson, Olivia Kastebring, Christina Tsiobanelis  Sweden 
2019: Drag Kids, directed by Megan Wennberg  Canada 
2020: Vinden Snur, directed by Kieran Kolle  Norway 
2021: Faceless, directed by Jennifer Ngo  United States  Canada 
=== 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 
2018: Thorvald Nilsen 
2019: Unknown 
2020: Selim Mutic 
2021: Benjamin Garcia Langeland 
=== 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 2003.2003: A Good Lawyer's Wife, directed by Im Sang-soo  South Korea
== The Festival by year ==
2003 Bergen International Film Festival
2009 Bergen International Film Festival
2010 Bergen International Film Festival

== External links ==
Official site
Bergen International Film Festival at IMDb