Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF)

What Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF) does

The Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF) is a 33-year-old annual film festival held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, operating as a not-for-profit event over 4 days (November 27-30 in 2025). The festival is owned by Screen Queensland, a state government screen agency, and is delivered by For Film's Sake Limited (ABN 14 617 728 168). BIFF 2025 features 62 films curated under a novel emotion-based taxonomy (Delighted, Moved, Afraid, Ignited, Surprised, Challenged) rather than traditional genre categories, deliberately repositioning the festival for a contemporary international Brisbane in the lead-up to the 2032 global spotlight.

BIFF's product portfolio comprises the core festival screenings, the 6FLIX Pass (a $119 AUD bundled pass for up to 6 film entries), premium Galas and Special Events (including the Opening Gala featuring the Australian premiere of 'Agon' at Howard Smith Wharves), the Upstream Industry Program (a 2-day industry track with 8 panels on craft, distribution, and co-production), and the inaugural BIFF Moving Image Commission (awarded to Jaydon Martin for 'Southeastern', exhibited at Metro Arts). Underlying technology is limited to a dedicated ticketing platform (tix.biff.com.au powered by Ferve Tickets) and a marketing website (designed by Romeo Digital); there is no proprietary technology platform, AI/ML capability, or international distribution channel.

BIFF's revenue model combines individual ticket sales through its ticketing platform, 6FLIX Pass bundle sales, and a partnership-driven funding base anchored by Screen Queensland as Founding and Principal Partner, with Screen Australia as a federal-level partner, plus major corporate partners (Southbank Corporation, The Star, Calile, Minderoo Foundation, Beachtree) and event partners (Metro Arts, Howard Smith Wharves). The festival serves two primary customer segments: Queensland film enthusiasts attending screenings, and film industry professionals participating in the Upstream Program. All ticket sales are restricted to domestic Australian consumption, and the festival operates exclusively as a live, in-person event with no streaming or international distribution.

Name

Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF)

Legal name

For Film's Sake Limited

Website

https://biff.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BIFF is a 33-year-old annual film festival in Brisbane, Queensland, owned by Screen Queensland and delivered by For Film's Sake Limited, featuring 62 films in 2025 curated by emotion across a 4-day run. It serves Queensland film audiences and film industry professionals through screenings, the Upstream Industry Program, and the Moving Image Commission.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Festival Events

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (711320)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPADAKAD

Film Festivals & Festival Organizers

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Film & Video Production/Distribution/Exhibition (Cinemas, Film Festivals, Screenings)

SECONDARYMPADAKAH

Community & Cultural Screenings (Museums, Cultural Centers)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Film & Video Production/Distribution/Exhibition (Cinemas, Film Festivals, Screenings)

Keywords

• Film festival events
• Cinema screenings
• Cultural arts events
• Film industry program
• Filmmaker engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

Brisbane

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from individual film screening tickets sold through the tix.biff.com.au platform. Tickets are priced in AUD and subject to availability.
2. 6FLIX Pass: Bundled pass offering up to 6 film entries for $119. Passes can be used for multiple films or multiple screenings of the same film. Standard screenings only; galas and special events sold separately.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

BIFF delivers an annual four-day film festival in Brisbane featuring 62 curated films organized by emotional themes (Delighted, Moved, Afraid, Ignited, Surprised, Challenged) rather than traditional genre categories. The festival combines public film screenings, opening/closing galas with Australian premieres, an Upstream Industry Program of panels for film professionals, and an inaugural Moving Image Commission showcasing Australian experimental filmmakers. Access is sold through individual tickets and the bundled 6FLIX Pass (AUD $119 for up to 6 entries).

Product overview

The Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF) is a single unified annual event (not a software platform) offering a curated film festival experience. The core product is the four-day film festival featuring 62 films organized by emotional themes (Delighted, Moved, Afraid, Ignited, Surprised, Challenged). Supporting offerings include the 6FLIX Pass for flexible ticketing, premium Galas and Special Events, the Upstream Industry Program with professional development panels, and the Moving Image Commission showcasing Australian experimental filmmakers. These components work together to deliver both audience-facing entertainment and industry-focused programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BIFF Film Festival Queensland's premier annual four-day film festival (November 27-30, 2025) featuring 62 curated films organized by emotional themes. Provides general audiences access to international and Australian cinema through public screenings across multiple Brisbane venues.
• 6FLIX Pass Flexible bundled ticketing pass priced at AUD $119 for up to 6 entries to any standard film screening. Can be used for multiple tickets to a single film or single tickets across 6 films, and may be shared with friends and family. Galas, special events, and activations are sold separately.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Screen QueenslandflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding and Principal Partner of BIFF. Screen Queensland owns the Brisbane International Film Festival and works with delivery partner For Film's Sake Ltd to operate the festival. Screen Queensland receives festival data for industry research, audience analysis, and Queensland screen industry development.
• Screen AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Partner providing federal government screen agency support to BIFF. Contributes to festival funding and programming legitimacy for Australian filmmakers.
• Southbank CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Partner - Brisbane-based cultural precinct operator providing venue and promotional support for the festival.
• The StarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Partner - Brisbane entertainment venue contributing to festival support and programming partnerships.
• CalilecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Partner - The Calile Hotel providing hospitality and accommodation support for festival guests and filmmakers.
• Minderoo FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Partner - Australian philanthropic foundation supporting arts and culture initiatives including the film festival.
• BeachtreecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Partner - Australian company providing support for festival operations and hospitality.
• Metro ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvent Partner providing venue for the BIFF Moving Image Commission 2025, exhibiting Jaydon Martin's 'Southeastern' with free entry throughout the festival.
• Howard Smith WharvescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvent Partner providing the Felon's Barrel Hall venue for the Opening Gala and Australian premiere of Agon.
• For Film's Sake LtdflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivery Partner appointed by Screen Queensland to deliver and operate the Brisbane International Film Festival. ABN 14 617 728 168, operating in Queensland, Australia.
• BMD GroupminorOthersPartner organization providing infrastructure and construction services support for the festival.
• CllixminorOthersPartner organization supporting the festival.
• Ferve TicketsminorOthersTicketing service provider partner supporting festival ticket sales and event management.
• RumbleminorOthersMedia partner supporting festival coverage and promotion.
• ArugaminorOthersPartner organization supporting the festival.
• IntenderminorOthersService partner supporting festival operations.
• Elysium StudiosminorOthersStudio partner providing production and creative services support.
• TLDminorOthersPartner organization supporting the festival.
• Moreton HireminorOthersHire and event services partner providing equipment and setup support for festival venues.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Flickerfest: Australia's premier short film festival based in Sydney and touring nationally. Comparable as an Australian festival with both audience and industry components, though focused on short-form content.
• Revelation Perth International Film Festival: Perth-based independent film festival with an experimental and international focus. Comparable to BIFF as a mid-scale Australian festival with industry programming and audience engagement.
• CinefestOZ: Regional Australian film festival held in New South Wales focused on Australian films and industry networking. Comparable as a smaller-scale domestic festival targeting both audiences and industry professionals.
• Adelaide Film Festival: South Australian film festival with a similar regional-Australian positioning to BIFF. Operates on comparable scale and serves a comparable domestic regional audience competing for similar Screen Australia funding.

Broad incumbents

• Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF): One of the world's leading film festivals and a global benchmark for festival programming, industry engagement, and premium gala monetization. Comparable as a reference point for BIFF's ambitions toward international standing.
• Sundance Film Festival: Iconic independent film festival known for emotional/artistic programming and filmmaker engagement. Comparable as a benchmark for BIFF's emotion-based curation strategy and emerging filmmaker commissioning model (Moving Image Commission).
• Venice Film Festival: Premier international film festival whose Venice Film Festival provided the source film (Agon) for BIFF's 2025 Opening Gala. Comparable as the upstream programming source feeding premieres into festivals like BIFF.

Others

• Screen Queensland: BIFF's parent/owner organization and state screen agency. Comparable as the institutional ecosystem enabler that provides funding, industry data, and political backing for festival operations in Queensland.

Direct peers

• Sydney Film Festival: Australia's largest and longest-running film festival, held annually in Sydney. Directly comparable as a domestic Australian film festival competing for audiences, filmmakers, sponsors, and government cultural funding against BIFF.
• Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF): One of the oldest film festivals in the Southern Hemisphere, held annually in Melbourne. Directly competes with BIFF for Australian film audiences, premieres, and Screen Australia/Screen Queensland attention.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bne-intl-film-fest

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF)