Brisbane Film Festival

Cinema lovers, unite! Brisbane is ultimately an artist's hub as well, celebrating and emphasizing the magic of film culture in touching our

lives and perception, being a host city to some of the most phenomenal film festivals in the world.

Introduced in 1992, the St. George Bank Brisbane International Film festival (BIFF) observes the film culture in Queensland, Australia and focuses on films from the Asia Pacific Region and the World Cinema.

Film categories fall under feature narratives, short narratives documentaries, experimental and silent films from Australia and other countries such as New Zealand, Korea, Iran, Indonesia, India, USA and Germany.

St. George Bank BIFF has a number of key events. Cine Sparks offers seminars. Film programming and workshops to vying filmmakers under

age 18. This event has attracted various school groups and attracting more than 10,000 students every year.

The Brisbane International Film Festival Queensland Short Film Competition aims to give honor to the best short film works. Lectures and seminars

are also provided that serves as opportunity for the attendees to match their minds with the film industry professionals. Topics in the lectures and

seminars vary from the issues of intellectual property to the critical analysis of the Australian film industry and creative issues.

Categories in the recent BIFF are the following: African Cinema, American Indies, Art for Film's Sake, Award Winners, Films on Filmmaking, Music Films, Australian Cinema, Asia Pacific, Experimental, World Cinema, Riding the Malaysian New Wave and more. Sample films that have been screened were Cannes Palme d'Or winner "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days," Sundance Audience Winner "Quinceaneara," FIPRESCI Best Picture "The Bet Collector"

and Oscar Winner, "Once." July 31 to August 10 of this year marks the next St. George Bank BIFF.

Presenting, the largest festival in Queensland that celebrates Queer Cinema and the third largest queer film in Australia: Brisbane Queer Film Festival.

It is an exclusive showcase of films made by, about and for the queer community. This festival has been screening shorts, features and documentaries

from around the world which tackles the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender life since its establishment in 2000 with the support of the Brisbane Powerhouse, Volkswagen and Pacific Film and Television Commission. The festival is a weeklong celebration of queer cinema culture in Queensland.

The festival also includes a competition which grants winner $1000 worth of filmmaking facilities.

Some of the films screened in the recent festival are "Shelter" from USA, "Pusinky" (Dolls) from Czech Republic, "Sonja" from Germany, "Breakfast With Scott" from Canada, "Performance Anxiety" from Australia, "Naissance Des Pieuvres" (Water Lilies) from France and "Spider Lilies" from Taiwan/China.