Brisbane International Film Festival Postponed For 2014

The Brisbane International Film Festival is expected to be postponed for 2014 ahead of a Screen Queensland board meeting this Friday. The Australian report this bad news comes as a result of the G20 summit due to be held at the same time in November — one more in a long list of ways in which politicians are messing with our arts these days.

Just as Sydney Film Festival gears up for its opening, and the Melbourne International Film Festival organises a lineup ahead of its program launch in July, it has been reported that BIFF is suffering huge internal rifts that may prove fatal. Not only is it facing the troubles posed by the G20 summit, BIFF also has an extremely limited staff (including no sponsorship or marketing), and Screen Queensland are reportedly questioning their involvement entirely.

While the other major cities' festivals are run by independent bodies with festival directors such as Nashen Moodley and Michelle Carey, BIFF has been overseen by representatives from Screen Queensland. Both the Sydney and Melbourne festivals are merely supported by their state-governed film bodies, not managed by them. In light of these difficulties, it's been suggested that the Asia Pacific Screen Awards could absorb BIFF in future years.

Overall, the future of the event is still not clear. More details will undoubtedly emerge after Screen Queensland meet to discuss it on Friday. But either way, the outlook doesn't look great.

Via The Australian. Photos: Matt Warrell.