‘Bold and transformative’: New-look BIFF readies for its close-up in Cannes

Brisbane International Film Festival will launch a film market enabling local producers to collaborate with overseas producers, according to its new executive director, Sophie Mathisen.

BIFF’s new focus on co-productions is set to be launched at this month’s Cannes Film Festival.

The gear shift comes as the Queensland government announced a long-awaited budget increase for BIFF, as well as a new delivery partner in Mathisen’s company, For Film’s Sake.

Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF) began in 1992 with the premiere of Strictly Ballroom, but Its prestige has fallen even as film production in the state has ramped up.Credit: Screen Queensland

“Co-production is becoming a key priority globally, largely because film budgets are going up, so what we wanted to do is place BIFF at the heart of that growth,” Mathisen said.

“We’re returning to the legacy of BIFF, which was always about showcasing the best in global films, but also creating real networks between the local industry and the global filmmaking community.”

“Our vision is to centre both filmmakers and audiences, to really build up the industry capacity of the festival.” New executive director of the Brisbane International Film Festival, Sophie Mathisen.

Last month, Minister for the Arts John-Paul Langbroek announced the Crisafulli government was increasing BIFF’s annual operational funding to $350,000, an increase of $100,000 on 2024.

It was a welcome show of support for the festival, which has languished over the last decade even as the local screen production industry has flourished.

Cancelled by Screen Queensland in 2014 and replaced with the short-lived Brisbane Asia-Pacific Film Festival, BIFF made a comeback in 2017 on a tight funding model.

QAGOMA ran the event for three years, which was then handed to Luke Wheatley’s Film Fantastic in 2021, with the number of films screened steadily reducing.

Wheatley’s three-year contract was not extended, and Langbroek announced Mathisen and her advocacy charity, For Film’s Sake, would be taking over.

Film Fantastic continues to present the Gold Coast Film Festival.

“The BIFF licence has been offered on a three-year basis since 2018. The compelling vision and plan that For Film’s Sake submitted for the 2025-28 contract resulted in their selection as the new delivery partner,” Screen Queensland chief executive Jacqui Feeney said.

“As Brisbane moves towards the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Screen Queensland sought a delivery partner that will produce a bold and transformative film festival that reflects the city’s rapid growth.”

Mathisen grew up in Brisbane, studied at Victorian College of the Arts, and completed a Churchill Fellowship researching gender equity in global film production.

She founded For Film’s Sake (FFS) in 2018, concerned with “providing opportunity for marginalised filmmakers”, and has collaborated with leading festivals such as Toronto International Film Festival, International Film Festival Rotterdam and Sydney Film Festival.

Screen Queensland stages the annual AACTA Awards on the Gold Coast. Credit: Jono Searle/Getty Images for AFI

Key to the successful tender was Mathisen’s experience and contacts in both international filmmaking and philanthropy.

“We’re really thinking about how to resource the festival effectively,” Mathisen said. “I’m deep into the donor deck, and deep into the commercial sponsor deck.”

“We will collaborate with FFS to explore diversifying funding sources for BIFF,” Feeney said.

Mathisen’s first job will be to launch BIFF at the Marché du Film (film market) in Cannes on May 17.

“We will be rubbing shoulders with the top 20 co-production forums around the globe, chatting to co-producers, and introducing what the vision is for BIFF moving forward,” she said.

BIFF would return in November 2025 in “a scaled-back version” that lays the foundations for the festival’s growth over subsequent years.

“We definitely want to maintain the relationship that BIFF has with its very loyal local audience.

“Our hope is that they can engage with the festival in a smaller way in 2025, knowing that 2026 is going to be a much bigger offer.”

Mathisen said that her plans for BIFF reflected the ambitions of Screen Queensland to put the state at the forefront of the national film industry.

“We want BIFF to be the third jewel in the crown – there’s Screen Forever, there’s the AACTAs, and then there’s this.”

A major Australian screen industry event, Screen Forever 2025 takes place on the Gold Coast on May 6-8, during the Gold Coast Film Festival.

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.