Byron Bay and the northern NSW region are home to a substantial number of filmmakers. In response to this, our inaugural Byron Bay Film Festival in February 2006 focused on screening the back catalogue of our local filmmakers’ work plus other Australian films.  However, the immediate and enthusiastic audience feedback from this festival motivated the management team to expand the screenings to include international films, a positive drawcard for an expanding international audience.

In 2007 our festival featured over 100 films from 24 different countries, including 46 Australian Premieres and 15 World Premieres. Byron Bay’s international reputation as a holiday hotspot encouraged filmmakers and delegates from China, Sri Lanka, the USA and the UK to attend the festival.

In 2008 we expanded the festival even further, hosting 30 sessions that screened 150 films from 34 countries - over 100 of these films were either World or Australian Premieres.

BBFF has the good fortune to be located in one of Australia's most desirable locations - a community renowned worldwide for its focus on style and innovative design, green values, and multicultural creativity.

The Byron Bay Film Festival (BBFF) made its debut in 2006 as a fundraising initiative for the Byron Community and Cultural Centre (BCCC) through the efforts of our Executive Producer Greg Aitken and local filmmakers. Although the ongoing growth of BBFF has established the need for its formation into an independent organisation, the festival management still work in close association with the BCCC as not only a festival venue, but as an interactive relationship to ensure the greatest benefits for both the community and the on-going growth of our community event.

Byron Bay has an international film festival where important film is being screened that can change and influence people for life. Civilisations come and go. The only things that remain are the history of that civilisation and the art of that civilisation. Everything else crumbles and is sacrificed in the end.  The arts are thus very important and the art of film combines all the other arts and is the greatest gift to the times we live in. Usually abused and misused because of our rampant consumerism.

Film festivals like the Byron Bay International Film Festival are free from commercial pressures and therefore are very important. They give the people a voice and celebrate their diversity.  I am proud to be associated with your festival and wish to congratulate the people who made this fourth film festival possible.