At its heart BBFF is a festival for filmmakers which seeks to nurture and encourage our local film industry. Every year we host a number of free events for filmmakers at all stages of their careers. In partnership with Industry Development and Education Partners the festival seeks to provide opportunities for filmmakers to grow and develop their skills base.

These free events are run by top specialists in their field for up to 3 ½ hours in the SCU Room at the Byron Community Centre. Whether you are an established or emerging Filmmaker or just curious about the filmmaking process you're welcome to come along. Sign up to our e-newsletter to be the first to hear about upcoming workshops at BBFF2011.

At BBFF2010 workshops included:

Beyond the Rights Clearance Culture: New Ways to Think about Copyright in Film run by Elliott Bledsoe and Jessica Coates from Creative Commons Clinic and supported by Industry and Investment NSW

Right clearances. Distribution. Social Networks. YouTube. Peer-to-peer. Piracy. For filmmakers copyright has become a big deal. This workshop examines alternative approaches to copyright management and tools for finding, using and distributing content (legally).

Music Recording & Composition: Protecting your Assets in a Multiplatform Environment run by Sally McPherson and presented by Screenworks
The course will cover: What copyright is, how you get protection, Opportunities for screen musicians and their music and the assignment of copyright including multi platform, Sources of revenue and collection societies and the implications of being commissioned, as opposed to licensing, when it comes to multi-platform multi-media use of your music.

Successful Shorts: Making Great Films for International Film Festivals run by Hugh Burton and presented by the Southern Cross University

Filmmakers and aspiring screenwriters and filmmakers will be taken through aspects such as setting their film within the realm of personal story whilst connecting with universal story, visual narratives, cultural specificity, multi-level communication, and what appeals to international festivals. We will look at some brief excerpts from a couple of films and to demonstrate ways of telling stories.

D.I.Y Distribution run by US Filmmaker Rick Stevenson and supported by Industry and Investment NSW

An expert in the field of self-distribution for independent filmmakers having personally sold thousands of copies of his acclaimed film ‘Expiration Date’ (screened at BBFF07) world-wide. For ten years Rick worked on his film but, as Rick will explore, getting a film made, while a huge challenge, is only half the battle. We will look in depth about how filmmakers can take control and build an international audience for their films.

You can also register for a one-on-one session with Rick to discuss a specific film project.  

Creating a Brand for Your Film  run by Justin Drape from 3 Drunk Monkeys and supported by Industry and Investment NSW.
Films and Production Companies are businesses just like any other and filmmakers should create a unique brand image and position it for maximum effect in the global market. Filmmakers will be encouraged to explore ways to create ideas, campaigns and intelligent creative solutions and will have access to tap into the brain of a filmmaker who is also a top Advertising Creative Director and one of the creator’s of the TV series 30 Seconds.

Discussion Panel: Breaking into Surf Filmmaking

Chaired by Tony Mason (Kookman) this discussion panel will put Australian and International  surf filmmakers in the hot seat to find out what it takes to turn a passion into a vocation.

What can you do to make your surf film stand out from the rest? How do you get it seen by both audiences and distributors? How has the genre changed and where is it going?