About Us

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. Since then the festival has continued to grow in every way each year. Over 10 days, BBFF2011 featured 35 public screenings in Byron Bay with introductions by attending filmmakers and Q & A sessions, 6 free workshops & panels, industry networking functions, 10 Schools Screenings, family-friendly films, free showcases of experimental films, 2 free live audio-visual experimental film performances, a balcony bar for the audience to mix with filmmakers and for the first-time 2 extra public sessions held in neighbouring Lismore. Two highlights of the Festival are the Gala Red Carpet Opening and Closing Nights with catered parties which always attract full houses. 206 films were screened from 35 countries of which 72 were Australian films.135 of the films screened were Australian or World Premieres. Attendees included Australian and International filmmakers, directors, producers, performers, film-lovers and cultural tourists and a record number of Australian Filmmakers attended the festival with over ½ of the Australian films screened represented by their Director, Cast Members &/or Producer.

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.

A Word From Our Patron

“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 sixth film festival possible.”

Paul Cox
Film Writer Director

In 2010 Festival Organisers silently marked 100 years of film in Byron Bay