Now in its ninth year, the Beloit International Film Festival (BIFF) is a 10-day tribute to the power of film and the excitement of independent film from around the world.  Local residents and visitors from around the nation fill more than a dozen venues, ranging in size from 40 seats to the 700-seat Eclipse Center in Beloit, Wisconsin, to view 120 films and to meet more than 100 filmmakers who come from as far away as Europe and Brazil.

The festival will take place from February 14-23. A quaint and charming city that provides big city amenities, Beloit is rich in breathtaking scenery, big picture thinking, and embraces the Capraesque feeling of the American dream in the Midwest. These characteristics have worked in tandem to develop one of the most exciting, memorable film festival experiences since Sundance. BIFF has received broad national attention and has been called the “next big thing” by Moviemaker Magazine and has been listed as one of a half dozen alternatives to “Sundance” by the New York Times.

The festival offers a variety of movie genres featuring such films as The Golden Scallop, Date America (from Milwaukee) and Jake Squared. BIFF 2014 is chaired by Mark Wood, director, producer and owner of ASL Films, an independent, deaf owned and operated production company. Wood’s newest film, “In the Can,” will debut at BIFF’s unique BIFF for the Deaf series.

“We have completely revamped BIFF for 2014 and have made sure that everybody will get a good laugh out of a great lineup of comedies,” says Executive Director Roddie Beaudoin. “The submissions for consideration by BIFF have increased and the quality has been impressive.”

A dramatic addition to BIFF 2014 will be screenings by Wisconsin and Illinois filmmakers at the “Wisconsin-Illinois Showdown” during the first three days of BIFF, February 14-16. Audiences will have an opportunity to vote for films in a variety of categories at the Showdown. “Some of these films will be in competition during the Film Festival, and some will not,” says Beaudoin.  “The Showdown offers great exposure for area filmmakers and contributes to BIFF’s efforts to build a filmmaker community in the region.”

The program expansion will also allow BIFF to present its award winning Youth@BIFF and Student Filmmakers programs for students, with more time and opportunity for presentations.  Much anticipated BIFF favorites such as the Blackhawk Bank Launch Party, the BMO Harris Silent Film Showcase featuring the Beloit Janesville Symphony, and the First National Bank Classic Film closing event, and BIFF Plus Music are all on the schedule once again.

The Beloit International Film Festival is sponsored by the Hendricks Group and is presented in association with Beloit College.  Support for the Festival comes from area businesses and civic organizations and from Visit Beloit.  Individual support for BIFF is provided through memberships in the BIFF Founders and the Film Society of Beloit. For more information, please visit the BIFF website at www.BeloitFilmFest.com.