Brisbane International Film Festival, Queensland’s premier film festival, will be paused in 2026 to allow Screen Queensland time to lay the foundations for a new operating model.

For more than 30 years, BIFF has celebrated and championed film, culture and community, and a new approach to the festival is crucial to ensure an enduring and successful event for decades to come.

Screen Queensland says it recognises that festivals must change and evolve in line with the sector and audience needs. The agency is moving away from the current licensing model to lead a coalition of key partners and stakeholders to co-design a future-focused festival that is specific to Brisbane and reflective of the incredible momentum across Queensland’s thriving screen sector.

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The BIFF redesign is being informed by extensive sector feedback and planning is underway to unlock a delivery approach that will strengthen BIFF’s long-term sustainability, audience connection and screen industry engagement.

Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney says the change in direction will ensure BIFF remains an important cultural platform for the creative sector and the broader community.

“As part of our responsibility to ensure the festival continues to grow and deliver strong outcomes for audiences, filmmakers and other stakeholders, we listened to feedback which made it clear that more time is needed to move BIFF forward together,” Feeney says. “We thank For Film’s Sake for its energetic work and contributions to the 2025 festival.”

Screen Queensland is working with key stakeholders to build a fresh approach to BIFF that will launch in 2027.

“Brisbane has built a reputation as a city of creativity, collaboration and world-class screen production. It is also a centre of excellence for animation, a hub for digital games and a leader in the creator economy,” Feeney says.

“BIFF plays an important role in sharing that identity with audiences here and around the world. Our vision is still very clear in that we want to create a festival that reflects the energy, diversity and ambition of this extraordinary city as it steps onto the world stage ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“A central element to BIFF is its capacity to support and elevate local filmmakers by placing distinctly Brisbane stories, talent and culture on the international stage and we look forward to welcoming audiences and the Queensland screen sector back to the festival in 2027.”

screenqueensland.com.au