Code of conduct

Ever since the festival’s creation in 1983, we have set out to celebrate not only fantastic cinema – with each edition’s line-up counting about 75 features and 60 shorts – but all fantastic art forms: literature, music, painting (both on canvases and human bodies), plastic arts, theater, comics… In our community, this celebration has always been high-spirited and exuberant, with many visitors that can be very vocal about their love – and occasional disdain – for movies. Including during the screenings, in which people often don’t stay silent but interact with the film and/or other members of the audience: they talk, sing and clap along, tell jokes – with varying degrees of success -, howl like a pack of wolves at a full moon on screen… 

BUT, we do not tolerate: 

  • racism
  • misogynism
  • LGBTQIA+-phobia
  • ableism
  • ageism
  • religious or any other kind of discrimination
  • shaming
  • bullying
  • physical contact or sexual attention without consent
  • unwanted photographing and video recording
  • any kind of physical or moral violence
  • … 

This type of toxic behavior has no place at the BIFFF. Ever since ‘83, we have strived to be an open community with full respect and care for one another, with the desire to create an environment in which everyone can feel secure to come to the festival the way they are, in all their diversity and uniqueness. For that is what we believe fantastic art is all about: an embrace of all and everyone who feels different. Everyone who doesn’t completely correspond to all the norms that society imposes upon us should be able to find refuge at the BIFFF.

We count on each and everyone of you to try to achieve this together. Everyone participating in our festival is required to agree to the following Code of Conduct. This includes all attendees, speakers, sponsors, volunteers, and staff. If you do not share these values with us you simply aren’t in the right place. The festival has the right to remove from the premises anyone who doesn’t behave in an appropriate and respectful way towards others, with possible consequences for their festival pass, accreditation or purchased tickets which can be revoked without reimbursement. If you were or are being harassed, violated or discriminated against at the festival, or witness others that are, please get in contact with our Care Team located at the Safer Space area, who will accompany you and will notify the staff, security and, if necessary, the authorities. 

We thank you all for helping us to reach our utopia and for sharing these same values with us. We obviously aren’t perfect, so if you have any suggestions as to how to make our festival a better and safer place for all, don’t hesitate to share your ideas and points of view via info@bifff.net ! This code of conduct will likewise change throughout time as we keep on learning how to improve the festival. 

And always remember, what’s the first thing you say when you set foot at the BIFFF? WELCOOOOME!