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BIFFF Competitions
International competition
The main competition of the festival consisting of 8 to 10 features each year. In this section you’ll find the cream of the crop in terms of recent fantastic features from around the globe. The selected films can win the grand prize of the festival, the Golden Raven, or one of two Silver Ravens, two incentive prizes for film directors that show great potential.
European competition
In collaboration with the Méliès International Festivals Federation (MIFF), the European competition aims to reward the best European fantastic film in each member festival of the federation. With its network of 29 international festivals from around the globe and an accumulated total audience of 800.000 viewers, the federation is a true heavyweight in terms of fantastic film in Europe. As one of the founding members of the MIFF, the BIFFF awards one out of 8 selected European films with a Silver Méliès. All the winners of a Silver Méliès in 8 member festivals will compete in the autumn at the Sitges festival for the Golden Méliès.
Emerging Raven
Often synonymous with novelty and innovation, genre cinema is an ideal breeding ground for young talent! Deities like James Cameron, Jack Nicholson, Joe Dante or Francis Ford Coppola for example have all worked on low-budget horror flicks for Roger Corman before hitting it big. That’s why we created this competition of around 8 first of second features that show great potential, to encourage the iconic directors of tomorrow!
White Raven
In our little birdcage the white ravens are a little different, the odd ones, but that’s what makes them stand out among the rest all the more. These bizarre, radical, innovative, undefinable or controversial films are not easy to categorize. Above all, this competition (formerly known as the 7th Orbit) focuses on artistic originality, both in style and in substance.
Black Raven
Created in 2009 specifically to reward Hong-jin Na’s film “The Chaser”, the Black Raven competition has since become a mainstay at the BIFFF! Fans of serial killers, breathtaking cliffhangers and tormented characters, you’ve come to the right place. From a selection of 8 feature films, the Black Raven jury picks the best thriller.
Critics Award
Bringing together two Belgian film critics unions (UPCB-UBFP and UCC-UFK) in a single jury, the Critics Award competition offers the opportunity to discover feature films cherry-picked from the other BIFFF competitions. The film critics will pass their severe judgment and champion their ultimate victor.
Audience Award
Because we can’t liiiiiiiiive, if living is without our audience, the BIFFF grants subscribers power. The power to vote for their favorite flick screened at the present edition and award the winner with a Pegasus statuette, which will henceforth be known until the end of time as the official festival favorite of that year!
Short Films Competitions
International Competition
As with the feature films, the International Short Film Competition presents a selection of about ten shorts from all over the world. A carefully created selection of premieres and hidden nuggets for all to enjoy. And because we love our audience so much, this competition is a real audience award. You can vote for your favorite short and the winner receives a little baby raven statuette. How cute is that?!
European Competition
In collaboration with the Méliès International Festivals Federation (MIFF), the European competition aims to reward the best European fantastic short film in each member festival of the federation. With its network of 29 international festivals from around the globe and an accumulated total audience of 800.000 viewers, the federation is atrue heavyweight in terms of fantastic film in Europe. As one of the founding members of the MIFF, the BIFFF awards the best European fantastic short film in this competition with a Silver Méliès. All the winners of a Silver Méliès from 22 member festivals will competition in the autumn at the Sitges festival for the Golden Méliès.
Belgian Competition
The aim of the Belgian short-film competition is to showcase creations from… *tatatatuuum* Belgium! Whether animated or live-action, the ten or so short films selected will enable you to discover Belgian artists pushing this flat country’s creativity to new heights and into uncharted territory regardless of any linguistic borders. No less than four prizes are awarded each year: the Grand Prize, the Youth Jury Prize, the BeTV Prize and the La Trois Prize. – Awarded by a jury, the Grand Prize recognizes the talent and work of a Belgian director. As its name suggests, it’s the best Belgian short film that wins! As well as taking home this prize, the winning short will participate to the European competition for a possible Silver Méliès. – The BIFFF also wants to give youngsters a say. The Youth Jury Prize is awarded to the short film that has made the largest impression on the jury of adolescents, composed of those who won the fantasy short story competition organized by Ajile. – The BeTV and La Trois prizes are awarded by two Belgian television channels. From a selection of ten short films, the lucky winners will receive the support of these two channels to ensure the broadcast of their short films.
