Beloit and surrounding communities will celebrate “The Power of Film” from February 16 to 19 when the Beloit International Film Festival marks its seventh season.The four-day festival will include 140 films shown in 15 venues in Beloit and reaching out to Janesville and, for the first time, Rockford.
“This year, BIFF will screen a new level of quality of films. The venues we have selected for this festival will highlight the community and present the filmmakers stories in ways that BIFF audiences have not experienced before,” notes founding Executive Director Roddie Beaudoin. “We will also be presenting several unique film programs this year that will draw international attention.”
An exciting addition to the 2012 festival will be the expansion into two venues in Rockford, at the Sullivan Theatre and Francesco’s Ristorante, and two venues in Janesville, at The Speakeasy and the Janesville Woman’s Club. There will be limited showings at these venues on Friday and Saturday, February 17 and 18.
BIFF will emphasize its international dimension with the premier presentation of “BIFF Latino,” a full day celebration of Spanish culture including film, food and music at La Casa Grande on Saturday, February 18. Films, filmmakers, and musicians will come from throughout Latin America.
Many of the favorite features of BIFF will be back such as the Blackhawk Bank Launch & Laurels Event that initiates the festival on Thursday evening when the coveted BIFFY Awards are presented. BIFF’s signature event, the M&I Bank and M&I Wealth Management Silent Film Showcase featuring Robert Tomaro and the Beloit Janesville Symphony Orchestra, will fill up the Eclipse Center on Saturday night with Harold Lloyd’s “Kid Brother.”
The full schedule of events and films will be presented in a series of “Sneak Peeks,” January 17 to 19 in Beloit, Rockford and Janesville, and tickets for BIFF films will go on sale January 20 on www.beloitfilmfest.org
For more information about top events in Wisconsin take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Wisconsin