The Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) will present the 2018 Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF) from 11 to 21 October.

QAGOMA Director Chris Saines today announced BIFF 2018 would launch on Thursday 11 October at GOMA with the Queensland premiere of Celeste, a compelling love story by Brisbane-born film director Ben Hackworth set in the tropical splendour of Far North Queensland.

‘Following the screening of Celeste, BIFF 2018 will offer local and visiting audiences more than 100 Australian and International new release and classic feature films, documentaries and shorts.

‘BIFF 2018 will showcase films from around the world, with a series of curated highlights exploring current ideas from Iranian, Asian, and African filmmakers.

‘There will also be screenings with live music, conversations, panel discussions and much more,’ Mr Saines said.

‘In mid-September we look forward to announcing the complete BIFF 2018 program with a mix of Queensland and Australian stories as well as major new works from a global context,’ he said.

Amanda Slack-Smith, Artistic Director of BIFF 2018 and Curatorial Manager of QAGOMA’s Australian Cinémathèque said the festival would be presented at GOMA and city-wide with partner venues including Event Cinemas at Brisbane City Myer Centre, Five Star Cinemas (New Farm Cinemas and Elizabeth Picture Theatre), Reading Cinemas at Newmarket, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane Powerhouse and State Library of Queensland.

‘We are thrilled and proud that internationally renowned Australian director Bruce Beresford and award-winning film producer and author Sue Milliken AO have come on board as patrons of the festival,’ Ms Slack-Smith said.

‘BIFF audiences will have the opportunity to hear Bruce and Sue in conversation, discussing films such as Breaker Morant 1980, Driving Miss Daisy 1989 and Ladies in Black 2018. The program will also include a selection of films that have inspired and delighted Beresford over the course of his illustrious 50 year career such as The Passion of Joan of Arc 1928, Odd Man Out 1947 and Casino 1995, as well as key films he has directed.’

Tickets to the complete BIFF 2018 program are on sale from mid-September. In the meantime stay up-to-date with the latest BIFF 2018 news and screenings by subscribing here www.qagoma.qld.gov.au/biff2018 and follow BIFF on social media @bneintlfilmfest and #BIFF2018.

BIFF 2018 is supported by the Queensland Government through Screen Queensland and the Australian Federal Government through Screen Australia.