BIFED 2024: A Global Meeting of Ecological Minds
Experience the North Aegean's Premier Festival of Ecological Documentary Cinema
Bozcaada International Festival of Ecological Documentary (BIFED), Turkey's only festival dedicated solely to ecological documentaries, is meeting its audience for the eleventh time from October 9 to 13.
Since 2014, the festival has been held continuously, bringing together local documentary filmmakers, environmental advocates, students, teachers, farmers, children, NGOs, and institutions and organizations with environmental awareness from all over the world. The festival takes place on this small island in the North Aegean, striving to raise awareness of ecological and climate issues.
BIFED has grown beyond Bozcaada, gaining significant interest from NGOs, schools, unions, museums, and other film festivals across Turkey’s diverse regions. This enthusiasm has laid the foundation for events such as BIFED Rioja, BIFED Lemnos, and BIFED Gökçeada.
As a member of the Green Film Network (GFN), BIFED is organized with the support of institutions such as the Bozcaada Municipality, Kia Turkey (main sponsor), Demirer Holding (founding sponsor), TAKK, Mey Diageo, Kadıköy Municipality, Goethe-Institut, Swiss Consulate General, Austrian Cultural Forum, French Cultural Institute, Istanbul Bilgi University, as well as strong solidarity from local businesses and the island's residents.
This year’s selection, drawn from over 700 submissions, will feature nearly thirty films in four categories. These films address ecology, the climate crisis, poverty, and local community struggles, all viewed through the lens of colonial history and its ongoing impacts. As always, screenings will be free of charge, and many local and international directors will be present to answer audience questions following the screenings. The festival program will also include discussions, meetings, and panels focused on environmental issues.
A prestigious international jury will evaluate films selected for BIFED; awards will be given in various categories. The top prize, the BIFED Grand Award, is named after Fethi Kayaalp, one of the country’s most renowned engravers and a native of Bozcaada. The second prize is named in honour of Madam Melpo, one of the island’s first music teachers. The Gaia Student Award, named after the late Naci Güçhan, who tragically passed away in a traffic accident in 2023, will be awarded to students’ works. In addition, the İdil Schneider Award for Best Documentary Music is a new addition to this year’s BIFED honours.
We warmly invite you to visit the small island from 9 to 13 October, where you can experience compelling ecological documentaries, engage with diverse stories from around the world, and be inspired in a welcoming, intimate setting.
News
Bozcaada International Festival of Ecological Documentary (BIFED) returns for 11th edition
Interview
«It’s not about becoming bigger; it’s about creating connections»
Ahead of its 11th edition, Modern Times Review spoke with BIFED Festival Coordinator Ethem Özgüven and Festival Director Petra Holzer on the festival’s origins, mission, and the challenges and opportunities ecological documentary filmmakers face today.
Films
Blix Not Bombs
Director: Greta Stocklassa
Former UN Secretary-General Hans Blix's fact-finding mission in Iraq became an issue of war and peace, with his words becoming the most crucial for those trying to stop it.
Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat
Director: Johan Grimonprez
How jazz music played a role in political manoeuvres during the Cold War.