Berkshire International Film Festival 2026

BIFF 2026May 28 to 31, 2026 Festival Schedule, Films, Passes and Tickets - Click Here

OPENING NIGHT

GET TICKETSOPENING NIGHTSponsored by Beacon Bank 5:00-7:00PM Taste of the BIFF – cocktails and dinner-by-the-bite by area restaurants and caterers under the BIFF Tent behind Town Hall.(Open to Sponsors, Filmmakers, All-Inclusive and Opening Night passholders) 7:00PM Ope......More

GET TICKETSOPENING NIGHTSponsored by Beacon Bank 5:00-7:00PM Taste of the BIFF – cocktails and dinner-by-the-bite by area restaurants and caterers under the BIFF Tent behind Town Hall.(Open to Sponsors, Filmmakers, All-Inclusive and Opening Night passholders) 7:00PM Opening Night presentation of STEAL THIS STORY, PLEASE! at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. American broadcast journalist, syndicated columnist, investigative reporter, and author Amy Goodman in attendance for Q&A with BIFF board member, Mary Mott. Followed by DJ Dance Party featuring DJ Sören at The Indigo Room! ________________________ STEAL THIS STORY, PLEASE!2025 | 104 min. | US Fiercely independent journalist Amy Goodman has spent three decades holding the powerful to account, reporting from war zones and the Democracy Now! newsroom. In Steal This Story, Please!, Oscar-nominated filmmakers Carl Deal and Tia Lessin craft a riveting portrait of journalism’s power – and peril – in an era of corporate control and political attacks on truth. Directors // Carl Deal, Tia LessinCast // Amy Goodman Amy Goodman in Attendance

Berkshire International Film Festival, 40 Railroad Street, Great Barrington, MA, 01230, United States

TEA TALK- HARLAN COUNTY USA

GET TICKETSTEA TALK Special 50th Anniversary screening of the Academy Award-Winning DocumentaryHARLAN COUNTY USA1976 | 103 minutes | US Join us as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of HARLAN COUNTY USA. We’ll screen this heartbreaking record of the thirteen-month strugg......More

GET TICKETSTEA TALK Special 50th Anniversary screening of the Academy Award-Winning DocumentaryHARLAN COUNTY USA1976 | 103 minutes | US Join us as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of HARLAN COUNTY USA. We’ll screen this heartbreaking record of the thirteen-month struggle between a community fighting to survive and a corporation dedicated to the bottom line that won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Academy Award winning director and producer Barbara Kopple will be in conversation with Mary Mott following the screening. Barbara Kopple With a career spanning more than fifty years, Barbara Kopple long ago established herself as one of the most prolific and award-winning American filmmakers of her generation, with well over thirty films.  Although she is best known for her documentary work, her projects have ranged from labor union documentaries to fictional feature films and an educational series for kids. She is credited with pioneering a renaissance in cinema verité and is the recipient of two Academy Awards in documentary filmmaking for HARLAN COUNTY USA and AMERICAN DREAM, and six Emmy awards. Barbara’s latest project GUMBO COALITION is about two Black and Latinx civil rights champions. In 2023, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences – just one of the many awards she has been given across her career. She founded and oversees Cabin Creek Films, which was created in 1972 in NYC. When questioned about her documentary work, Barbara will inevitably say,“it’s all just stories”.  

Mahaiwe, 14 Castle St, Great Barrington,, MA, 01230, United States

TEA TALK- MASTER OF THE WORD

GET TICKETSMASTER OF THE WORD Join BIFF Board Member Mary Mott for an intimate conversation with John Orloff, co-creator and screenwriter for MASTERS OF THE AIR and 2 episodes of BAND OF BROTHERS. Mary MottMary Mott began her twenty-five year career in advertising in N......More

GET TICKETSMASTER OF THE WORD Join BIFF Board Member Mary Mott for an intimate conversation with John Orloff, co-creator and screenwriter for MASTERS OF THE AIR and 2 episodes of BAND OF BROTHERS. Mary MottMary Mott began her twenty-five year career in advertising in New York and then San Francisco. She eventually moved on to Sun Valley, Idaho, where she continued her passion for writing through a weekly column and radio show. She also spearheaded the area’s first year-round performance theater and Shakespeare festival. Ten years ago, she and husband Gordon fell in love with an old farmhouse and created a home in the Berkshires. Continuing her passion for writing, Mary moved into performing her words. She has done two one-woman shows in the Berkshires and Sun Valley. “From Where I Sit” in 2013 and “Butter to the Edges” in 2016. Mary lives in Stockbridge with her husband Gordon, and dogs, Rosie and Lola. John OrloffJohn Orloff is an acclaimed American screenwriter known for creating and adapting complex stories in widely disparate genres. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for his writing on HBO’s BAND OF BROTHERS, as well as an Independent Spirit Award nomination for his screenplay for A MIGHTY HEART – the Michael Winterbottom film based on the kidnapping and death of reporter Daniel Pearl produced by Brad Pitt and Dede Gardner.  He’s spent much of the last decade researching, creating, writing, and producing MASTERS OF THE AIR, an epic nine-part miniseries executive produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, that chronicles the 100th Bomber Group’s odyssey in the European Theater of World War Two. The show stars Oscar nominees Austin Butler and Barry Keoghan, as well as Callum Tatum.  Orloff is fourth generation Hollywood (his great-grandparents on one side were radio comedy team Fibber McGee and Molly) and grew up in LA, but he now lives by a river in the Berkshire mountains in western Massachusetts.

Indigo Room, 20 Castle Street, Great Barrington, 01230, United States

TEA TALK- CHILDREN NO MORE: WERE AND ARE GONE

GET TICKETSScreening of 2026 Oscar Nominated Short DocumentaryCHILDREN NO MORE: WERE AND ARE GONE2025 | 30 min. | Israel/UK/US An observational short about a vigil that began in March 2025 with a handful of protestors standing silently in a public square in Tel Aviv, ea......More

GET TICKETSScreening of 2026 Oscar Nominated Short DocumentaryCHILDREN NO MORE: WERE AND ARE GONE2025 | 30 min. | Israel/UK/US An observational short about a vigil that began in March 2025 with a handful of protestors standing silently in a public square in Tel Aviv, each holding a photo of a child killed in Gaza. Confronted by the images, some passersby avert their eyes. Others react with denial, sorrow, or rage. Week after week, new photos are added. More people join the protest. Oscar-Nominated Producer Yael Melamede in conversation with filmmaker and author Kevin Smokler. English SubtitlesNew England Premiere Director // Hilla MedaliaCast // Yael Melamede, Hilla Medalia, Sheila Nevins producers Yael MelamedeCHILDREN NO MORE: WERE AND ARE GONEYael Melamede is a filmmaker and former architect, and the founder of New York–based SALTY Features. Her recent films include the Oscar-nominated short Children No More, ADA: My Mother the Architect, Death & Taxes, and the Emmy-nominated Floyd Abrams: Speaking Freely. She serves on the boards of UnionDocs and the Living City Project, and is a member of the Documentary Producers Alliance and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Kevin SmoklerKevin Smokler is the author of Break the Frame: Conversations with Women Filmmakers, Brat Pack America, and Practical Classics, and the co-director of the award winning 2022 documentary film Vinyl Nation. His essays and criticism have appeared in Salon, Vulture, Buzzfeed, and NPR.org. Onstage, he has interviewed comedians, actors, architects, filmmakers, and musicians at venues throughout North America.

Indigo Room, 20 Castle Street, Great Barrington, 01230, United States

TEA TALK- EUROPEAN UNION FILMMAKERS

GET TICKETSEUROPEAN UNION FILMMAKERS New to the Festival this year, Transatlantic Stars brings a select group of award-winning EU filmmakers together for an honest conversation about what it means to make work across borders in this moment. EU storytelling has long insi......More

GET TICKETSEUROPEAN UNION FILMMAKERS New to the Festival this year, Transatlantic Stars brings a select group of award-winning EU filmmakers together for an honest conversation about what it means to make work across borders in this moment. EU storytelling has long insisted on depth over spectacle, the particular over the universal, the community as much as the individual. This conversation explores what happens when those values travel — what they encounter, what they discover, and what audiences around the world stand to gain when they do. For filmmakers, it’s a frank exchange about navigating different systems and finding your audience across cultures. For everyone else, it’s an invitation to think differently about what film is for and who it serves. Come curious. Leave with more than you expected. The five European filmmakers will be in conversation with International Festival Programmer and board member, Lillian Lennox.

Indigo Room, 20 Castle Street, Great Barrington, 01230, United States

TRIBUTE NIGHT

GET TICKETSTRIBUTE EVENT5:00-7:00PM Cocktails and dinner-by-the-bite at the BIFF Tent behind Town Hall. Catered by The Old Inn on The Green Catering & Events(Open to Sponsors, Filmmakers, All-Inclusive and Tribute Night passholders.) 7:00PM SPECIAL TRIBUTE EVENT TO KARE......More

GET TICKETSTRIBUTE EVENT5:00-7:00PM Cocktails and dinner-by-the-bite at the BIFF Tent behind Town Hall. Catered by The Old Inn on The Green Catering & Events(Open to Sponsors, Filmmakers, All-Inclusive and Tribute Night passholders.) 7:00PM SPECIAL TRIBUTE EVENT TO KAREN ALLEN Join us for an intimate conversation with award-winning actress and director Karen Allen in conversation with production designer Kristi Zea, at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. Followed by a screening of STARMAN.(Open to ALL passholders and ticket holders.) _______________ STARMAN1984 | 115 min. | US In 1977, the launch of Voyager 2 carried a message beyond our solar system—a golden record extending an invitation from Earth to the unknown. In STARMAN, that invitation is answered—but not with the welcome humanity might have hoped for. An alien scout ship is intercepted and destroyed by the U.S. government, crashing into the frozen waters of Wisconsin. From the wreckage emerges a being of pure energy that seeks refuge in the home of grieving widow Jenny Hayden (Karen Allen). There, it discovers a lock of hair belonging to her late husband anduses it to assume his human form. What unfolds is both a science fiction odyssey and an intimate love story, as Jenny is confronted with the impossible—the return of the man she lost, inhabited by a visitor trying to understand humanity.  STARMAN blends wonder, vulnerability, and quiet humor into a poignant exploration of connection, grief, and what it truly means to be human. Directed // John CarpenterWriters // Bruce A Evans, Raynold GideonCast // Karen Allen, Jeff Bridges, Charles Martin Smith _______________ There are movie stars, and then there are the rare few who carry their stardom lightly— who pair a remarkable career with a deeply rooted sense of place and community.Karen Allen is one of those rare few. To audiences around the world, she is unforgettable as Marion Ravenwood in Raiders of the Lost Ark—a performance of wit, grit, and undeniable charisma that helped redefine the modern action heroine. She brought that same intelligence and emotional clarity to Starman, opposite Jeff Bridges, and to a wide range of films including Scrooged, The Wanderers, and The Perfect Storm. Across genres and decades, Karen Allen has built a body of work markednot by flash, but by substance—by characters who feel grounded, alive, and fully human. Her career extends far beyond film. A gifted stage actress, she has appeared in and directed numerous theatrical productions, including work with the Berkshiire Theatre Festival, where she further honed the craft that has always been at the center of her work. She has also stepped behind the camera as a director and maintained a lifelong commitment to artistic exploration, including her work in textile design—another expression of her thoughtful, hands-on creativity. And yet, here in the Berkshires, Karen is known for something even more meaningful: her presence as a neighbor, a collaborator, and a cornerstone of the Berkshire International Film Festival. Nearly twenty years ago, when Kelley Vickery first approached her about joining what was then a fledgling festival, there was, understandably, a moment of hesitation. After all—this was Karen Allen. But that moment dissolved instantly upon meeting her. What Kelley discovered, and what anyone who encounters Karen quickly learns, is that behind the celebrated career is a woman of extraordinary warmth, generosity, and grace. From that first conversation, Karen became not just a supporter, but a foundation stone of BIFF. As a board member, she has devoted nearly two decades to shaping the festival’s voice and vision—traveling annually to Sundance with a group, championing films with discernment and heart, and quietly using her influence to bring remarkable artists into the BIFF community. There is a steadiness to Karen Allen that those around her rely on. She is a rock. A broad smile in the midst of the whirlwind. A voice of encouragement and clarity. In a festival that has grown and evolved over twenty years, shehas remained its constant—its heart and its spirit. In honoring Karen Allen, we celebrate not only an accomplished actresswith an extraordinary career, but a woman who has given deeply of herselfto this community. The Berkshire International Film Festival would not be what it is today without her—and we are all the better for having her among us.

Berkshire International Film Festival, 40 Railroad Street, Great Barrington, MA, 01230, United States

KID FLICKS 2026 - GB

GET TICKETSKID FLICKS 2026Presented in partnership with New York International Children’s Film Festival58 min. | Inventive first films for ages 5+In English or with English subtitles Let your little ones discover the magic of the big screen with Little Kid Flicks. Wheth......More

GET TICKETSKID FLICKS 2026Presented in partnership with New York International Children’s Film Festival58 min. | Inventive first films for ages 5+In English or with English subtitles Let your little ones discover the magic of the big screen with Little Kid Flicks. Whether searching for the perfect pancake or interviewing a crocodile, these shorts are sure to enchant and delight all audiences (but especially our youngest!) HaduNigeria | Damilola Solesi | 2024 | 7 minAn eager young girl embarks on a culinary journey to recreate her grandma’s special recipe. Capybaras (Los Carpinchos)France | Chile | Uruguay | Alfredo Soderguit | 2024 | 11 min.It’s hunting season. Seeking refuge, a family of capybaras and a group of hens form a union that leads to unexpected consequences. Dancing in the RainTaiwan | Japan | Chao-chun Yeh | 2024 | 6 min.As the rain starts and a little girl falls asleep, her dream adventure begins. The Girl With The Occupied Eyes (A Menina com os Olhos Ocupados)Portugal | André Carrilho | 2024 | 8 min.Over hill and dale (and beach, and space), only one thing can capture her attention. Hello SummerSlovakia | Czech Republic | FranceMartin Smatana & Veronika Zacharová | 2024 | 11 min.Sea, sun, beaches. Sounds great. But what if your room has a naughty view, dinner is strange, and your luggage travels somewhere else without you? Mojappi It’s mine!Japan | Nijitaro | 2024 | 3 min.Mojappi, a trio of naughty kids who live in the forest, will do anything to get pancakes. Splish, Splash, Splosh!United Kingdom | Lily Ward | 2024 | 5 min.Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass—it’s about learning to dance in the rain! Ronny: A CrocumentaryCanada | Abbey Collings | 2024 | 3 min.A frog documents Ronny, a friendly crocodile who just wants a hug.

Mahaiwe, 14 Castle St, Great Barrington,, MA, 01230, United States

KID FLICKS 2026 - Lenox

GET TICKETSKID FLICKS 2026Presented in partnership with New York International Children’s Film Festival58 min. | Inventive first films for ages 5+In English or with English subtitles Let your little ones discover the magic of the big screen with Little Kid Flicks. Wheth......More

GET TICKETSKID FLICKS 2026Presented in partnership with New York International Children’s Film Festival58 min. | Inventive first films for ages 5+In English or with English subtitles Let your little ones discover the magic of the big screen with Little Kid Flicks. Whether searching for the perfect pancake or interviewing a crocodile, these shorts are sure to enchant and delight all audiences (but especially our youngest!) HaduNigeria | Damilola Solesi | 2024 | 7 minAn eager young girl embarks on a culinary journey to recreate her grandma’s special recipe. Capybaras (Los Carpinchos)France | Chile | Uruguay | Alfredo Soderguit | 2024 | 11 min.It’s hunting season. Seeking refuge, a family of capybaras and a group of hens form a union that leads to unexpected consequences. Dancing in the RainTaiwan | Japan | Chao-chun Yeh | 2024 | 6 min.As the rain starts and a little girl falls asleep, her dream adventure begins. The Girl With The Occupied Eyes (A Menina com os Olhos Ocupados)Portugal | André Carrilho | 2024 | 8 min.Over hill and dale (and beach, and space), only one thing can capture her attention. Hello SummerSlovakia | Czech Republic | FranceMartin Smatana & Veronika Zacharová | 2024 | 11 min.Sea, sun, beaches. Sounds great. But what if your room has a naughty view, dinner is strange, and your luggage travels somewhere else without you? Mojappi It’s mine!Japan | Nijitaro | 2024 | 3 min.Mojappi, a trio of naughty kids who live in the forest, will do anything to get pancakes. Splish, Splash, Splosh!United Kingdom | Lily Ward | 2024 | 5 min.Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass—it’s about learning to dance in the rain! Ronny: A CrocumentaryCanada | Abbey Collings | 2024 | 3 min.A frog documents Ronny, a friendly crocodile who just wants a hug.

Lenox Town Hall, 6 Walker Street, Lenox, MA, 01240, United States

CLOSING NIGHT

GET TICKETSCLOSING NIGHT7:30PM BIFF presents the closing night film and Sundance smash hit GIVE ME THE BALL! Director Elizabeth Wolff in attendancefor Q&A with board member Mary Mott. (Open to ALL passholders and ticket holders.) Closing Night Party at Number Ten follo......More

GET TICKETSCLOSING NIGHT7:30PM BIFF presents the closing night film and Sundance smash hit GIVE ME THE BALL! Director Elizabeth Wolff in attendancefor Q&A with board member Mary Mott. (Open to ALL passholders and ticket holders.) Closing Night Party at Number Ten following the screening. ______________ Give Me the Ball!2026 | 102 min. | US Billie Jean King is a global icon whose impact on tennis and equality resonates around the world. But the personal turmoil behind this transformational figure has in many ways remained hidden from view. In GIVE ME THE BALL!, we come to understand the sacrifices King was forced to make behind the scenes, even as she fought high-profile battles for the professionalization of her sport and equal treatment for women. From struggling to escape an unhappy marriage and hiding her sexual orientation to facing an eating disorder and staring down misogyny at every turn, her march to triumph was a long and often lonely one. This is a woman whose saga cuts deeper than her victory in the “Battle of the Sexes” showdown, and the film showcases King like the persistent fighter she was forced to be. Through a trove of rarely seen archival material and powerfully honest interviews with King, this film explores the depths of agony she endured so that others might follow a less painful path. It is the story of selflessness, struggle, and triumph that shines an unforgettable light on a figure who is widely admired but, until now, never properly understood. East Coast Premiere Filmmaker in Attendance Directors // Liz Garbus, Elizabeth WolffCast // Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, Elton John, Serena Williams

Mahaiwe, 14 Castle St, Great Barrington,, MA, 01230, United States