Welcome to the Block Island Film Festival! We are filmmaking professionals who love film, connecting with filmmakers and the process of filmmaking.

The annual Block Island Film Festival boasts notable actors, directors, screenwriters, filmmakers, students and entertainment professionals, on the beautiful resort destination known as Block Island, located 13 miles off the coast of Rhode Island.

A consortium of global filmmaking professionals gather to mingle with contemporaries in intimate public settings, such as film screenings, spotlight film programs, signature forums and programs, award ceremonies, and nightly social mixers.

The Atlantic Ocean is a short distance from venues during the film festival, which is a non-profit event designed to benefit the arts, education, student filmmakers and the Block Island community.

Selected winners of the Block Island Film Festival are awarded the coveted lighthouse award, and spotlight lighthouse award, and receive valuable networking opportunities.

The festival awards finalists in each category with a Laurel Wreath official selection. Finalists selected to compete in the competition receive one VIP Festival Pass for the duration of the film festival, and have their name and work promoted by the Block Island Film Festival on its informational and social media platforms.

Please visit www.blockislandfilmfestival.org for more information.

Submissions to the Block Island Film Festival must be the original work of the author or filmmaker, and identified as such on the materials that are submitted. The Block Island Film Festival has express permission to use production stills posted with a submission on its FilmFreeway page for publicity purposes on its various social media pages, website, news media publications, etc. Filmmakers must submit two Blu-Ray copies of their film by the requested deadline for inclusion in the competition.

For students: Students submitting work for consideration in the film festival competition need to identify their school in the credits when submitting. A student submission should include the name of the school denoting it under the film’s title on the film and screenplay. Note if your school is a high school, or a college.

Screenplays must be the original work of the writer/applicant(s). If the story is based upon another person’s life, or upon a book, or other underlying work, writer/applicant(s) must secure any necessary rights to make such adaptations. However, it is not necessary to submit the adaptation or rights agreements to the Block Island Film Festival. Neither the film festival, nor its jurists, investigates or attests to the authenticity of an applicant’s statement of authorship or rights secured. By entering the competition, you are acknowledging that you have secured all necessary rights.

By submitting the material, the writer/applicant hereby agrees to indemnify, hold harmless, and defend the Block Island Film Festival, its employees, directors, representatives, and affiliates from any liability, claims, and damages in connection with the submission of material and from any fees and expenses, including but not limited to reasonable attorney’s fees that any of them may incur in connection therewith.

Please note that we encourage filmmakers and screenwriters to attend the film festival, as the question and answer forums following each screening are devoted to discussion that celebrates the filmmaker and their work. Screenwriters who congregate during our screenwriting forums exchange ideas, form bonds with other writers, and network. So, if you submit your work, consider attending the film festival in-person.

Overall Rating
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  • Had such an amazing time talking with everyone! The intimate setting makes it easier to have real conversations with the filmmakers and other attendees. Loved every minute of the experience. The whole BIFF team was so supportive and great to hangout with. We had a wonderful weekend and hope to be back next year!

    June 2023
  • Steven Bogart

    Everyone who ran the festival were incredibly welcoming. The festival had a warm family feeling, and Block Island is a beautiful place for a film festival.

    June 2023
  • Kristen Falso-Capaldi

    I had such a great time at the Block Island Film Festival. I enjoyed meeting other filmmakers and seeing their films. I especially loved the filmmaker Q&A sessions; the moderators asked intelligent questions and the audience was engaged. Thanks for making filmmakers feel so welcome.

    June 2023
  • Christian de Rezendes

    Having been to many film festivals big and small, I know that success all boils down to how festival directors and staff treat their filmmakers. Are you organized? Are the films valued? Are they personable? How do they treat people? With those questions asked, I have to say that my experience at BIFF was absolutely wonderful. I loved the setting, the organization and the lay out of how events ran. The audience was engaging, and I loved the Q&A that followed my screening. The questions asked were dead on, and the whole thing was informative. I enjoyed meeting the co-hosts and the director Cassius Shuman, and I look forward to going again. Thank you, BIFF for a great and memorable experience.

    June 2023
  • Russell Emanuel

    Great film festival that treated us well! Thank you so much!

    June 2023