THE BERKSHIRE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL WRAPS SPECTACULAR 20TH ANNIVERSARY, PAYING TRIBUTE TO KAREN ALLEN, SCREENING MORE THAN 80 FILMS, AND HOSTING DOZENS OF FILMMAKERS, TEA TALKS, AND SPECIAL EVENTS. Jury, Audience, nexGen Student Film Competition, and the Next Great Filmmaker Awards Announced!
June 1, 2026 – Great Barrington, MA — The Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFF) concluded a spectacular 20th anniversary festival on Sunday, welcoming luminaries including Karen Allen, Amy Goodman, Peter Riegert, Kent Jones, Jeremy Workman, Wanda Houston, and award-winning director Elizabeth Wolff, whose film closed the festival. More than 70 filmmakers and industry professionals attended alongside hundreds of film lovers in Great Barrington and Lenox.
Today, BIFF announced the winners of its annual Juried Prize Awards, Audience Awards, the inaugural nexGen Student Film Competition, and Beacon Bank’s Next Great Filmmaker Award. Festival goers attended screenings and panels in person at The Triplex Cinema, the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, the Indigo Room in Great Barrington, and Lenox Town Hall, as well as online.
Photos from the festival, captured by photographer Julia Kaplan, are available at: https://biffma.org/photos-
JURIED PRIZE
In the Narrative Feature category, the American film IF I GO WILL THEY MISS ME, directed by Walter Thompson-Hernandez, received the top prize.
In the Documentary Feature category, ADMISSION POSSIBLE, directed by Matthew Syrett and Bowie Alexander, was awarded the top honor. Both filmmakers were in attendance.
The awards were presented during a Sunday brunch catered by Hand Crafted Catering at The Granville House in Great Barrington.
Serving on the BIFF Jury were actors Peter Riegert and Scott Cohen; Josh Braun and Dan Braun of Submarine Entertainment; production designer Kristi Zea; writer/director Kent Jones; and film executive and publicist Laura Sok of Track Shot.
AUDIENCE AWARDS
The Audience Award for Narrative Feature was presented to the French film MARCHING BAND, directed by Emmanuel Courcol.
Honorable Mentions were awarded to the Italian film PRIMAVERA and the South African film LAUNDRY.
The Audience Award for Documentary Feature went to GIVE ME THE BALL!, directed by Liz Garbus and Elizabeth Wolff, about legendary tennis champion and activist Billie Jean King. Wolff was in attendance for the festival.
Honorable Mentions were awarded to ADMISSION POSSIBLE and BORN THAT WAY.
The Audience Award for Narrative Short was shared by BEER RUN and ARIA.
The Audience Award for Documentary Short was presented to BARBARA PREY: PAINTING TO SCALE.
NEXT GREAT FILMMAKER AWARD
The 16th annual Beacon Bank Next Great Filmmaker Award was presented to the short film JUST MY LUCK, directed by Nicholas Pitts, who was in attendance to accept the award. The honor was announced by Mark Pedrotti of Beacon Bank, formerly Berkshire Bank.
“nexGEN” STUDENT FILM COMPETITION
Winners of the inaugural nexGen Student Film Competition were:
- BEER RUN, directed by James Wright (USC School of Cinematic Arts)
- RAISED ELBOWS, directed by Gaspard Choquet (New York University)
- ON THE TIDE, directed by Mimi Maticoat Bois (Bates College)
All three filmmakers attended the festival and received their awards from competition sponsor Flemming Fynsk of Love Today Productions.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
Highlights of the four-day festival included the Opening Night screening of STEAL THIS STORY, PLEASE!, featuring award-winning journalist Amy Goodman and producer Karen Ranucci in attendance for a post-screening Q&A at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center.
The Opening Night celebration took place under the BIFF tent and featured the third annual “Taste of BIFF,” showcasing offerings from local restaurants and caterers, including Briskette & Birdie, The Elm, Frankie’s, Hand Crafted Catering & Events, Juju’s, Nejaime’s, Number Ten, The Old Inn on the Green, The Red Lion Inn, SoCo, Fuel, and Robert Mondavi Wines. The evening was sponsored by Beacon Bank, with a birthday cake provided by Big Y.
On Saturday evening, BIFF honored award-winning actor and beloved Berkshire resident Karen Allen. In conversation with acclaimed production designer Kristi Zea, Allen shared stories from her rich and varied career. Actor Peter Riegert, a longtime friend and collaborator, also participated in the tribute. The evening included cocktails, dinner, and jazz under the BIFF tent, catered by Peter Platt and The Old Inn on the Green, followed by a private dinner in Allen’s honor.
BIFF had two world premieres THE CHOICE directed by John David Coles and ADMISSION POSSIBLE directed by Matthew Syrett and Bowie Alexander.
TEA TALKS
BIFF also presented its ninth annual “TEA TALKS” series. This year’s conversations included:
- A special 50th-anniversary screening of the Academy Award-winning documentary HARLAN COUNTY, USA with director Barbara Kopple
- “Master of the Word,” featuring screenwriter John Orloff
- A special screening of the Oscar-nominated documentary CHILDREN NO MORE: YOUNG SURVIVORS OF WAR with producer Yael Melamede
- A conversation with five European Union filmmakers participating in the new Transatlantic Rising Stars Program
CLOSING NIGHT
Closing out its 20th anniversary year, BIFF presented the Sundance hit GIVE ME THE BALL!, chronicling the iconic career of tennis legend Billie Jean King, followed by a Q&A with director Elizabeth Wolff.
BIFF screened more than 80 narrative and documentary features and shorts during the festival, hosted over 70 filmmakers, and offered free children’s programming, special events, and parties throughout downtown Great Barrington, including a Filmmaker Party sponsored by Beacon Bank at the Indigo Room.
FILMMAKERS SUMMIT
In its 20th year, BIFF proudly presented the 16th annual Filmmakers Summit, a two-day industry gathering offered to the festival’s 2026 selected filmmakers.
Featuring a diverse program of panel discussions, lectures, networking opportunities, and special events led by leading industry professionals, the BIFF Filmmakers Summit is designed to celebrate and support filmmakers while recognizing film as a vital and impactful medium.
The Summit is generously sponsored by Mary Mott and Gordon Simmering, The Frances Davis Fund, and Blackmagic Design.
Premiere Sponsors of the 2026 BIFF include the Triplex Cinema, Studio Two, The Red Lion Inn, Beacon Bank, The Roaring Brook Family Foundation, The Frances Davis Fund, the Annie Selke Companies, Love Today Productions, Blackmagicdesign, The Granville House and Old Mill Road Media.
Presenting Sponsors include Karen Allen Fiber Arts, Berkshire Mountain Distillers, GWFF, Stella Artois, Haven Cafe, Abbott’s Livery, Warrior Trading, Fairfield Inn, Prospect and The Cliff House and Dare Bottleshop and Provisions.
Supporting Sponsors include Guido’s, Mountain One, Nejaimes Wine Cellar and Robert Mondavi Wines, Curious Elixers and Big Y. BIFF’s festival partners include the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center and the Lenox Town Hall.
With over 1000 film submissions this year, the Berkshire International Film Festival has quickly become a destination festival that filmmakers seek due to the enthusiastic audiences it attracts.
The 21st annual BIFF will be held May 27 – 30, 2027; submissions will open October 1, 2026 and passes will go on sale November 1, 2026.
BIFF IN THE NEWS!
WAMC – May 21 –https://www.wamc.org/podcast/
THE BOSTON GLOBE – May 21, 2026 – “Karen Allen on her history with the Berkshire Film Fest and how she got cast in ‘The Glass Menagerie’” By Odie Henderson
https://www.bostonglobe.com/
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/0
https://www.wsj.com/world/
INDIEWIRE – April 23, 2026 – “Berkshire Film Festival Lineup Revealed: Billie Jean King Doc ‘Give Me the Ball!,’ Karen Allen Tribute, and 75 Movies” By Ryan Lattanzio
https://www.indiewire.com/
BERKSHIRE EAGLE – April 24, 2026 – “20th annual Berkshire International Film Festival announces festival lineup” By Staff https://
BERKSHIRE EDGE – April 24, 2026 – “Berkshire International Film Festival to honor Karen Allen during 20th anniversary season” By Jennifer Huberdeau
IMDB – April 23, 2026 – “Berkshire Film Festival Lineup Revealed: Billie Jean King Doc ‘Give Me the Ball!,’ Karen Allen Tribute, and 75 Movies” By Ryan Lattanzio
https://www.imdb.com/news/
THE BOSTON GLOBE – May 1, 2026 – “Where to see film festivals around New England all summer long” By Gitana Savage and Annie Sarlin
