There is also a new international competition for short films. The programme includes a Focus on Israel (with the participation of the Israeli director Eran Riklis) and films screened out of the competition. Leisure Seeker by Paolo Virzi will open the festival and Yommedine by Abu Bakr Shawky will close it.

BIFF also celebrates 100 years of Romanian modern state with special screenings, conferences, debates and a film posters exhibition.

The festival takes place in five locations. It is organised by the Bucharest City Hall through ARCUB together with Fundatia Charta, and it is supported by the Romanian Film Centre, the Romanian Cultural Institute and the Romanian Filmmakers Union.

Films in Competition:

Grass (South Corea)
Directed by Hong Sang-soo

Killing Jesus (Columbia)
Directed by Laura Mora Ortega

Tarzan’s Testicles / Ouăle lui Tarzan (Romania, France)
Directed by Alexandru Solomon
Produced by HiFilm Productions
Coproduced by Seppia Film
Supported by the Romanian Film Centre, Eurimages, Creative Europe, Eurométropole de Strasbourg, Procirep-Angoa and with the participation of HBO Europe

Birds of Passage (Columbia, Denmark)
Directed by Christina Galero, Ciro Guerra

Svanurinn (Iceland, Estonia, Germany)
Directed by Ása Helga Hjörleifsdóttir
Produced by Junafilm; coproduced by Kopli Kinopanii, Vintage Pictures

One Step Behind the Seraphim / Un pas în urma serafimilor (Romania)
Directed by Daniel Sandu
Produced by HiFilm Productions
Supported by the Romanian Film Centre

Butterflies (Turkey)
Directed by Tolga Karacelik

M (France)
Directed by Sara Forrestier

Pig (Iran)
Directed by Mani Haghighi

Volubilis (Morocco, France, Qatar)
Directed by Faouzi Bensaidi