BIFF 2015 will celebrate regional filmmakers during the first weekend of BIFF with three days of film competition in the Wisconsin-Illinois Showdown.
Filmmaking isn’t just for Hollywood anymore. For ten years now, the Beloit International Film Festival has shown our community the power of independent and internationally made films. Many of these films in the past have come from communities just a drive away from our own, dazzling us with Hollywood-quality productions and unique regional flavor. 
BIFF felt it needed to expand this trend into a full-on weekend, part of the now Ten Days of BIFF. This year BIFF presents its second annual Wisconsin-Illinois Showdown (Feb. 20 to 22, 2015), a weekend showcasing the great caliber of work made on the Third Coast!
When audiences walk into each Wisconsin-Illinois Showdown screening, they are given ballots to vote on what they believe are the best films, eventually awarding filmmakers much-deserved recognition.
“We are proud to be showcasing the amazing work of these area artists,”, “These are the sorts of films that are critically acclaimed but not always readily available for viewing. I think that BIFF patrons will find genuine enjoyment in learning of the great cinematic art that’s created right in our backyard.”
There will be dozens of films shown throughout the weekend. All films will be voted on by the audience, resulting in the BIFF Audience Choice Awards for Best Illinois and Best Wisconsin features, documentaries and short films. An awards party announcing the Audience Choice Awards will be held at La Casa Grande in Beloit the following weekend.
According to BIFF Wisconsin Illinois Showdown coordinator Kristin Peterson, “Many great films, ranging from heartwarming dramas to engaging and hilarious documentaries to grindhouse horror, will screen in the Showdown. Four short slots of the best short films made in the region will also screen across the weekend and into the following week.”
