With the opening night of the Beloit International Film Festival just a month and a half off, work is in high gear in the BIFF offices as staff and volunteers set travel and screening schedules and design programs for the 14 th  season.

Beloit once again is preparing to welcome filmmakers from around the world and audiences from throughout the region and beyond. Eight screening venues will feature more than 100 films from Feb.22 to March 3.

“Hundreds of films have been considered for screening during BIFF’s 14 th season,” indicates BIFF Executive Director Marty Densch. “ In addition to the films that have been submitted for consideration, a world-wide network of critics and curators have been watching for new and exciting work coming from independent filmmakers and important film festivals everywhere. As filmmakers are informed of their inclusion, BIFF and Beloit are being added to hundreds of websites internationally.”

The full listing of BIFF offerings will go live after mid-January at beloitfilmfest.org. Festivities will start with the release of the Beloit Daily News printed program on February 5 at the gala Reveal Party at the new Home2 Suites Extended Stay Hotel on Cranston Rd. Tickets will go on sale following the Reveal party at which guests will have a chance to see film trailers and get leads on favorite films from staff and filmmakers.

This year’s narrative features, documentaries and shorts will be screened at six downtown venues, including Domenico’s, the Hendricks Arts Center, Bagels and More, Bushel and Peck’s Local Market, La Casa Grande and Beloit Public Library. Special events and films are once again scheduled at Schubert’s Luxury Ten Cinema on Cranston Rd. and Beloit Memorial High School.

Screenings will start at noon on the two weekends of BIFF and films will be shown evenings during the week at Domenico’s and Casa Grande. Films by new and established filmmakers in Wisconsin and Illinois will open the Festival on the first weekend with the popular Wisconsin-Illinois Showdown. Filmmakers and their fans will make their way to Beloit from throughout the two states and attendees will have the chance to vote for their favorites.

Popular special events will be back again including the BMO Harris Silent Film Showcase at Beloit Memorial High School on March 2; Sing Along film at Schubert’s Luxury 10 on Friday, March 1; Beloit Health System BIFF CARES series; the classic live radio play on Feb. 22 and the closing First National Bank Classic Film on March 3. Kids at BIFF, the program that introduces more than a thousand elementary school children from throughout the area to quality media, is scheduled for the week before BIFF.

Tickets will be available online for $9 plus a purchase fee and beginning mid-February may be purchased in person at Resonate Web Marketing, 635 Third St. On February 21 the BIFF Box Office will open for the run of the festival at Gallery ABBA at CELEB at 437 East Grand Ave.

The Beloit International Film Festival this year marks its 14th season as the region’s major international cultural event. BIFF is sponsored by the Hendricks Group in association with Beloit College with additional support provided by Visit Beloit. Support for the Festival comes from area businesses and civic organizations, and the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts. Critical individual support for BIFF is provided through gifts and membership in the BIFF Founders and the Film Society of Beloit.