For the second year in a row, the Beloit International Film Festival has been recognized by the Wisconsin Arts Board with a prestigious Creation and Presentation Grant.

“We are delighted that the Wisconsin Arts Board will once again partner with BIFF,” says BIFF Executive Director Marty Densch. “The grant, which is funded by the state and the National Endowment for the Arts, will allow BIFF to continue to offer features that make it a unique annual experience.”

The ten-day international film festival, which draws thousands of independent filmmakers and film lovers to downtown Beloit, will take place Feb. 22 to March 3, 2019.

The WAB grant will support BIFF’s Artist-in-Residence program which began with the 2018 festival, as well as other educational programming. It will be used to attract working filmmakers to conduct workshops on independent film making for both the novice as well as the experienced filmmaker.

Last year, filmmaker and BIFF veteran Damien Patrik served as BIFF’s first Artist-in-Residence, conducting classes on the casting process for actors and directors and on creating mood and feeling through lighting, composition, camera movement and other techniques.

Details of the 2019 Artist-in-Residence program will be released in the coming weeks.

The Wisconsin Arts Board is funded by the state of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.Through multiple granting programs to organizations and individuals, it provides funding to support community and economic development through creative expression and arts education.

Creation and Presentation Program grants provide artistic and operational support to established nonprofit arts organizations whose primary mission is to create and present programming with a significant local, regional, or statewide impact on the cultural life of Wisconsin.

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.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Marty Densch- BIFF Executive Director
608-774-8655, marty@beloitfilmfest.org