The Palm Beach International Film Festival is committed to supporting emerging filmmakers of today and tomorrow. We strive to recognize new and original voices throughout the world and channel the excitement of film into our local schools.

For the past 17 years, the festival has showcased thousands of award-winning films, hosted filmmakers, actors, industry professionals and press from around the globe.

More then 20,000 filmgoers participated in the past festival.

PBIFF has been recognized as one of the Top 25 Independent Festivals in the world.

PBIFF has hosted more than 150 World Premieres and more than 1,100 films from 55 countries.

PBIFF is a 501 (c) 3 organization dedicated to making a difference in the lives of future filmmakers.

To date, more than $1 million has been donated to area school programs.

History

PBIFF was founded in 1996 by Commissioner Burt Aaronson and local philanthropist George Elmore with the vision that a film festival would offer an exciting cultural venue for the community and be a tremendous fundraiser for educational film and television programs throughout Palm Beach County schools. The PBIFF has hosted a bevy of top celebrities and filmmakers including: Academy Award® Winners Adrien Brody, Anthony Hopkins, Tommy Lee Jones, Faye Dunaway, Dennis Hopper, Louise Fletcher and Michael Caine; Academy Award® Nominees Salma Hayek, Edward Norton, Robert Evans, Sylvester Stallone, Woody Harrelson and Burt Reynolds. Along with countless other legends, stars and filmmakers that have created movie magic for the past 80 years, including: Roger Moore, Faye Wray, Esther Williams, Anouk Aimee, Samuel L. Jackson, Cyd Charisse, Richard Zanuck, William Friedkin, Brett Ratner, Jacqueline Bisset, Michael Clarke Duncan and Rod Steiger.

As a part of the on-going effort to raise the Palm Beach International Film Festival to a new level, PBIFF became a competitive forum in 2003. Annually, filmmakers selected for competition have the opportunity to receive acknowledgment for their artistic work in such categories as Best Picture, Best Documentary, Best Director, Best Actor/Actress, Best Short Film and Audience Favorite.

Commitment to Education

The Palm Beach International Film Festival (PBIFF) is a not for profit 501 (c) 3 organization dedicated to making a difference in the lives of future filmmakers. To date, over one million dollars of festival proceeds have been donated to area school’s film and television programs in the forms of grants and scholarships. Year-round activities provided by PBIFF to the over 2600 students currently enrolled in these programs include seminars, workshops and “hands-on” experience with filmmakers and professionals from all areas of the industry. The climax of student activities is the Student Showcase of Films, held during the annual week long film festival. Here, these young artists are the focus. Student filmmakers from high school, community college and university levels enter their work in competition for scholarship money and the chance to have their film shown on the “big screen” during the festival.