The Brisbane International Film Festival 2026 Has Been Cancelled

We thank For Film's Sake for their energetic work and contributions to the 2025 festival. Jacqui Feeney, Screen Queensland chief executive, appreciates their dedication.

  • Jacqui Feeney, Screen Queensland chief executive

The Brisbane International Film Festival has been cancelled for 2026, marking the end of its partnership with executive director Sophie Mathisen. The decision to pause the festival was made by Screen Queensland, allowing time to create a new operating model for the festival in 2027, as stated by the organization.

According to Screen Queensland, extensive sector feedback revealed the need for a new operating model, which would enable the festival to better reflect the energy, diversity, and ambition of the city as it prepares to step onto the world stage ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The announcement comes after criticisms of the 2025 BIFF, which was delivered in eleven weeks and launched just one month ahead of its November timing. The festival's small-scale and truncated schedule over one long weekend, with clashes between key screenings, were also criticized.

A festival screening of shark-themed films Jaws and Beast of War at Brisbane's Streets Beach was cancelled shortly after being announced. Despite earlier warnings that the festival would be smaller in scale, Sophie Mathisen hoped to use BIFF to create real networks between the local industry and the global filmmaking community.

BIFF has been run under a tendering process since 2017 and was variously run by Palace Cinemas, GOMA, and Film Fantastic before For Film's Sake took over. Brisbane film programmer and founder of film society Container, John Edmond, stated that the tender process hadn't worked for the festival.

Screen Queensland is moving away from the current licensing model to lead a coalition of key partners and stakeholders to co-design a future-focused festival. They look forward to welcoming audiences and the Queensland screen sector back to the festival in 2027.

Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games

The decision to create a new operating model for the festival in 2027 aligns with the city's goals as it prepares to host the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The city is stepping up its preparations to showcase its energy, diversity, and ambition on the world stage.

Key Facts

  • The Brisbane International Film Festival has been cancelled for 2026.
  • Executive director Sophie Mathisen is parting ways with the festival.
  • Screen Queensland will create a new operating model for the festival in 2027.
  • The decision comes after 'extensive sector feedback' from the industry.
  • BIFF has been run under a tendering process since 2017.
  • The festival will return in 2027 with a restructured model.