In ten short years, the independent Buddhist Film Foundation (BFF) has become the world’s leading resource for Buddhist cinema. In the midst of a revolution in technology and access, our tenth anniversary season offers new opportunities for film, for audiences, for educators and presenters, and for generous supporters like you.
A Challenge
Film is today’s most powerful medium, with the ability to engage people across languages and borders. Our challenge is to connect audiences with motion pictures that embody the vital values long associated with the many Buddhist traditions. These films can help change the way we see ourselves and the world…
Our Work
PRESENTATION
The International Buddhist Film Festival (IBFF), with its international open Call for Entries and curated programming, is widely acknowledged as the definitive reference source for Buddhist cinema. To better serve the growing audience, the IBFF Tenth Anniversary World Tour (2011–2013) is currently being organized. Presentations are planned in the US, Japan, India, Canada, Brazil, Ireland, England, Italy, Israel, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia, Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The IBFF VOD (video-on-demand) service will be launched during our World Tour season.
PRESERVATION
Great films from the past, even the recent past, are disappearing at an alarming rate. To ensure availability of good work for current and future audiences, BFF is developing the Buddhist Film Archive (BFA) at UC Berkeley. The BFA Founders’ Collection at UC Berkeley will be inaugurated in late 2011.
PROMOTION
BFF takes a proactive approach to connecting audiences and films. Its Festival Media distribution service has licensed a number of titles (over a dozen have been released to date; many with bonus features); a video-on-demand service is in development. DVD releases of IBFF-presented films from China, Japan, Korea, Sri Lanka, Canada, Holland and the US are currently in production. Plus: a new series of BFF-selected Asian Buddhist classic films will be distributed by Criterion Collection.
PRODUCTION
BFF’s fiscal sponsorship program has to date enabled ten films to raise production funding, with several already going on to international release and awards.
Your Opportunity
The work of the Buddhist Film Foundation is only possible because of sponsorships, foundation grants and contributions from generous supporters like you. Ticket sales account for less than a fraction of any film festival budget (and BFF is so much more than just a film festival…).
By design, BFF maintains a very low overhead, a distributed infrastructure, and a largely volunteer team, so all donations go directly towards programs and services.
Please consider a tax deductible gift to our New Fund Campaign today and help bring new films, new ideas—new ways of seeing—to audiences around the world.
Any amount you can give is meaningful and makes a difference. Please give what you can comfortably afford.
Please contact the Buddhist Film Foundation’s Executive if you would like to:
• Sponsor a collection or film acquisition at the Buddhist Film Archive
• Underwrite a Buddhist Film Foundation event
• Engage the community with a matching grant
• Underwrite an upcoming Festival Media release
It Only Takes A Moment
SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE BUDDHIST FILM FOUNDATION
Buddhist Film Foundation, Inc. is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization incorporated in the state of California, and donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
For donations by check or money order:
Buddhist Film Foundation
PO Box 22755
Oakland, CA 94609-5355
USA
For donations via PayPal:
Thank you for your support.
