21/02/2003 - BIFF (14-29 March) is 21. It will open with 28 Days Later and close with Parker. A total of 70 fims including Darkness and It's All About Love up for the Golden Raven

The 21st edition of the International Fantastic Film Festival will take place in Brussels from 14-29 March 2003.
Yesterday’s press conference unveiled a very attractive programme that will unroll with the Belgian premiere of Danny Boyle’s latest feature, 28 Days Later and close with The Life of David Gale [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by British director Alan Parker. The festival will end in style with the traditional Vampires Ball.

In celebration of its 21st birthday, the organisers selected numerous horror and sci-fi titles, and welcomed a number of new participants from Chile, Thailand, Indonesia and India.
Fourteen of the seventy films selected will compete in the international competition for the Golden Raven and the two runner-up Silver Raven Awards. The titles include Darkness [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Jaume Balaguera (Spain/USA), Death Watch by Michael J.Bassett (UK/Germany, France/ Italy), It’s All About Love [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Thomas Vinterberg (Denmark), Maléfique by Eric Vallette (France) and They’re Watching Us by Norberto Lopez (Spain/Italy). The jury includes French actor Didier Bezace and filmmaker Claude Pinoteau, and American writer Norman Spinrad.

Twelve titles were selected for the Méliès d’Argent competition jointly organised by all of Europe’s fantasy film festivals. The winner will be announced during Cinénygma in Luxembourg on 29 March. The BIFF programme includes a tribute to Spanish cinema and the Filmax International production company.
BIFF also includes all the usual sidebar events of a major festival like exhibitions, concerts, live entertainment, workshops and conferences, a book competition and its famous body painting competition and the Unusual Bischoff Show.