At 19, The Beaufort International Film Festival has become one of the world’s favorite film festivals
By Margaret Evans
Lowcountry Weekly
I can’t believe it’s been a year since I cozied up at Hearth with Ron and Rebecca Tucker – for three hours straight – grilling them about the upcoming 18th Annual Beaufort International Film Festival. Now No. 19 is fast upon us, we’re back at our favorite wood-fired pizza joint, and once again, I’m firing questions at Beaufort’s hardest working cinephiles.
My mission? To ascertain the “vibe” of this year’s fest.
Last year, it was easy. We were celebrating the 30th anniversary of Forrest Gump, a film with deep roots in Beaufort. Gary Sinise was coming to receive a special award. There was a Gump documentary making its premiere. There were panel discussions and presentations and a Lt. Dan Band concert. The theme was clear. And the theme created the “vibe.”
Other years had other themes. Other vibes. There was the year we all dressed as flappers and gangsters for opening night, to honor special guest Paul Sorvino … who took ill at the last minute and didn’t show up.
Or the year we celebrated the 40th anniversary of The Big Chill – filmed in Beaufort – and dressed like hippies or yuppies or hippies-turned-yuppies. There was the year Blythe Danner came, and the unspoken theme was “movies based on Pat Conroy books … starring Blythe Danner.” And the time Andie McDowell came … and was both a theme and a vibe unto herself.
But this year, there is no theme. So what about the vibe?
“It’s really an a la carte festival this year,” Ron tells me.
“There’s literally something for everybody,” Rebecca confirms.
An a la carte festival. I like it! Because the more I think about it, the Beaufort International Film Festival – almost two decades in – no longer needs a theme to create a vibe. It IS the vibe.
Consider the statistics …
Everybody wants in
This year, BIFF had 515 films submitted for competition, from more than 30 countries. Only 53 films were selected. That’s a 10% acceptance rate. Can you say “competitive”?
At least 80 filmmakers had committed to attending this year’s festival at press time, but Ron says it’ll probably be more like 100. Apparently, a good number of unexpected folks always turn up … just to keep the Tuckers on their toes.
As for general attendees, those stats won’t be in until sometime after the festival, but last year, there were 37 states and nine countries represented in the audience.
The Tuckers say BIFF’s popularity is mostly just great word of mouth. Filmmakers chat with other filmmakers about the networking opportunities, the huge audiences, the beautiful location, the southern hospitality, and such. (Same goes for festival fans.) But you could also blame Film Freeway, the comprehensive online service that matches filmmakers with film festivals, and vice versa. For the past few years, the site has consistently rated BIFF one of the top 100 film festivals in the world.
To be clear, there are something like 12,000 film festivals in the world … and according to Film Freeway, BIFF is in the top 100. In fact, it’s often been listed in the Top 10.
Filmmakers love the vibe
Film Freeway bases its ratings on reviews by actual filmmakers. Here are just a few from last year’s festival:
“I don’t even know where to begin with Beaufort International Film festival! A friend highly advised to attend and although driving 2500 miles all the way from California to South Carolina didn’t sound like a lot of fun initially, we will make that drive to that festival over and over again from now on. It was, hands down, my best experience attending a film festival. It started with the head of the festival, Ron Tucker, personally emailing us and sharing his thoughts on the film. He offered us a free room at a beautiful historical Rhett House Inn across from the oldest church in town. The hospitality, and care were absolutely unparalleled; I have never had an experience like this. The screenings were nearly sold out every day and the audience was so receptive and engaged. Some of the best Q&A I’ve ever heard. The whole town comes together for this festival — it is incredible!” – Yelena Krivosheyeva
“Beaufort International Film Festival is the best festival I’ve attended. It’s large enough to have showmanship and energy, yet also fosters a sense of camaraderie and support. Ron and Rebecca are fantastic, and the festival volunteers are kind and nothing short of amazing. As a bonus, the setting is gorgeous — beautiful antebellum houses by the seaside. I wish I could go again next week! Thanks for an amazing experience.” – Jennifer Baker
“Where does hospitality, kindness, and great taste in films come together? At the Beaufort International film festival, of course! The reception was amazing, and the hosts are the kindest of people. It’s a fun time with a lowcountry twist. And they know how to pair films together in blocks. I’d go back again!” – Jon Baime
“This is a gem of a festival and one of the absolute best I’ve been to!! The unparalleled southern hospitality and the consistently incredible films (I mean, EVERY film was good!! Even if a film wasn’t to my taste, it was still a good film!!) means that BIFF has cultivated an artistic community where networking feels natural because it’s creatives sharing their passions. Plus, the screening attendance is phenomenal!! We had 500 people attend our film!” – Maggie Alexander
Why he keeps crossing the pond
John Schwab is an American actor based in London, and a longtime veteran of BIFF. He’s had films in the festival, and for the past 10 years, he’s served as a juror. By any measure, John is a very successful working actor. His credits include streaming sensations like Jack Ryan, The Diplomat, and The Queen’s Gambit, among others. Yet, year after year, he makes time to participate in BIFF … and often even appears on the scene.
“I find it a huge honor, because there is no other film festival like Beaufort. I have seen BIFF go from a tiny little festival with screenings held in a hotel conference room to now full-fledged top 100 festival in one of the most beautiful cities in America … if not the world.
“I am so proud to be part of the growth in what little capacity I have been. I remember submitting my first film, The Applicant, way back in 2009 – or something like that – and almost imploring Ron to accept my little film into this festival that I just heard of in a town where I absolutely loved spending a very good chunk of my impressionable youth.
“When I heard that my film was accepted, I was so overjoyed, and my entire family joined me that year to go to BIFF. I’m not being hyperbolic when I say that it was a transformative moment in my family‘s life. Beaufort became a tradition. The Beaufort film festival became a tradition. Family and friends travelling to Beaufort became a tradition.”
John had planned to continue that tradition this year, but a last-minute acting gig in London came up.
“Believe me when I say that my heart is a little broken. BIFF is a festival like no other, and at no other festival do the filmmakers show up and instantly become friends. It’s not just the stereotypical southern hospitality that one receives, it’s a special type of Beaufort southern hospitality. Hugs instead of handshakes. “See you later’s” instead of “goodbyes.” It’s something I have not experienced at any other film festival, and I’ve been to many, many festivals in the states and around Europe.”
For the Tuckers, BIFF never ends
For the visitors and locals who love it, BIFF will come and go – a dazzling flash of heat and light that’s so very welcome in February. For Ron and Rebecca Tucker, however, the festival never ends.
Ron puts is like this:
“We live and breathe BIFF all year long. While we celebrate a successful BIFF for a short time, we start planning the next one usually within the month of the last BIFF. Our Call for Entries will go out in March; we usually get films the first day submissions are open. If we’re out and about in Beaufort – or anywhere else in the world – we’re likely sporting some BIFF Swag or toting Save the Date or Business Cards and ready with our BIFF ‘elevator speech.’ Even on our celebratory annual cruise, we remain in the BIFF READY MODE.”
“Throughout the year we pound social media with past successes to build the likelihood of future success,” he continues. “We celebrate news from BIFF Alum on other festival wins or selections. We try to have a couple of Meet & Greets during the year and we have our Shorts at High Noon at TCL from September – November, when we’re recruiting new film enthusiasts and spreading the word about BIFF. We also speak to groups about BIFF and the Film Society during the year. We work in concert with other non-profit organizations helping to promote their efforts, often providing auction items for their fundraising.”
Through the Beaufort Film Society, the Tuckers also work with the Carolina Film Alliance and the South Carolina Film Commission to promote our region as a filmmaking destination. They work with other film producers who want to film in Beaufort, and serve as a liaison with City, County and State officials.
“There are several projects in the pending file,” says Ron. “For instance, we’re working with the USCB Media Department to establish a viable Student Intern Program. We’ll have two Interns working with us at the film festival. Also, there are as of right now two film projects in development with Beaufort in top position as a location. Time will tell.”
This year’s “a la carte festival”
In truth, BIFF has always been an a la carte festival. Even when there’s a general theme, the menu of films is a rich and zesty smorgasbord.
Ron Tucker says this year there seem to be a good number of movies that focus on history — but as always, the films run the gamut from sci-fi to romance to suspense to comedy.
He says the documentaries are particularly strong this year.
In “Echoes of Loss: Eight Days in Israel,” the audience will journey alongside Mor as he travels from his home-base in Los Angeles to his homeland of Israel. Set against a backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war and rising global antisemitism, Mor explores his own healing journey after losing his wife, Noel, to ovarian cancer in 2019.
“Marcella” takes a look at Marcella Hazan, a disabled woman who trained as a scientist, then changed how we cook and experience Italian food.
Closer to home, the short documentary “Breakfast in Beaufort: Journeys Through Time” features a close-knit group of local men, ages 80-something to 100, who meet every Wednesday at Blackstone’s café.
As always, the roster of feature films, short films, student films and animated films on offer at BIFF 2025 is incredibly diverse – in style, tone, and subject matter. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry, some will delight you or horrify you or enrage you. Some will just make you think. Half the fun of BIFF is walking into a block of films, giving yourself over to the surprise, and just riding the full range emotion.
But before all that …
Opening night vibe
Opening Night of BIFF is always a blast, but this year’s opener promises to be the best yet. The reception will happen on the lawn of the CFA, under a big tent – they’ll have heaters if needed – and there will be music from start to finish.
Local favorites the Cluster Shucks will rock the reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., then party-goers will mosey into the auditorium to enjoy a brief concert by the Beaufort Symphony Orchestra, performing some of the world’s favorite movie themes.
What a way to kick-off a week of entertainment, enlightenment, and inspiration! What a way to set the BIFF vibe.
The 19th Annual Beaufort International Film Festival will take place at USCB Center for the Arts February 18 through the 23. For tickets and a full schedule of events, visit www.beaufortfilmfestival.com.
Margaret Evans is the editor of Lowcountry Weekly and co-publisher of The Island News. She can be reached at editor@lcweekly.com
