The Barbados Independent Film Festival (BIFF) was founded in 2016 by Jennifer Smith and Sir Trevor Carmichael to celebrate the opening of the newly built Walled Garden Theatre at the Barbados Museum and Historical Society, now known as the Sir Trevor Carmichael Theatre. What began as a celebration of this cultural milestone has since grown into a multi-venue festival spanning the island.

Today, BIFF continues the legacy created by its founders under the guidance of a new Board and Executive. The festival has evolved into a platform for the pressing sociocultural and environmental issues of our time, centring the voices of those most affected and fostering a community rooted in inclusivity and regeneration. BIFF also celebrates subaltern and Indigenous narratives, championing the work of Barbadian and global filmmakers. We celebrate resilience and our capacity to overcome adversity.