Berkshire Film Festival Lineup Revealed: Billie Jean King Doc ‘Give Me the Ball!,’ Karen Allen Tribute, and 75 Movies
The beloved Berkshire International Film Festival returns to Great Barrington and Lenox, Massachusetts, for its 20th edition. IndieWire exclusively shares the lineup below.
From May 28-31, 31 documentaries, 29 narrative features, 29 short films, and a free kids’ animated shorts program will screen throughout the festival. The event kicks off at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center with an opening night screening of “Steal This Story, Please!” about Democracy Now! journalist Amy Goodman. She’ll be present for an onstage conversation after the film.
On Saturday, May 30, actress Karen Allen — deemed a neighbor, a collaborator, and a cornerstone of the Berkshire International Film Festival — will receive a tribute for her storied career. The festival will close on Sunday, May 31, with the Billie Jean King documentary “Give Me the Ball!,” fresh from Sundance and directed by Liz Garbus and Elizabeth Wolff.
Other conversations out of the festival include talks with documentary filmmakers Barbara Kopple and Yael Melamede, plus a conversation with “Band of Brothers” screenwriter Jon Orloff.
Notable narrative and documentary films screening include Kent Jones’ “Late Fame,” Adam Meeks’ “Union County,” Gregg Araki’s “I Want Your Sex,” Jay Duplass’ “See You When I See You,” Jeremy Workman’s “School for Defectors,” and Eugene Jarecki’s “The Six Billion Dollar Man.”
“For our 20th anniversary, we’re presenting a dynamic lineup that spans the full spectrum of contemporary cinema, from acclaimed international voices to bold new talent,” said founder and artistic director Kelley Vickery. “This year’s program reflects the strength of global filmmaking and the continued growth of BIFF, bringing audiences an engaging mix of screenings, events, and filmmaker conversations — underscoring that independent film is thriving in the Berkshires.”
Notable talent represented in this year’s lineup includes Karen Allen, Amy Goodman, Willem Defoe, Olivia Wilde, Coper Hoffman, J. Alphonse Nicholson, Danielle Brooks, Lou Diamond Phillips, Greta Lee, Edmund Donovan, Jake Lacy, Tim Blake Nelson, Mireille Enos, Lois Smith, Cooper Raiff, Kaitlyn Dever, David Duchovny, Hope Davis, Will Poulter, Noah Centineo, Edward James Olmos, Cheech Marin, Dolores Huerta, Linda Ronstadt, Nick Offerman, Kenny Loggins Michael MacDonald, Kevin Bacon, Clive Davis, Jimmy Messina, Oscar Isaac, Helena Bonham Carter, Steve Buscemi, Stephen Colbert, Oprah, John Waters, Peter Asher, James Taylor, Carol King, Eric Idle, Rory Culkin, Scott Cohen, Amy Stiller, Michael Madsen, and Jane Fonda.
See the full lineup below with language courtesy of the festival. Passes are on sale now. Single tickets go on sale for REEL Friends of BIFF on Friday, April 24 and to the general public on Monday, April 27, by visiting www.biffma.org.
THURSDAY, MAY 29 — Opening Night at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington, sponsored by Beacon Bank: The festival opens with the documentary film STEAL THIS STORY, PLEASE! Fiercely independent journalist Amy Goodman, has spent three decades holding the powerful to account, reporting from war zones and the Democracy Now! Newsroom. In STEAL THIS STORY, PLEASE! Oscar-nominated filmmakers Carl Deal and Tia Lessin craft a riveting portrait of journalism’s power and peri in an era of corporate control and political attacks on truth.
Amy Goodman will be in conversation on the stage of the Mahaiwe with BIFF board member, Mary Mott following the screening. After the event, BIFF will host a 20th birthday party with cake and dance party with DJ Soren next door at the Indigo Room.
Prior to the opening night film, BIFF will present the 3rd annual “THE TASTE OF THE BIFF,” showcasing area restaurants in the Berkshires under the BIFF tent. This dinner-by-the-bite event includes Briskette&Birdie, The Elm, Frankie’s Ristorante Italiano, JuJu’s, Number Ten, The Old Inn on the Green, The Red Lion Inn, SoCo Creamery, Hand Crafter Catering & Events, and Robert Mondavi Winery. The Taste of the BIFF is a foodie festival within the festival!
SATURDAY, MAY 30 — Tribute Night at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center honors award-winning actor KAREN ALLEN: There are movie stars, and then there are the rare few who carry their stardom lightly—who pair a remarkable career with a deeply rooted sense of place and community. Karen Allen is one of those rare few. To audiences around the world, she is unforgettable as Marion Ravenwood in Raiders of the Lost Ark—a performance of wit, grit, and undeniable charisma that helped redefine the modern action heroine. And yet, here in the Berkshires, Karen is known for something even more meaningful: her presence as a neighbor, a collaborator, and a cornerstone of the Berkshire International Film Festival. In honoring Karen Allen, we celebrate not only an accomplished actress with an extraordinary career, but a woman who has given deeply of herself to this community. The BIFF is very proud to honor and recognize her legendary career.
SATURDAY, MAY 30 — BIFF’s popular TEA TALKS at the Indigo Room, sponsored by Guido’s and Mountain One This festival-favorite began eight years ago, and this year’s selection includes in-depth conversations with Academy Award-Winning documentary filmmaker, Barbara Kopple celebrating the 50th anniversary of her Academy Award-winning documentary HARLAN COUNTY; Oscar-nominated documentary director, Yael Melamede in conversation with author and filmmaker Kevin Smokler after the screening of CHILDREN NO MORE: WERE AND ARE GONE; acclaimed American screenwriter John Orloff known for BAND OF BROTHERS and MASTERS OF THE AIR; and the five European Union filmmakers from the Transatlantic Rising Stars Program discussing filmmaking across borders.
SUNDAY, MAY 31 — Closing Night at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center: BIFF will close with the Sundance hit documentary film, GIVE ME THE BALL! about the global tennis icon, Billie Jean King, whose impact on tennis and equality resonates around the world. But the persona turmoil behind this transformational figure has in many ways remained hidden from view. It is the story of selflessness, struggle and triumph that shines an unforgettable light on a figure who is widely admired but, until now, never properly understood. Director Elizabeth Wolff will be in conversation with BIFF Board Member, Mary Mott, following the screening. A closing night party will be held at Number 10 after the event.
“Kelley and I are thrilled about this year’s globally sourced program,” said Lillian Lennox, BIFF Film Programmer and Board Member. “We are blessed to have a dedicated team who work tirelessly to bring the very best independent narrative and documentary filmmaking to our audiences. Films that offer inspirational new voices and fresh perspectives. We look forward to seeing old friends and new at this year’s festival.”
Passes are on sale now. Single tickets go on sale for REEL Friends of BIFF on Friday, April 24 and to the general public on Monday, April 27, by visiting www.biffma.org.
In addition to the dozens of remarkable films, BIFF will host special events throughout the weekend including the Juried Prize Award for narrative and documentary filmmaking, free family film screenings, and panel discussions.
MORE ABOUT THE TRANSATLANTIC RISING STAR PROGRAM – TRSP FIVE FILMS. FIVE DIRECTORS. ONE RARE CHANCE.
The European Union believes in film – in the stories that travel, the directors who tell them, and the audiences who deserve to see them. These five films have won awards across the world. Most American audiences will never have the chance to see them, but the BIFF audience does.
They are here as part of the Transatlantic Rising Stars Film Program – an EU initiative that brings exceptional European directors to the United States for two weeks of screenings, creative exchange, and high-level industry access. BIFF is where it begins.
THE JURY
The BIFF’s 2025 Jury includes distribution guru Josh Braun and Dan Braun; director Kent Jones; actors Peter Riegert and Scott Cohen; film publicist Laura Sok; and production designer Kristi Zea. In competition are four documentaries and four films in the narrative category. The award will be presented during a brunch on Sunday, May 31st at the Granville House in Great Barrington. The films in narrative competition are: A MOSQUITO IN THE EAR, BROKEN VOICES, IF I GO WILL THEY MISS ME, and UNION COUNTY. The films in documentary competition are: ADMISSION IMPOSSIBLE, GASLIT, ITALIAN WANNABE and REMAINING NATIVE.
BIFF FILMMAKERS SUMMIT
In 2026, the BIFF will host its sixteenth annual Filmmakers Summit—a two-day talent academy for this year’s filmmakers. This diverse, multi-dimensional program of panel discussions, lectures, special events, and breakout sessions is led by known industry professionals. Beginning on Wednesday, May 27, the Filmmaker Summit is a truly unique introduction to the festival for filmmakers. The Filmmakers Summit is sponsored by Mary Mott and Gordon Simmering. Scholarship awards to the Summit are donated by The Frances Davis Fund in memory of Estelle Davis who really appreciated a good movie.
The Sixteenth annual “Next Great Filmmaker” Competition created and sponsored by Beacon Bank, will kick-off online voting on Monday, April 27. Voting will continue through May 27 and the winner will be announced at the Opening Night presentation in Great Barrington on Thursday, May 28 at the Mahaiwe. The films in competition are: ENDZGIVING, FARSI WITH MAMAN, I LOVE YOU MORE THAN DINOSAURS, JUST MY LUCK, SUSIEFLOWERS, and THEACTOR. www.biffma.org/nextgreat
The second annual “nexGen” Student Film Competition — In collaboration with Love Today Productions, BIFF has launched its second annual nexGen filmmaker competition. This initiative aims to discover emerging student filmmakers and highlight students’ talents in a festival setting, providing them with mentoring and potential job opportunities in a tough industry. Out of 85 submissions from colleges and universities across the US, we proudly introduce the first class of nexGen filmmakers. BEER RUN, directed by James Wright; ON THE TIDE directed by Mimi Malicoat Bois; RAISED ELBOWS directed by Gaspard Choquet.
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