THE BOSTON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
April 9–14, 2026
Opening Night: Thursday, April 9, 2026
The 24th Annual Boston International Film Festival (BIFF) will kick off on Thursday, April 9, 2026, with its highly anticipated Opening Night celebration.
The Red Carpet event begins at 4:00 PM at the Simons IMAX Theatre, located at 1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110. Festival staff will welcome participants as they arrive, while photographers capture the moment and members of the press conduct interviews.
The Opening Night feature presentation is MILAREPA, an Italian film directed by Louis Nero and starring Isabelle Allen, F. Murray Abraham, Harvey Keitel, Franco Nero, and Ángela Molina. The film tells the powerful story of Mila, a 12-year-old girl devastated by the murder of her father, who embarks on a journey of redemption following her own descent into darkness.
Festival Highlights
Additional highlights of this year’s festival include:
•SECRETS OF THE FULL MOON SEED, a new film by BIFF Executive Director Patrick Jerome. The story follows Jayla, a 20-year-old woman searching for answers about her mysterious biological father. The film showcases a wide range of New England talent, including BuAli Shah, Subrata Das, Rimi Sarkar, Sumalitaa Bhuyan, Syna Bhuva, Sanjay Jain, Sangeet Srikanth, Mukta Munjal, Nilay Mukherjee, and Amitabh Dashottar.
•MANGOK, a deeply moving film about Mangok Bol. His story is one of tragedy and resilience, chronicling his search for his four orphaned nieces and nephews who were kidnapped during a raid in South Sudan. The film also highlights the Boston-area community that has rallied to support his mission to bring them to safety in the United States.
•The Legend of Juan Jose Mundo, set in suburban New York in 1984. The film follows Julie Gornick, who hosts a charismatic Spanish exchange student. As he becomes involved with several girls at her school, Julie finds herself falling in love—or what she believes is love.
A number of celebrities will be in attendance on Opening Night, available for photographs and interviews on the red carpet.
The Opening Night Gala Party will immediately follow the screening, beginning at approximately 8:00 PM.
Tickets and Passes
•Opening Night Pass: $75
•Closing Night Pass: $45
•Individual Screening: $20
•All Screening Pass: $150 (access to all screenings)
•All-Access VIP Pass: $250 (entry to all BIFF events)
A limited number of press passes are available.
About the Festival
The Boston International Film Festival celebrates the art of filmmaking by supporting independent filmmakers from around the world. BIFF brings a diverse selection of short and feature-length films to Boston, showcasing unique voices and global perspectives. The festival aims to promote cultural understanding while entertaining and inspiring audiences.
This year, BIFF will present films from over 35 countries at the NEA Simons IMAX Theatre (1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA). Festival highlights include Opening and Closing Night Gala Parties, red carpet events, and special screenings.
Awards will be presented at the Closing Night Party on Monday, April 13, 2026.
For more information on tickets and the full schedule, please visit:
www.bifilmfestival.com