In pre-Covid times, the Bicycle Film Festival in New York City always felt like a big bike party. Cyclists of all persuasions descended on the Lower East Side for a week-long showing of a slate of short films that centered people doing incredible things on and with bikes.

I’ve attended my share of BFF events over the years since as far back as 2009. Memorable among the films for me are always the adrenaline pumping urban bike shorts, showcasing the alleycat scene and the wheelie kids. The sense of camaraderie, competition, defiance, and freedom is intoxicating. When “Sven: The Final Year” came out in 2016, the entire NYC cyclocross community packed the theater. NYC’s own Harry Zernike’s film “Thursday Fields” was featured in the 2018 edition of BFF, which documented the quintessential nature of the NYC grassroots road racing community at Floyd Bennett Field, an abandoned airfield in South Brooklyn. (We’re still hoping to reclaim the venue and resurrect FBF racing in the future.)

Earlier this year, BFF held a virtual program during Bike Month that drew safe streets advocates for the eye opening film, “Together We Cycle,” which reminded us that Amsterdam was not always the cycling utopia we know today, but only got there after years of hard fought advocacy. Bicycle Film Festival always curates a diverse range of stories from all around the world, and it’s not to be missed. Details on this year’s virtual offerings and how to get tickets are below.

Bicycle Film Festival presents over 40 new films from around the world.

For well over a year now, BFF has been monitoring the health guidelines for COVID-19. The festival has been on a virtual tour with the “greatest hits”; of BFF films. Now, BFF is celebrating the new film selections with BFF New York.

BFF New York is happening virtually: December 17, 2021 - January 9, 2022, featuring 4 short film programs with over 40 new films and filmmakers from more than one dozen countries:

Urban Bike shorts  These films capture the spirit of street, youth, fixed gear, bmx, and messenger cultures from the passionate cyclists in cities around the world.

Cinematic shorts  A story driven and diverse curation of filmmaking styles: narrative, documentaries, musical, animation, and more. Oscar nominated and award-winning shorts share equal billing with emerging new talent.

Cycle for Change shorts  These stories celebrate the change makers, the advocates, and the activists who are pushing the bike movement forward in their communities and redefining what it means to ride a bike.

Adventure shorts  For lovers of gravel, mountain biking, bikepacking, and ultra-endurance cycling, this program will take you on a journey around the world.

Each short film program is around 90 minutes and available to watch worldwide from December 17, 2021 - January 9, 2022.

Purchase a Full Festival Pass - includes access to all 4 virtual short film programs. Or purchase ticket(s) to an individual short film program(s).

Get Passes and Tickets here: https://btt.boldtypetickets.com/events/117234823/bicycle-film-festival-2021-new-york-virtual

How does the virtual Bicycle Film Festival work?

Starting Friday, December 17 at 6:00pm ET through Monday, January 10 at 12:01am ET, BFF can be streamed to your computer, tablet, or smart TV. Simply click on the link provided by email 15 minutes before opening date and time. You may view BFF in one sitting, or as you will, from the comfort and safety of your home. All prices are in USD. Individual program ticket prices are sliding scale” $10, $15, $20 so all individual ticket prices entitle you to the same content for each short film program. Full Festival Pass prices are “sliding scale” $27, $50, $75 so all Full Festival Pass prices entitle you to all four programs. 

About BFF:

Bicycle Film Festival has been celebrating bicycles through art, film, and music the past 21 years. Founded in 2001, Brendt Barbur was compelled to start the BFF after being hit by a bus while riding his bike in New York. The physical BFF spanned the world in over 90 cities worldwide to an audience of over one million people. The festival has an incredible history of working with the most important artists, filmmakers, venues, and institutions around the world. The Subcultures of cycling have shared equal billing with the most exciting innovators in music, art, design, and film. Participants have included: Erykah Badu, Karl Lagerfeld, Francesco Clemente, Shepard Fairey, Albert Maysles, Michel Gondry, Spike Jonze, Alex Katz, Kaws, Mike Mills, Paul Smith, the Neistat Brothers, Tom Sachs, Ridley Scott, Kiki Smith, Swoon, and Ai Weiwei. This festival is a celebration of way a life––not just entertainment.

Bicycle Film Festival
227 West 15th Street #17
New York, NY 10011
www.bicyclefilmfestival.com
@bicyclefilmfestival