In Conversation with Brendt Barbur
Founder of The Bicycle Film Festival
With so many festivals hitting Toronto a year, it’s often hard to keep track; in film alone, we have over sixty.
Let me start by saying, The Bicycle Film Festival (BFF) is not one to be overlooked. Having grown to span seventeen cities in just a few years, this fest is way more than a means to advocate cycling.
I had the opportunity to chat with founder Brendt Barbur, based in New York City, and non-coincidentally the first city to launch BFF. With all the protests, rallies and politics buzzing over bike lanes, it’s refreshing to see a festival devoted to celebrating the international bike community through art and creativity.
I begin by asking Brendt what prompted him to start the festival. He responds frankly:
“Have you ever been doored? Do you know what that means?” Unfortunately, I am one of millions who have been doored. There is nothing more jarring then merrily cycling on a warm summer day and then GAPHUMPH – getting the wind smacked out of you by a careless driver or cab passenger, toppling to the ground, scraping your knee and watching as all the shit spills onto the street from your purse. INFURIORIATING!
It doesn’t surprise me that the intense anger felt in this moment spurred Brendt to create a film festival. After all, it was time to open up the dialogue of biking to a mainstream audience, and increase the overall awareness and appreciation for our who-wheeled companions.
Over the past few years, the momentum has picked up faster than a no-brake ride down the steepest of San Francisco streets. As a side note, although the film spreads to Tokyo, Paris, Portland, Chicago, Toronto and many other major cities, the bike community of San Francisco has embraced the festival the most. It was in 2005 in San Fran, that Brendt really knew he was doing something right when lineups curled around screening venues for ten blocks.
The films encompass a gamut of bike-related issues as well as the emotionally charged themes that accompany them. This year expect films about love, thievery, ghost riding, bikes & fashion, racing, riding blind, hip hop, and bike messengers. In the past, the festival has included acclaimed works such as MONKEY WARFARE, which won a Jury Prize at TIFF. While this is certainly an impressive notch on the belt, Brendt is most proud to see people in the community who aren’t filmmakers, submitting their stories.
“Most of the movies were made by people with no formal education in film; graphic designers, bike messengers – they all have a unique perspective and something to say.”
But beyond films spilling in from around the world, and cities raising a hand to be a part of the festival, Brendt will define real success when, “artists are truly incorporated into the lifestyle and the bike movement can take care of their own.”
He is taking a lot of measures to move towards this goal. Most importantly, Brendt seeks to bring the festival out of theatres to encompass multidisciplinary art along with revelry in the streets, and curate art shows – this year’s is titled Joy Ride. In New York it was exhibited in a giant empty raw retail space, in Paris at the internationally renowned design boutique, Collette - and in Toronto at newly established Studio Gallery, the ultimate hot spot for cutting edge art shows.
Artists partaking in the exhibit include the likes of Swoon, Steve Macdonald, Michel Gondry, Philip Frost and Peter Sutherland. How exciting to see such a diverse group of heavy hitters working towards a common goal, and producing unique works in celebration of bicycles.
While BFF is certainly picking up steam in North America, Europe, and Asia, Brendt’s ultimate dream is to bring the fest to a financial level where it can have the resources to serve communities in need in Negeria, Bangkok, and Indonesia; after all, the bicycle is hardly elitist.
So get on your bike, go to the festival and celebrate all that this beautiful object we stick between our legs and ride can offer!