Our Manifesto.
In a world saturated by market-driven algorithms and state-sponsored narratives, a world of filtered realities and silenced voices, the Berlin International Underground Film Festival (BIUFF) will rise as a sanctuary. It is a sanctuary not of walls, but of light projected in the dark—a space dedicated to the preservation of cinematic integrity. We are born from the defiant act of creation; a global platform dedicated to a cinema that operates beyond the borders of convention and control. We believe that true cinema begins where the map of the mainstream ends.
Our philosophy will be rooted in our 4U Award, a symbol of our core values. We will champion filmmaking that is Uncensored in its truth, Uncompromising in its vision, Unconventional in its form, and Unbound by any creative or political chains.
BIUFF is more than a festival; it is a movement. We are a global current flowing beneath the surface, connecting disparate points of resistance into a unified front. Grounded in the rebellious, ever-evolving spirit of Berlin—a city built on the fault lines of history—we connect a worldwide community of fearless filmmakers with an audience that seeks the raw, the real, and the revolutionary. We are not merely a showcase; we are a dialogue.
A Lifetime Commitment to Independent Cinema
This vision is not born from a vacuum. BIUFF is founded by Amir Morsali, a producer and cultural manager with two decades of experience in directing, producing, and championing independent underground cinema. His journey has culminated in his key role as the Production Manager for the acclaimed film "The Seed of the Sacred Fig" by director Mohammad Rasoulof.
This festival is the crystallization of his deep, personal commitment to protecting the voices that risk everything to tell their truth, and a reflection of a lifetime of experience in bringing artistic projects to fruition under the most challenging of circumstances.
Beyond a Festival
And our ambition extends far beyond a yearly event. BIUFF is the flagship public initiative of the Kariz Creative Hub, a 360-degree studio that will be established to support the entire lifecycle of creation.
The Hub will act as a nexus for networking, connecting fearless artists from cinema, theatre, and the creative industries. With a deeply supportive ethos, Kariz will grow into a sustainable ecosystem—a laboratory for developing audacious new projects, and eventually, a production fund to help bring the next generation of unapologetic stories to the screen.