The BSBFF Encore Edition ran February 1–13, 2022, to bring new awareness and raise more funds for humanitarian aid there. Buddhist Film Foundation joined with San Francisco Bay Area activists and filmmakers to create the original Burma Spring Benefit Film Festival (BSBFF) June 4–20, 2021, in response to the humanitarian and civil rights crisis triggered by the military coup in Burma.
The festival was organized and run by an all-volunteer team, and all funds raised get directly into the hands of grassroots organizations helping people in real distress. Over 60 programs streamed, including a dozen speaker forums. Nearly 10,000 tickets to films were booked by passholder/donors from around the world, with over $65,000 raised for distribution to grassroots organizations in-country. The Burma Spring Benefit YouTube channel now hosts the video recordings of the speaker forums.
After a year of the military coup, the situation in Myanmar remains grave. Civilians are being targeted, the refugee camps are overflowing on several borders, and the nation is suffering from economic and health emergencies on an order not previously seen. One key resource needed is money.
Donations are still invited; all donations received will get to trusted civil society groups in Myanmar, providing humanitarian assistance in Chin, Kachin, Karen, Karenni, and Shan states—poor, ethnic areas most severely impacted by refugees, food insecurity, and emergency shelter needs. Support will also go to freelance media and towards non-violent activists forced into Thailand.
Please use the Donate button under “Your Support Makes A Difference! Thank you.” and select “Burma Spring Benefit” from the drop menu.
Burma Spring Benefit Film Festival official website.
