Buddhist Film Foundation joined with San Francisco Bay Area activists and filmmakers to create the Burma Spring Benefit Film Festival (BSBFF) in response to the humanitarian and civil rights crisis triggered by the military coup in Burma. Over 7000 tickets to films were booked by passholder/donors from around the world, with nearly $50,000 raised.
Originally scheduled to end on June 13, 2021, the online event was extended through June 20 due to the enthusiastic response, and eventually featured forty-one films, over a dozen speakers presented in daily live forums—including two ministers of the recently formed National Unity Government (NUG)—and links to key resources.
All donations received will be used by trusted civil society groups in Myanmar, providing humanitarian assistance in Chin, Kachin, Karen, Karenni and Shan states—poor, ethnic areas most severely impacted by food insecurity and emergency shelter needs. Support will also go to freelance media and towards non-violent activists forced into Thailand.
