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The Bicycle Film Festival comes to Boston this week, continuing its 17 city worldwide tour. Boston may not be the most bike-friendly city; riding bikes in Boston can be dangerous, even for the mayor. But many Bostonian persevere and do things like ride bikes to work anyway.
The Bicycle Film Festival is for those people. It's an expression of the emerging urban bicycle culture and it features films from the likes of Jorgen Leth, Mike Mills, Jonas Mekas, Blonde Redhead, Swoon and Michel Gondry. Bostonist got a chance to interview BFF founder Brendt Barbur over email.
How did you start the Bicycle Film Festival?
I had an accident. While riding my bicycle in New York I was hit by a bus. I wanted to do something positive from this experience. I came up with the idea to celebrate bicycles. People embraced the idea of bike movies, parties, and all kinds of other events. I want to shine a positive light on bicycles and those who ride them. Who knew that we would sell out shows and gain national press our first year? It seems that people are into it.
In what ways has the BFF added to or been the expression of bicycle culture?
At the beginning of the BFF I did not know of too many venues for creative expression for a movement that I was confident was growing. Most of the people I knew who rode were strong, passionate and creative.
I grew up in California around skateboarding and surfing cultures. These subcultures had a status and a creative element that had an outlet. I wanted to do this for the bike movement. It is my hope that people will be inspired by coming out [to the screenings]. It is difficult to say if we have had an impact however I feel confident we have. The street track bike movement has been a big part of the BFF from year one and it is crazy now. Check out the streets of Tokyo, SF, or Paris now.
How has the festival grown since you started it?
We are now held in 17 cities worldwide from Tokyo to Melbourne and London to Vienna and LA. Over 100,000 attended the BFF last year and we have been covered by major media outlets from all over the world. It was cool when we were covered by a Chinese fashion magazine. I would love to see bikes get fashionable in China. Currently, the fashion is cars in China. They do not have the infrastructure and anyone paying some kind of attention knows how polluted it is there.
Which films screening in Boston are not-to-be missed?
If you have never been to the BFF go to the different short movie programs. They are a lot of fun and are typically the movies that sell out all over the world.
How would you prepare someone for the BFF? Is there something peculiar about bicycle movies that people outside of the bike world might not get?
Come out for a good time. At the same time you can get a view into what I consider this decades-old major cultural movement. The bike movement. And if you ride a bike over MassBike will valet it for you.
What kind of bike do you ride?
I ride everything. I usually prefer Italian bikes.
The Bicycle Film Festival begins screenings tomorrow. An opening night party will be held tonight behind the Video Underground, 383 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, beginning at 7 p.m.
Still from Goodbye Tomorrow courtesy BFF.
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i prefer french chef spy bikes!