March 21, 2008 (New York, NY) – Returning for its eighth year, the 2008 Bicycle Film Festival (BFF) is kicking off its annual tour, stopping in 16 cities internationally. BFF “˜08 promises to continue to grow this year, boasting nearly 100,000 attendees in 2007. Founder Brendt Barbur remains a strong voice of this massive movement, holding the torch for creatively bringing together an explosive festival that showcases well-known and respected artists, musicians, and film makers, as well as embraces the emerging artist. And many of these artists grow to become bigger, springing from the BFF platform.

“We are thrilled that BFF has aided to catalyze one of the largest youth movements in the world,” said Brendt Barbur, Bicycle Film Festival director and founder. “We hope to show everyone how huge and important bicycle culture is, and how many people live for bikes. The bicycle film festival has been credited with pushing bicycle culture forward throughout the world.”

The days of the festival are filled with films, parades, block parties and art shows — all bike themed. The films that will be shown were hand selected from hundreds of submissions that came from around world. All BFF related events include free bicycle valet parking — (there has never been a stolen valet parked bike). The Bicycle Film Festival has grown so much in popularity, selling out shows in New York and San Francisco, that it has grown in 2008 to reach audiences in 16 cities:

“¢ New York (May 28-June 1)
“¢ Toronto (June 18-21)*
“¢ Minneapolis (July 9-12)*
“¢ Los Angeles (July 16-19) *
“¢ San Francisco (July 23-26)*
“¢ Chicago (August 6-10)*
“¢ Boston (August 13-16)*
“¢ Tokyo (August 27-31)*
“¢ London (October 1-4)*
“¢ Vienna (October 8-11)*
“¢ Zurich (October 15-18)*
“¢ Paris (October 30-11/1)*
“¢ Sydney (November 13-11/15)*
“¢ Melbourne (November 20-23)*
“¢ Milano (November 26-29)*
“¢ Portland (December 11-13)*

This year BFF will be unveiling films from film makers such as Kalim Armstrong, Massimo Giommi, Colby Elrick Colin Arlen, and David Rowe. Subject matter ranges from DKNY bicycle mishap at this years fashion week to a Japanese stage race set in the African nation Burkina Faso.

After being struck by a bus in New York City in 2000, Barbur was compelled to turn his negative experience into something positive. The festival consistently sells out shows since its inception in 2001 and has sparked international recognition. The BFF is working to show that not only does bicycle riding bring people together, but it offers an environmentally sound form of transportation in this time of worldwide ecological crisis. The festival calls on all fans and aspects of bicycling to advocate its ability to transport us in many ways — ultimately, it’s all about having fun.

About the Bicycle Film Festival
The Bicycle Film Festival, founded by Brendt Barbur, was born out of the urban bike culture of New York City. Celebrating the bicycle, the fest is about all styles of bikes and biking. If you can name it we’ve probably either ridden or screened it. What better way to celebrate these lifestyles than through art, film, music and performance? We bring together all aspects of bicycling to advocate its ability to transport us in many ways. Ultimately the Fest is about having a good time. Now in its eighth year, the festival has expanded to 16 cities, including: New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Minneapolis, Chicago, Toronto, San Francisco, Portland, Milano, London, Vienna, Zurich, Tokyo, Boston, Melbourne and Sydney.
(* indicates dates are subject to change)

For more information regarding the Bicycle Film Festival or to speak with a BFF representative, please contact Pitch Control PR: Sarah Cirkiel (Scirkiel@pitchcontrolpr.com) or Brook Frye (Bfrye@pitchcontrolpr.com), 212.475.4919