Just as the past decade has seen the rapid rise of the bicycle as a viable mode of transportation in American cities, so too has the Bicycle Film Festival (BFF for short) grown from a grassroots production to one of the most anticipated annual urban cycling events in over two dozen cities worldwide.

Herds of bicycle enthusiasts from around the world will flock to New York City this June for the Bicycle Film Festival's Eleventh year in NY, to celebrate the world's best invention: the bicycle.

We are proud to announce the Bicycle Film Festival's 11th year in New York City, where the BFF was born! ... From its roots in New York City, the BFF has grown into a multi-faceted, global event that will travel to over 25 cities this year, from Milan to Tokyo, Minneapolis to Sydney.

In 2001, Founding Director Brendt Barbur, was compelled to start the Bicycle Film Festival after being hit by a bus while riding his bike in New York City. He was inspired to turn this negative experience into a positive one, and created a festival that celebrates the bicycle through music, art, and film. The festival merges many creative communities, including fashion, music and art, as well as various bicycling communities—road cycling, mountain biking, fixed gear, BMX, cyclocross—over a shared passion for bike riding.

"NY is one of the greatest bicycle cities in the world" says Brendt Barbur. "We are very happy to bring the BFF back home."

The film highlight is the world premiere of Racing Towards Red Hook, Jessica Scott & Hyde Harper's documentary about three riders' disparate paths to the Red Hook Criterium: a relative unknown Frank Warren, seasoned rider Al Barouh and defending champion Dan Chabanov. Check out the trailer below:

The opening party is tomorrow night at nightlife institution Santos' Party House, with screenings and events through Sunday; see the schedule here