Bahamas International Film Festival set for December 2005
Cinema in Paradise theme for the second annual film festival in Nassau, The Bahamas
Nassau, Bahamas (August 19, 2005) - The Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) is pleased to announce their second annual film festival, slated for December 8-11, 2005. Last year BIFF played host to a powerful combination of industry professionals, filmmakers, celebrity guests, film enthusiasts, and the local community. By all accounts it was a resounding success.
BIFF is fast becoming the most sought after event in The Bahamas and reinforces the nation’s growing reputation as a cultural destination. Many local and international filmmakers, festival goers, and industry professionals are talking about how successful this groundbreaking event was and are very much looking forward to being a part of BIFF 2005.
BIFF’s founder and executive director, Leslie Vanderpool, has traveled the world to promote BIFF to recruit top-tier films and talent. These promotional efforts have led to some of the highest-profile events at film festivals such as Tribeca (April 19th-May 1st) and Cannes (May 11-22).
“I look forward to attending the Cannes Film Festival once again to bolster the reputation of the festival in The Bahamas,” says Leslie Vanderpool. “We established a presence at Cannes last year with a reception for over 400 people. BIFF is quickly establishing an identity in the minds of industry professionals and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.”
Cinema in Paradise comprises approximately fifty films encompassing international features, shorts, documentaries, and animation. The theme of the official competition is the Spirit of Freedom with a focus on works that provide insight into the mosaic of cultures that make up our world. Competition films are eligible for a grand jury prize. The other categories are New Visions, a showcase for emerging artists, providing the festival audience with the opportunity to discover the next generation of visionary filmmakers; World Cinema, a selection of international films; and the Caribbean Spotlight, a collection of films by Caribbean filmmakers.
In addition to showcasing films and celebrating filmmakers, BIFF continues to focus on education and the connection between the film industry and the Bahamian community, an important aspect of the festival’s mission.
“The Bahamas International Film Festival would like to convey the message that The Bahamas welcomes the international film community and looks forward to linking industry and education,” says Vanderpool. “When we organized the set visit to Brett Ratner’s After the Sunset for students and local filmmakers, it gave me great pleasure to share their excitement and enthusiasm, and to be able to bring such an experience to the youth and talent of our nation. In Grand Bahama, students and local filmmakers look forward to Pirates of the Caribbean 2 and 3 and the opportunity to see filmmaking in The Bahamas up close.”
To strengthen this focus, the festival offers a series of interactive, educational seminars. Established industry professionals will conduct these sessions for filmmakers and the public at the world-renowned Ardastra Gardens, Zoo & Conservation Centre. Topics include filmmaking, acting, directing, screenwriting, distribution, and film financing. “We look forward to offering more one-on-one experiences and opportunities between directors, producers, actors, festival guests and the local community at the festival and throughout the year,” comments Vanderpool.
The Bahamas International Film Festival, whose founding sponsors include the exquisite Atlantis resort and casino on Paradise Island and the Islands of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, crafts a genuine cultural experience for its guests by showcasing the nation’s many tropical charms. In addition to Cinema in Paradise events, festival highlights include beach screenings and hospitality suites at the prestigious Atlantis, Paradise Island resort, as well as educational forums, a unique filmmaker retreat, and a wide choice of local recreational activities. Airline partners include US Airways and British Airways.
The Bahamas International Film Festival is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing the local community and international visitors with a broad selection of films from around the world. In addition to offering films that might not otherwise be released theatrically in The Bahamas, BIFF provides educational programs and forums for exploring the past, present and future of cinema.
Throughout the four days of BIFF 2005 there will be many special events including opening and closing night galas, premieres, retrospectives and a celebrity tribute, as well as filmmaker cocktail parties and happy hours.
For more information contact The Bahamas International Film Festival at (242) 356-5939 in The Bahamas or at (305) 594-8777 in Florida, US.
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