The Bahamas International Film Festival

3rd Annual BAHAMAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
December 7 – 10, 2006

The Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) kicks off its third annual celebration of films, events and panels presented amidst idyllic Bahamian settings on December 7th – 10th, 2006. Festival attendees will delight in the nation’s tropical beauty and cultural charms thanks to Founding Sponsors Atlantis Paradise Island Resort and the Islands of The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. Audiences will enjoy BIFF screenings at the Atlantis Theatre, Paradise Island and at Galleria 6 JFK in Nassau. Programs, panels, and gala parties will be held at various locations around Nassau and Paradise Island. The festival is, available and accessible to all – visitors and Bahamians alike. It surely is “Cinema In Paradise.”

Oscar® Winner and Bahamian resident, actor Nicolas Cage will be the recipient of the Career Achievement Tribute sponsored by Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch (LODH) at the Third Annual Bahamas International Film Festival. The BIFF Tribute Chopard Award will be presented at a gala event at the Atlantis Theatre at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort and Casino to Mr. Cage by Sir Sean Connery, his co-star in “The Rock.” Friday, December 8. Over the four day festival, BIFF will screen a selection of Nicolas Cage’s films including: Face/Off, Adaptation and Wild at Heart. There will also be a conversation with the actor, moderated by a well known personality, during which additional highlights of Mr. Cage’s career will be presented. Mr. Cage will attend the screenings at both the Atlantis and Galleria 6 JFK for Q&A.

“BIFF is committed to exhibiting films that showcase unique international themes as well as combining both enjoyment and thought provoking concepts via the cinematic arts,” says Leslie Vanderpool, the Founder & Executive Director of BIFF. We have screened hundreds of films from all over the world which we will be showcasing a slate of fifty narrative, documentary and short films over the festival’s four days.

“The high caliber of representation of films in this year’s festival will be incredible,” says Ms. Vanderpool. “There are significant messages from many countries with a special concentration in the Caribbean. It will affect the Bahamas multi-cultural community in a powerful way. While we are an ‘international festival,’ with guests coming from around the world, we are even more a festival for the people of Nassau and the Bahamas who we hope will catch films and panels that they normally wouldn’t be able to see.”

The Festival has three juried competition categories; the “Spirit of Freedom” (both Narrative and Documentary sections) presented by Chopard, and the “New Visions” award going to the filmmaker in the Narrative section presented by Hard Rock Café. Other film programs include “Panorama World Cinema,” “Special Screenings,” “Family Films,” “Caribbean Spotlight,” and a new component is added this year “East Meets West,” which will present films from Eastern Europe, India, East Asia and the Pacific Islands.



From Thursday, December 7th, when the Festival presents its Opening Night Gala Film, Director Susanne Bier’s AFTER THE WEDDING, through our exciting Career Achievement Award event and on to our Closing Night Film, the Bahamas International Film Festival will be a very special and exciting place to be.



The 2006 BIFF Film Program Includes:

Spirit of Freedom: Narrative Competition

The ‘Spirit of Freedom’ is the theme of the Grand Jury Competition, as each cinema artist explores the potential of the human spirit and how freedom pervades our lives. With a combination of narrative and documentary features, this showcase provides insight into the mosaic of cultures that make up our world.

CHRONICLES OF AN ESCAPE [Crónica de una fuga] (2006, Argentina), Directed by Israel Adrián Caetano, and starring Rodrigo De la Serna, Pablo Echarri, Nazareno Casero.

JANUARY 2ND (2006, UK), Directed by Matt Winn, and starring Simon Kunz, Ruth Gemmell, Rachel Fielding. Director Matt Winn will attend BIFF.

LIUBI (2005, Greece), Directed by Layia Yiourgou, and starring Alexis Georgoulis, Eugenia Kaplan, Lena Kitsopoulou, Nikos Georgakis, Olga Damani. Director Layia Yiourgou will attend BIFF.



THE NAKED APE (2006,US), Directed by Daniel Mellitz and starring Josh Wise, Chelsea Swain, Sean Shanks, Amanda MacDonald, Corbin Bernsen and Michael Jackson Director Daniel Mellitz will attend BIFF.



TEN CANOES (2006, Australia), Directed by Rolf de Heer and Peter Djigirr, and starring Richard Birrinbirrin, Johnny Buniyira, Peter Djigirr, Frances Djulibing, David Gulpilil, Jamie Gulpilil, Crusoe Kurddal.



WHO LOVES THE SUN (2006, Canada), Directed by Matt Bissonnette, and starring Adam Scott, Lukas Haas, Molly Parker. Producer Corey Marr will attend BIFF.



Jurors for the Spirit of Freedom: Narrative Competition include: Film Publicist Mickey Cottrell, Actor Rick Fox, Producer Molly Mayeaux.



Spirit of Freedom: Documentary Competition



ENCOUNTER POINT (2006, Israel/Palestine), Directed by Ronit Avni & Julia Bacha, and starring Ali Abu Awwad, Sami Al Jundi, Robii Damelin, Shlomo Zagman. Co-Director Ronit Avni will attend BIFF.



FREEDOM’S FURY (2005, US/Hungary/Russia), Directed by Colin Gray & Megan Raney, and starring Viktor Ageyev, Antal Bolvari, Janos Buk, Sandor Csoori, James Green, Dezso Gyarmati Director Colin Gray and Producer Steven Beer will attend BIFF.



GITMO – The New Rules (2005, Sweden), A film by Erik Gandini and Tarik Saleh. Filmmakers Erik Gandini and Tarik Saleh will attend BIFF.



HOW TO EAT WATERMELON IN WHITE COMPANY (2005, USA), Directed by Joe Angio. Director Joe Angio will be attending BIFF.



JESUS CAMP (2006, US), Directed by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady. Co-Director Rachel Grady will attend BIFF.



Jurors for the Spirit of Freedom: Documentary Competition include: Human Rights Activist Clint Kemp, Hamptons Film Festival Artistic Director/Berlinale Selection member Rajendra Roy, Co-President of Zeitgeist Films Emily Russo.



New Visions Competition



HALF NELSON (2006, US), Directed by Ryan Fleck, Starring Ryan Gosling, Anthony Mackie, Stephanie Bast. Director Ryan Fleck will attend BIFF.



JOHNNY MONTANA (2006, USA), Directed by John Daniel Gavin, and starring: Nick Addeo, Mona Albert, David Anquelo. Director John Daniel Gavin will attend BIFF.



JOHNNY WAS (2006, UK), Directed by Mark Hammond, and starring Eriq LaSalle, Lennox Lewis, Roger Daltry, Patrick Bergin. Producer Ben Katz will attend BIFF.



LOVE PHOBIA [Domabaem] (2006, South Korea), Directed by Kang Ji-eun and starring Cho Seung-woo, Kang Hye-jeong, Byeon Ju-yeon. Director Kang Ji-eun will attend BIFF.



PREMIUM (2006, US), Directed by Pete Chatmon and starring Zoe Saldana, Dorian Missick, Hill Harper. Director Pete Chatmon will attend BIFF.



RETURN TO RAJAPUR (2005, US/India), Directed by Nanda Anand, and starring Manoj Bajpai, Lynn Collins, Kelli Garner, Frank Langella. Director Nanda Anand will attend BIFF.



Jurors for the New Visions Competition include: Filmmaker/Actress Sara Driver, Moving Pictures Editor Elliot Kotek, and President of Shoreline Entertainment Morris Ruskin.



Panorama World Cinema



10 QUESTIONS FOR THE DALAI LAMA (2006, India), Directed by Rick Ray, and featuring His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Director Rick Ray will attend BIFF.



BETWEEN THE LINES (2006, India), Directed by Thomas Wartmann.



THE BREAST CANCER DIARIES (2006, US), Directed by Linda Patillo, Director Linda Patillo and Actor Ann Murray Paige will attend BIFF.



CANDY (2006, Australia), Directed by Neil Armfield and starring Heath Ledger and Abbie Cornish.



THE HIP HOP PROJECT (2006, US/Bahamas), Directed by Scott Rosenberg & Matt Ruskin and starring Chris ‘Kazi’ Rolle, Doug E. Fresh, Russell Simmons, Diana Princess Lemon, Christopher ‘Cannon’ Mapp, Bruce Willis Bahamian born Co- Director Matt Ruskin will attend BIFF and Actor as will as musical performer Chris ‘Kazi’ Rolle will attend BIFF. live performance at BIFF,



KAMATAKI (2005, Canada/Japan), Directed by Claude Gagnon. Starring Tatsuya Fuji, Christopher Heyerdahl, Matthew Smiley, Naho Watanabe, Lisle Wilkerson, Kazuko Yoshiyuki. Director Claude Gagnon will attend BIFF.



LOVERBOY (2005, US), Directed by Kevin Bacon, Starring Kyra Sedgwick, Dominic Scott Kay, Kevin Bacon, Matt Dillion, Marisa Tomei,



THE REFUGEE ALL STARS (2005, USA), co-directed/written/produced by Zach Niles and Banker White.



SILK [Guisi] (2006, Taiwan), Directed By Choa-Bin Su, Starring: Chen Chang, Chun-Ning Chang, Bo-Lin Chen.



SOUND OF THE SOUL (2005, US) Directed By Stephen Olsson, Featuring: Anuna, Katia Guerriro, Francoise Atlan & the Mohammed. Director Stephen Olsson will attend BIFF.



THE TSUNAMI GENERATION (2006, Germany/Indonesia) Director/Producer, Folke Ryden.



Caribbean Spotlight



ELEUTHERAN ADVENTURE (2006, Bahamas), Directed by Kareem Mortimer Director Kareem Mortimer will attend BIFF.



EYE OF THE DOLPHIN (2006, US/Bahamas), Directed by Michael D. Sellers, and starring Carly Schroeder, Adrian Dunbar, George Harris, Chris Herrod, Vivica Watkins, Rudy Lavarity. Shot in Freeport, Grand Bahama. Director Michael D. Sellers will attend BIFF.



FROM BARBADOS WITH LOVE (2006, Barbados), Directed by Miguel Antonio Drayton, and starring: Magnet Man, Tracy Harvey, Victor Clifford. Director Miguel Antonio Drayton will attend BIFF as will musical performer Magnet Man (who will be performing at BIFF).



KIDNAPPINGS (2005, Haiti), Directed by Telio Deetjen, and starring: Herman "Caheej" McGloun, Mecca aka Grimo, Alexandra Deetjen, Director Teelio Deetjen will attend BIFF.



LAST DAYS OF LEFT EYE, (2006, US/Honduras) Directed by Lauren Lazin, and featuring Lisa “Left Eye” Lopez Director Lauren Lazin will attend BIFF.



NATHAN STONE: ROAD TO STARDOM (2006, Bahamas), Directed By Charlie Smith, and featuring Nathan Stone, Director Charlie Smith and subject Nathan Stone will attend BIFF.



SHOW ME YOUR MOTION: THE RINGPLAY GAMES OF THE BAHAMAS (2006, Bahamas), Directed by Ian Strachan. Director Ian Strachan will attend BIFF.



VERS LE SUD (2005, Haiti), Directed by Laurent Cantet, and starring Charlotte Rampling, Karen Young, Louise Portal, Menothy Cesar, Lys Ambroise.



BUY THE TICKET, TAKE THE RIDE: HUNTER S. THOMPSON ON FILM, Directed by Tom Thurman, and featuring Ed Bradley, Bob Braudis, Douglas Brinkley. Producer Christopher Black will attend BIFF.



Special Screenings



Opening Night Gala Film

AFTER THE WEDDING [Efter brylluppet] (2006, Denmark), Directed by Susanne Bier, and starring Mads Mikkelsen, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Rolf Lassgård. Writer Anders Thomas Jensen will attend BIFF.



JOHNNY SLADE’S GREATEST HITS (2006, USA), Directed by Larry Blamire, and starring John Fiore, Vincent Curatola, Robert Giardina. Star John Fiore will attend BIFF.



THE ORIGINS OF AIDS [Les Origines du SIDA] (2003, Canada/France), Directed by Catherine Peix and Peter Chappell.



Short World Films



CORPSE, Directed by Richard West, Producers Malcom Mackay and Angela Pullen to attend.



FIRST FLIGHT (2006, USA), Directed by Cameron Hood and Kyle Jefferson, Filmmakers Cameron Hood and Kyle Jefferson will attend BIFF.



IN THE MOOD (2006, UK), Directed by Hannah Robinson.



KARMA CAFÉ (2006), Directed by Eben Kostbar.



LUCKY (2005, South Africa), Directed by Avie Luthra.



MY FIRST KISS (2006, US), Directed by Atsuhiro Yamada.



NOW YOU SEE ME, NOW YOU DON’T [Most Latsom, Most Nem Latszom] (2005, Hungary), Directed by Attila Szász. Filmmaker Attila Szasz to attend BIFF.



THE PATH OF MOST RESISTANCE (2006, US), Directed by Peter Kelley.



ROSE (2005, New Zealand), Directed by Mike Murphy.



THE SHOWDOWN (2006, US), Directed by Fulvio Sestito.



US (2005, New Zealand), Directed by James Blick.



Family Series



A CHRISTMAS CAROL, (2006, UK), Directed by Ric Machin.



HIP HOP KIDZ - IT’S A BEAUTIFUL THING (2006, USA), Directed by Donn J. Viola.



LASSIE (2005, UK), Directed by Charles Sturridge and starring Robert Carr, Peter Dinklage, Ken Drury, Gregor Fisher.



THE PEACE TREE, Directed by Mitra Sen. Director Mitra Sen will attend BIFF.



BIFF Panels specialize in Film Animation; The Art of Collaboration: Directors, Actors and the Creative Process; Film Financing and Producing; Marketing, Distributing and Festivals; Filmmaking in the Bahamas; Music & Film and a panel on the scourge of AIDS. The panels will all take place at the venues throughout Nassau and Atlantis, and, as all the programs are, is open to the community. BIFF has invited highly respected and resourceful industry executives to speak on behalf of each category.



Film Animation Panel, with Dreamwork’s FIRST FLIGHT co-Directors Cameron Hood and Kyle Jefferson.



The Art Of Collaboration: Directors, Actors And The Creative Process, with Breanna Benjamin – Creative Talent Agency; John Daniel Gavin – Writer/Actor/Director, JOHNNY MONTANA; Anders Thomas Jensen – Screenwriter, AFTER THE WEDDING; Tivi Magnusson – Owner/Producer M&M Productions; Ian Strachan – Bahamian Filmmaker.



Film Financing, with Steven Beer – Entertainment Attorney & Producer of FREEDOM FURY; John Fiore – Producer/Actor, JOHNNY SLADE’S GREATEST HITS; Tivi Magnusson – Owner/Producer M&M Production; Andre Rouleau – Producer, AMERICAN HAUNTING & HEAD IN THE CLOUDS; Joe Seldner – Producer.



Marketing, Distribution & Festivals, with Brittany Ballard – Regent Entertainment; Dan Berger – THINKFilm; Mickey Cottrell - Film Publicist, CATCH A FIRE; Sara Nodjimi – Programmer for Tribeca Film Festival; Gary Springer – Film & Festival (BIFF among others) publicist.



Filmmaking In The Bahamas, with Maria Govan – Bahamian Filmmaker, RAIN; Kareem Mortimer – Bahamian Filmmaker, ELEUTHERAN ADVENTURE; Charles Alan Smith – Bahamian Filmmaker, NATHAN STONE ROAD TO STARDOM; Craig Woods – Bahamas Film Commissioner.



Music & Film, with Jason Lampkin – Lost In Translation of NY; James Dooley – Composer, FIRST FLIGHT; Steven Beer – Entertainment & Music Attorney (Britney Spears, N’Sync), Chris “Kazi” Rolle – Bahamian born actor & youth mentor, THE HIP HOP PROJECT.



Aids Panel, with Arcella Castro – Havard University; Wellington Adderly; Camille Barnett; Claus Mueller.

Discussing the scourge that has devastated our industry and overwhelms our country of the Bahamas.



Kids Workshop is a FREE workshop presented every day of the festival for local students and children to learn about the process of filmmaking. Presented in conjunction with The Director’s Cut, the workshops provide children with the opportunity to imagine, define and create their own concepts and ideas using the latest in digital video technology. Participants will have the opportunity to produce their very own feature film, digitally edit it, adding transitions, special effects and titles, compose their own soundtrack, and author and burn their own DVD, all in an environment that promotes leadership, team skills and most important…FUN!