Bahamas Fest calling for entries

Bahamas International Film Festival

Come to Nassau and Paradise Island from December 6- 13 and join filmmakers and celebrites from around the world at the 4th edition of The Bahamas International Film Festival. The festival will entertain visitors with a diverse presentation of international films, unusual cultural experiences and fantanstic social events. Come and be a part of the fun!

Bahamas International Film Festival past edition
The Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) wrapped up its third annual celebration of films, events and panels presented amidst idyllic Bahamian settings on December 10th, 2006, with its Awards presentation and Closing Night bash surrounded by the pools of sharks, colorful fish and stingrays nestled among the tropical beauty of the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort, one of the festival’s Founding Sponsors along with the Islands of The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. The Bahamas International Film Festival surely is “Cinema In Paradise.”

BIFF showcased a slate of sixty narrative, documentary and short films over the festival’s four days. “The high caliber of representation of films presented this year’s was incredible,” says Leslie Vanderpool, the Festival’s Founder & Executive Director. “There were significant messages from many countries with a special concentration in the Caribbean.”

The Festival presents 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. Audience Awards, in which all festival films are eligible, are also presented in the categories of Best Narrative Feature and Best Documentary.

The Festival’s Executive Director, Leslie Vanderpool, welcomed the participants and thanked the filmmakers, guests, honorees, sponsors and Board. She then brought on BIFF’s Chairman of the Board, Mr. Andrew Law, who introduced the competitions, jurors and presenters.

Past edition Awards
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.

The 2006 BIFF ‘Spirit of Freedom’ Narrative Feature Film Award was presented by Chopard’s Rodney Chee-A-Tow, with the following jury statement: “For powerfully and empathically portraying a cautionary time in our shared human history, the ‘Spirit of Freedom’ Narrative Award is presented to the fully realized…”

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.

Jurors for the Spirit of Freedom: Narrative Competition include: Film Publicist Mickey Cottrell, Agent/Manager Breanna Benjamin, Producer Molly Mayeaux.

The 2006 BIFF ‘Spirit of Freedom’ Documentary Competition Award was presented by Chopard’s Rodney Chee-A-Tow to:

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 was on hand to accept the award.

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.

The 2006 BIFF New Visions Competition Award was presented to:

HALF NELSON (2006, US), Directed and co-written by Ryan Fleck, Starring Ryan Gosling, Anthony Mackie, Stephanie Bast. Director/Writer Ryan Fleck and Writer/Producer/Editor Anna Boden were on hand to accept their award.

The Jury Has also selected a Special Jury Prize film for Honorary Mention:

PREMIUM (2006, US), Directed by Pete Chatmon and starring Zoe Saldana, Dorian Missick, Hill Harper. Director Pete Chatmon was on hand to accept his award.

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

The Audience Awards were presented by Mr. Kelly Mondesir from sponsor FedEx Express.

The 2006 BIFF Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature went to: JOHNNY SLADE’S GREATEST HITS (2006, USA), Directed by Larry Blamire, and starring John Fiore, Vincent Curatola, Robert Giardina. Star John Fiore was on hand to accept the Award.

The 2006 BIFF Audience Award for Best Documentary went to: ELEUTHERAN ADVENTURE (2006, Bahamas), Directed by Kareem Mortimer Director Kareem Mortimer was on hand to accept the Award.

Sponsors for the Third Annual Bahamas International Film Festival included:
Atlantis, The Ministry of Tourism, Albany House, Ansbacher, Bacardi, Bahama Hand Prints, Bahamas @ Sunrise, Bahamas Ferries, Bahamas Tourism Channel, Batelco, Best Buy Furniture, Bristol Wine and Spirits, Budget Rental Car, Chopard, Club Waterloo, Coca Cola Caribbean Bottling Company, Compass Pont, FedEx Express, Fireworks Unlimited, Floral Arts, Galleria Cinemas, Hard Rock Café, Island FM, Island Rose, Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch, Majestic Tours, Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board, Nautilus Water, Royal Bank of Canada, The Director’s Cut, Tourist News, Tribune, Versace, Wendy’s, Writer’s Boot Camp, Zamar Group and thank you to our donors and patrons of the film festival.

Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing the local community and International visitors with a diverse presentation of films from around the world. In addition to offering films that might not otherwise be released theatrically in the Bahamas, BIFF will provide a unique cultural experience, educational programs, and forums for exploring the future of cinema.

Submit your film to the Bahamas International Film Festival
Submissions deadline August 23, 2007.

Best of luck to all Filmmakers who have submitted to the 4th Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) . We know that you have had a choice to apply to over 6,000 film festivals around the world and we thank you for your interest. We look forward to seeing you at Cinema In Paradise.

To Fedex Express a package directly to the festival office with your submission fee please send it to:

Bahamas International FIlm Festival
Programming Department
4th Terrace East
Building 10, 2nd Floor
Nassau Bahamas

Filmmakers sending the submissions via regular post please follow the mailing instructions displayed on Withoutabox (press click here to begin your entry)