NassauﾗThe Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) ended on Sunday, December 12, 2004 after debuting in Nassau on the island of New Providence in the Bahamas. ﾠﾠBIFF showcased 75 films and welcomed nearly 40 filmmakers and industry professionals in its inaugural year, December 9-12, 2004. ﾠOver four days, Festival guests experienced indoor and outdoor screenings, educational panels, receptions at historic Nassau locales, and various events and receptions around the island.
ﾓIt has been fantastic to see Bahamians show such passion and enthusiasm for the first Bahamas International Film Festival. Not only did they come out in force for regional cinema such as ONE LOVE and WHERE IﾴM FROM, Bahamians also embraced cinema from around the world such as MONDOVINO and BROTHER TO BROTHER. ﾠWe look forward to next yearﾴs Festival and the opportunity to bring leading independent cinema and filmmakers to the Bahamas and Bahamians once again.ﾒ ﾠﾠ
BIFF ended its first Festival with a bang on Sunday evening with the Awards Ceremony, followed by a screening of John Duiganﾴs HEAD IN THE CLOUDS and a Closing Night Gala Reception outside on the Atlantisﾴ Royal Overlook. ﾠSee photographs of the Festival here.
The Bahamas International Film Festival is pleased to announce the results of this yearﾴs competition.
Filmmakers arrived a day early for an exclusive filmmaker�s retreat at Nyg�rd Cay before moving to the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort, the Festival�s headquarters. ��The Festival launched with an address by the Right Honorable Perry G. Christie, Prime Minister of The Bahamas followed by the international premiere of Warner Brothers� OCEAN�S TWELVE directed by Steven Soderbergh. �A VIP reception hosted by Versace preceded the film and a champagne dessert reception followed the event at Atlantis� Fathoms Restaurant. ��The topics of educational panels at Adastra Zoo & Gardens ranged from film financing and screenwriting to the art of collaboration between directors and actors. ��Participants included: Actors Jeffrey Wright and Anthony Mackie, Producer Catherine Wyler, Film Critic Elvis Mitchell and directors David Gordon Green and Jacob Aaron Estes, in addition to others. ��On Saturday evening, a reception honoring Roger Corman was held at the prestigious Mountbatten House, former residence of Ernest Hemmingway. ���
THE SPIRIT OF FREEDOM
The Spirit of Freedom Competition section explores cinema, its potential to express the human spirit and how freedom pervades our lives. ﾠShowcasing a combination of narrative and documentary features, this section provides insight into the mosaic of cultures that make up our world. ﾠMania Akbariﾴs 20 FINGERS (20 Angosht) was awarded the Grand Jury Prize for the Spirit of Freedom International Film Competition. The jury stated: ﾓThe grand jury prize for Spirit of Freedom goes to 20 FINGERS ﾠby Mania Akbari of Iran for her innovative style as well as the frank and honest exploration of love, sex, and marriage through the eyes of a woman traditionally suppressed in a fundamentalist religious society.ﾒ A film structured in episodes, 20 FINGERS explores the issues of men and women within the confines of tradition and family in Iran.
Enrique Pinyeroﾴs WHISKEY ROMEO ZULU received an honorable mention. ﾠﾠThe jury stated: ﾓWe would also like to mention the personal bravery of WHISKEY ROMEO ZULUﾴs filmmaker, Enrique Pinyero of Argentina to expose the dangers of his profession, which resulted in his having to let go of his lifelong cherished dreams.ﾒ ﾠThe film re-tells the events preceding the LAPA Airlines Boeing 737 crash on August 31, 1999 into midtown Buenos Aires that resulted in the deaths of 67 people. ﾠIt exposes the collusion between the Air Force and the airline to evade air safety controls and maximize profits.
Jean Roy, the former Director of Criticsﾴ Week of the Cannes Film Festival; President of Film Finders, Sydney Levine, and independent producerﾴs representative Steven Beer comprised the Spirit of Freedom Jury. ﾠﾠﾠ
MODERN MAVERICK AWARD AND
Two awards were given in the New Visions Section, which showcases films from first or second-time directors. ﾠﾠThe MODERN MAVERICK AWARD, sponsored by the Bank of the Bahamas, is given to an emerging filmmaker. ﾠﾠﾠYann Samuell, director of LOVE ME IF YOU DARE received the first annual Modern Maverick Award. ﾠﾠThe jury stated: ﾓLOVE ME IF YOU DARE receives the Modern Maverick Award for its risk taking ambition and its healthy embrace of audienceﾴs expectations, in addition to demonstrating a superb control of film craft.ﾒ ﾠRoger Corman presented the award to the jury, who received it on behalf of Yann Samuell. ﾠThe film describes the friendship of Julien and Sophie, who as adults continue the odd game they started as childrenﾗa fearless competition to outdo one another with daring and outrageous stunts.
At the same time, BIFF presented Roger Corman with an Honorary Modern Maverick Award in recognition of his extensive body of work and his contributions to the motion picture industry.
THE TORCHLIGHT SCREENWRITING AWARD
DORIAN BLUES was awarded the Torchlight Screenwriting Award for best screenplay in the New Visions Section. ﾠﾠThe jury stated: ﾓDORIAN BLUES is awarded the best screenplay for its universally endearing content and spirit as well as the overall quality of the ensembleﾴs performance.ﾒ ﾠﾠDirector of the Torchlight Foundation Charlene Sullivan presented the award to Tennyson Bardwell, the director and screenwriter of DORIAN BLUES, a funny, quirky comedy that adds freshness to a coming of age story.
Jurors for the Modern Maverick Award ﾠand the Torchlight Screenwriting Award are: independent producer Ted Hope (whose credits include DOOR IN THE FLOOR, 21 GRAMS, IN THE BEDROOM, HAPPINESS and THE ICE STORM); Film Threat founder Chris Gore; and the US Editor of Screen International, Michael Goodridge.
AUDIENCE AWARDS
The filmBUZZ Audience Awards were also given to a Feature and Documentary film. Rick Elgood and Don Lettﾴs ONE LOVE received the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature. ﾠﾠProducer Yvonne Deutschman accepted the award. ﾠﾠONE LOVE is the story of Kassa, a free-wheeling Rasta man, who falls for a straight laced gospel singer Serena, when they both meet as they enter a music contest. Tom Peosayﾴs TIBET: Cry of the Snow Lion won the Audience Award for Best Documentary. ﾠTIBET powerfully chronicles the dark secrets of Tibet’s recent past through riveting personal stories and interviews, and a collection of undercover and archival images.
The inaugural Bahamas International Film Festival will craft a genuine cultural experience for its guests by showcasing the nationﾴs many tropical charms, mixing international cinema with paradise. ﾠThe Bahamas International Film Festival (December 9-12, 2004) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing the local community and International visitors ﾠﾠwith 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. Founding sponsors for the 2004 Bahamas International Film Festival are the Island of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort. ﾠAirline partners include British Airways and US Airways.
Please visit www.bintlfilmfest.com for details.
