The Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF), celebrating its 10th anniversary, today announced the members of the jury that will preside over the competition categories at the Festival, which takes place December 5th – 13th. The jury was revealed today by BIFF Founder and Executive Director Leslie Vanderpool.
The four competition categories at BIFF are Spirit of Freedom: Narrative; Spirit of Freedom: Documentary; New Visions; and Short Film. Jury members are:
New Visions: First Look
Dr. Nathaniel Kohn – Professor at the University of Georgia/ Associate Director of the George Foster Peabody Awards/ Producer (“Zulu Dawn,” “Rain,” “Somebodies”)
Attila Feszt – Visual Artist and Designer
Toni Silveri – Actress/Voice Actor/Singer
Spirit of Freedom: Narrative & Documentary
Kelly Amber Moore – Writer and former Creative Executive at Nicholas Cage’s Saturn Films (“National Treasure: Book of Secrets,” “Ghost Rider,” “Knowing”)
Patty Roker – Writer and Broadcaster
Dan Shannon – Director/Producer (“Haiti Untold,” “Sweet 16”)
Short Film
Tatiana Siegal – Journalist/Film Reporter at The Hollywood Reporter
Theodore Elyett – Fashion Designer
Leslie Tynes – Actress/Voice Actor/Radio and TV personality (“Crazy Love,” “James Catalyn & Friends”)
Non-competition categories at BIFF include Panorama Narrative; Panorama Documentary and Short Films out of competition. Special sections include the signature Youth Film Workshop films made by five local Bahamian schools, as well as a World Cinema showcase spotlighting Chinese films provided by the Chinese Embassy in The Bahamas.
The Festival will be hosting a variety of panels covering a number of topics including Acting, Films, Festivals and Fundraising and Filmmaking in The Bahamas, sponsored by RBC Royal Bank. Among the participating panelists are:
Acting
Rob Adler – Director/Writer/Producer (“iVOTE”)
Films, Festivals and Fundraising
Ivan Clements – Producer (“Little Deaths,” “January 2nd”)
Lisa Cortes – Producer (“Precious,” “The Woodsman,” “Shadowboxer”)
Dr. Nathaniel Kohn – Professor at the University of Georgia/ Associate Director of the George Foster Peabody Awards/ Producer (“Zulu Dawn,” “Rain,” “Somebodies”)
Filmmaking in The Bahamas
Lance Knowles – Cinematographer/Owner of Sky High Media
Travon Patton – Producer
Vijay Subramanian – Doctor/Photographer/Independent Filmmaker
The 10th anniversary of BIFF will kick off on December 5th with a gala screening of Andrew Melby and Reggie Henderson’s drama “Bahamian Son,” at the Atlantis Theater.
The following night, Festival guests will be treated to a Career Achievement Tribute ceremony at the Atlantis honoring Danny Glover, who will be in attendance.
The festival will close with Travolta Cooper’s documentary “The Black Moses,” on December 8th in Nassau at the Atlantis Theater.
Celebrating its 10th year, the Bahamas International Film Festival has established itself as a marquee international Festival in the Caribbean region, discovering and promoting independent voices and talent from around the world and showcasing a diverse array of international films.
For additional information, including screening listings, events and ticket pricing, please visit www.bintlfilmfest.com.
The Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) is a nonprofit organization committed to providing the local community and international festival-goers with a diverse presentation of films from The Bahamas and around the world. In addition to showcasing films that might not otherwise be released theatrically, BIFF provides unique cultural experiences, educational programs, and forums for exploring the past, present and future of cinema. BIFF aims to raise the level of filmmaking, participation and education throughout The Bahamas and the world.
