From:TheBahamasWeekly.com
Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) expands Filmmakers' Residency Program
By Leslie Vanderpool
Nov 2, 2010 - 9:49:02 AM
Nassau, Bahamas
–
In preparation for the Seventh annual Bahamas International Film
Festival (BIFF), the organizers are proud to announce the return of the
Filmmaker’s Residency Program.
In
years past BIFF has exclusively provided the Bahamian and Caribbean
community with the opportunity to receive invaluable mentoring from
industry professionals. This year BIFF has expanded to include
filmmakers from around the world to submit screenplays that are based in
The Bahamas or Caribbean region.
Filmmakers’
Residency Program seeks to nurture new filmmakers and screenwriters by
providing them with an unrivaled opportunity to spend a full day with
accomplished professionals who make a living working in the industry
from Los Angeles and New York.
“It
is our intention that the contacts made will last beyond the time spent
at the program, and that all who take part in the program will benefit
from attending,” said
BIFF Founder and Executive Director Leslie Vanderpool.
The esteemed group of Filmmaker Residency Advisors presiding over this year’s program and evaluating candidates include
Tom Heller (producer of “Precious” and “127 Hours”), Andrew Tapani (producer of “The Haunting in Connecticut”),
independent producer Kelly Amber Moore (formely of Saturn Films), and actor/writer/producer Ray Forchion (“Confessions of a Thug”).
Emerging
filmmakers participating in the program include
Karen Webb with her
film project “Arthur’s Salvation” (US),
Sara Van Acker with “Bloodlust”
(US),
Sonia Castang with “Winward” (US),
Mark Cerulli with “Sunburn”
(US),
Andrew Beckford with “Slavery in the Bahamas” (Bahamas), and
Christina Smith with “Fearless Summer” (US).
Maria
Govan, director of the highly acclaimed Bahamian film RAIN met her
producer through the Program and went on to raise $1 million to make her
film within the Bahamas. Maria says, "BIFF offers Bahamians two very
important things through the residency program -- the opportunity to get
feedback on one's work so that Bahamians may become better screen
writers and also the opportunity to connect with industry people who
have the capacity to help realize that which is given to them on
the page."
The program will take place during the BIFF, from December 2 – December 5th,
when filmmakers and advisors will be introduced, followed by one-on-one
meetings. Towards the end of the week participants will come together
so that each person can ask questions in a group dynamic. Finally, the
advisors will meet with each other and give feedback on each project,
which will provide the filmmaker with comments from an impressive
cross-section of expertise.
Vanderpool
added, “As the festival grows with each passing year, the Residency
Program continues to provide us with outstanding artistic work from both
the Bahamian and international communities. We are confident that this
year will be no different.”
BIFF 2010 begins Wednesday, December 1st and runs through Sunday, December 5th.
For additional information please visit www.bintlfilmfest.com.
It
was previously announced that Sony Pictures Classics’ acclaimed comedy
“Tamara Drewe” will be the opening film at this year’s festival. The
special event screening will take place on Thursday, December 2nd at the Atlantis Theatre on Paradise Island.
Directed
by two time Academy Award® nominee Stephen Frears (“High Fidelity,”
“The Queen,” “Dangerous Liasons”), the film stars Gemma Arterton
(“Prince of Persia,” “Clash of the Titans,” “Quantum of Solace”) in the
title role, along with Roger Allam (“V for Vendetta,” “The Queen”), Bill
Camp (“Public Enemies,” “Deception”), Dominic Cooper (“Mama Mia!” “An
Education”), Luke Evens (“Robin Hood,” “Clash of the Titans”) and Tamisn
Greig (“Shaun of the Dead,” “Falling Apart”).
The
Bahamas International Film Festival is also continuing its efforts to
educate and inspire a new generation of filmmakers. The Festival
announced today that it will be expanding its popular Youth Film
Workshop during the seventh annual BIFF by partnering with schools
throughout Nassau and integrating the workshops directly into
classrooms.
About the Bahamas International Film Festival
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.
Key
Sponsors of the 2010 BIFF are; Ministry of Tourism, Atlantis, Dolphin
Encounters, The Nature Conservancy, Galleria Cinema, Starbucks, Old Fort
Bay Club, SSI, Ministry of Culture, Post Boxes Etc., Custom Computers,
College of The Bahamas, Bahamas Weekly, American Airlines, Bahamas Local
and many more.
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