13th Annual Bahamas International Film Festival Programmers & Interns

Fri, Jun 24th 2016, 12:49 PM

BIFF is proud to announce this year’s programmers for the upcoming 13th Bahamas International Film Festival. In Harbour Island, BIFF will take place from December 5th - 8th, 2016 and in Nassau from December 9th - 11th.

BIFF Programmers play a significant role in selecting films and defining cinematic culture on a local and international level. Programmers include Francis Litzinger, Hope Nevins and Donovan Renwick Lynch with Leslie Vanderpool.

Once again, BIFF has an array of captivating films in store for the annual Bahamas International Film Festival. Both Francis Litzinger and Donovan Renwick Lynch agree that many of the entries this year paint pictures of different perspectives around the world. “This year there seems to be lots of uncertainty. People are concerned about our world and I think artists are the first to pick up on that.”, Litzinger comments. Renwick Lynch has his eyes on a film that focuses on the unique struggles faced by a boy and his family which Renwick Lynch says “matches our communities today”. As always, BIFF viewers can expect to see original captivating films, made with the intention of challenging and expanding worldviews.

Leslie Vanderpool

Founder and Co-Executive Director // Head Programmer

In 2004, Vanderpool created the Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF), which has showcased more than 1000 films from 150 countries and paid tribute to A-List Celebrities such as Johnny Depp, Debra Messing, Danny Glover, Nicholas Cage, Laurence Fishburne, Heather Graham, Alan Arkin, Sean Connery, Roger Corman, Daryl Hannah, Sophie Okonedo, Anna Faris, Naomie Harris, Zoe Kravitz, Sydney T. Poitier, Chaz Ebert, Cicely Tyson and many more. Vanderpool received a Bachelor's Degree in International Relations before going on to pursue her passion for theater & film. She studied at Lee Strasberg Acting Institute & Shakespeare at Balliol College, Oxford University, Oxford, England, where Alan Rickman, Fiona Shaw and many more honed her skills.

Francis Litzinger
Francis Litzinger is a graduate of Ryerson University in Toronto, with a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Motion Picture Studies. As a former Television Programmer, Francis continues to be a voracious consumer of world cinema. He loves film, its power to connect with people and its global accessibility. Francis credits his passion for cinema as his reason for supporting organizations like BIFF that are dedicated to educating communities through the arts.  In his spare time he continues to write short stories and scripts. Francis enjoys smoking Cuban cigars and playing Rock Band with his family.

Hope Nevins
Hope Nevins is entering her final year of the International Baccalaureate program at St. Andrew’s International School in Nassau, The Bahamas.  She is an avid performer in all of her school productions and recently held the lead role of Maria in St Andrew’s rendition of the Sound of Music. Hope has spent summers at Long Lake Camp for the Performing Arts as well as NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. She will be applying to University in the fall and wishes to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre and/or Acting. Hope is happy to use her passion for the arts at BIFF.

Donovan Renwick Lynch
Donovan Renwick Lynch currently attends The College of The Bahamas (COB), studying Media Journalism, he hopes to study in the field of television. He is deeply passionate about cinema and television and cannot wait for the public to enjoy this year’s programming. Donovan first joined the BIFF team as a volunteer in 2014. Since then, he has continued to embrace film as a programmer at BIFF.

This summer BIFF welcomes interns: Simone Cambridge and Samia McClain.

Simone Cambridge

Simone Cambridge is a recent 2016 QC graduate and a freshman at McGill University. She is also an ambassador for School of Doodle – an organization dedicated to activating girls’ imaginations through entertainment, education and community, a member of Queens College’s Student Film Association, a visual artist and is deeply passionate about film and the arts. In her senior year, Simone founded her school’s first student publication, The Journal, acting as the Creative Director. This summer she is excited to work with BIFF.

Samia McClain

Samia McClain is a rising twelfth grade student at Queens College. Her life is deeply entwined with the arts. As a Bahamian Ambassador for School of Doodle, Creative Director of The Journal, Student Film Association Vice President, Activities Director of Interact Club, an awarded film maker, photographer and a visual artist, Samia is eager to use her talents working with BIFF this summer.

As BIFF enters its thirteenth year, it continues to empower Bahamian youth. Simone and Samia will work on the forefront and behind the scenes of BIFF. Some of their responsibilities include writing, marketing and event planning. Our summer interns for 2016 are creative, bold young women who are excited to contribute to BIFF’s legacy of artistic and community development. Welcome Samia and Simone!

Source: Bahamas International Film Festival

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