Art Auction Kicks off BIFF 2008

The Big Screen Art Scene will take place in June this year to kick off the Bahamas International Film Festival's (BIFF) fifth year. BIFF Founder and Executive Director, Leslie Vanderpool made the announcement saying, "We are excited to once again align BIFF with a community of artists of all kinds, collaborating under a Bahamian cultural umbrella. We chose to stick with this winning format, which is a non-traditional auction and celebration showcased at the lovely popopstudios owned by John Cox. This year we look forward to raising awareness for the new D’Aguillar Art Foundation."

51 Collectors tickets will be available for $250 and each ticket holder will go home with a piece of original art at a minimum value of $300. Aficionado tickets are available for $25 for those who want to take part in the many activities outside of the auction.

Some of the 2008 participants include Jackson Burnside, Stan Burnside, Antonius Roberts, Margot Bethel, Nicole Collie, Claudette Dean, Tyrone Ferguson, Jonathan Murray, Holly Parotti, Bernard Petit, Livingstone Pratt, and Arjuna Watson. There will also be an on-site store with additional works from participating artists, live model sketching and other entertainment.

In 2007 part of the proceeds from the Big Screen Art Scene were shared with the Brent Malone Artist-in-Residence fund. This year, BIFF will donate part of the funds raised to the new D'Aguilar Art Foundation in honour of the late Vincent D'Aguilar, a much-loved supporter and collector of Bahamian art.

The event will take place Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 7:00 pm at Popopstudios Centre for Visual Arts on Dunmore Avenue. Collector's tickets can be placed on hold by calling the BIFF office at 356-5939 or by e-mail at pr@bintlfilmfest.com. Held tickets must be picked up and paid for during the week of May 12.

About The Bahamas International Film Festival:
The Bahamas International Film Festival 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.

For more information on the 2008 programme please visit www.bintlfilmfest.com.