Nassau, Bahamas –  The 2009 Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) is pleased to announce that world renowned Director of Photographer Gavin McKinney will be honored with the first Bahamian Tribute Award at this year’s Festival, taking place December 10-17 in Nassau. The announcement was made by BIFF Founder and Executive Director Leslie Vanderpool.
 
McKinney will be on hand for the special tribute and presentation on Tuesday, December 15 at the College Of The Bahamas. Commented Vanderpool, “We are so thrilled to recognize one of our very own Bahamian filmmakers, Gavin McKinney, for a remarkable career as a pioneer in the film industry. His work continues to wow audiences around the globe and impress colleagues above, and below the line, within the film industry.”
 
McKinney has been involved in underwater film making since 1973 when he worked as a diver on the feature film DAY OF THE DOLPHIN and has spent over 20,000 hours underwater making films.
 
He has worked on over fifty feature films and television shows, including five James Bond films. THE SPY WHO LOVED ME, FOR YOUR EYES ONLY, MOONRAKER, NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN, and THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH, and in addition to working behind the scenes with logistics and planning he was the Bond underwater double in FOR YOUR EYES ONLY, and THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH.
 
McKinney thinks he is the only person in the history of the film industry to have been run over by a car underwater in THE SPY WHO LOVED ME. He spent four months working on THE ABYSS in 1988. Since 2001 he has also co-produced and filmed three highly successful three dimensional underwater films for the Imax theatres. produced and distributed 3D Entertainment : OCEAN WONDERLAND 3D, SHARKS 3D and DOLPHINS AND WHALES 3D. These films have been seen by over eleven million people worldwide to date.
 
He offers over thirty five years of experience filming underwater and has provided full production services for underwater shoots, including personnel, logistics, locations and marine services, though now his energies are directed towards conservation and education about the oceans of the world.
 
Gavin’s current project is OCEAN WORLD 3D (working title), directed and produced by Jean-Jacques and Francois Mantello. A Full length 3D documentary due for release summer 09, which premiered at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival in May, is a fictitious story of a turtle’s voyage around the world.
 
Entering its sixth year, the Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) 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.
 
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 & future of cinema. BIFF aims to raise the level of filmmaking, participation and education throughout The Bahamas and the world