Nassau, Bahamas - The education of the general public, festival attendees and Bahamian students is a central component of the Bahamas International Film Festival and will be centered on a series of panels at Ardastra Gardens on Saturday, December 11 and Sunday, December 12, 2004. The focus of panels will be a series of illuminating discussions concerning the art and the craft of cinema.

Four panels are being presented:

Saturday, December 11, 10:00am

The Art of Collaboration – Directors and Actors Sharing their Craft

Moderated by Elvis Mitchell, former chief film critic of the New York Times. Including Jeffrey Wright, Emmy award winning actor (ANGELS IN AMERICA), actor Anthony Mackie (BROTHER TO BROTHER and SHE HATE ME) and director David Gordon Green (GEORGE WASHINGTON and UNDERTOW).

Saturday, December 11, 12:00noon

Film Financing

Moderated by respected entertainment attorney Steven Beer from New York. Other panelists include: Andre Rouleau, the producers of HEAD IN THE CLOUDS (with Charlize Theron and Penelope Cruz), Film Transit representative Diane Holtzberg and Film Finders President Sydney Levine.

Sunday, December 12, 10:00am

Screenwriting 101 – From the Brain to the Page to the Screen

Moderated by Elvis Mitchell, additional panelists will include: Catherine Wyler, Artistic Director of High Falls Film Festival and producer of MEMPHIS BELLE, Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences Nicholl Fellowship winner and director Jacob Estes (MEAN CREEK) and writer/director Tennyson Bardwell (DORIAN BLUES).

Sunday, December 12, 12:00noon

Making Movies – Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

This panel, exploring the world of film production, will be led by renowned film critic/author/producer Chris Gore (Film Threat, The Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide) and will include writer/producer Julie Corman, former Dean of the Film Department at New York University entertainment attorney Steven Beer, producer Ted Hope (21 GRAMS, THE DOOR IN THE FLOOR, DIRTY SHAME), director Vincent Rubino (THE BREAK UP ARTIST) and director Amanda Goodwin (LIVING ‘TIL THE END).

Tickets are $10.00 per panel or, you can attend all four panels for $25.00.