BAHAMAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL UNVEILS OFFICIAL 2016 PROGRAM
Alec Baldwin and Demi Moore Star in “BLIND”, directed by Michael Mailer
Derek Burrows Bahamian documentary
“BEFORE THE TREES WAS STRANGE”
Caribbean Bollywood Romantic Comedy “BAZODEE”, starring Machel Montano and written by 2008 Screenwriter Residency Program
winner Claire Ince
To Bookend Festival as Opening And Closing Night Films, Respectively
Festival Founder and Executive Director Leslie Vanderpool today announced the final program details for the 13th edition of the Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF), which takes place December 5-8, in Harbour Island and December 8 – 11 in Nassau.
Michael Mailer of “Blind” starring Alec Baldwin, Demi Moore and Dylan McDermott will open the festival with a red carpet screening at Rawson Square, Downtown Nassau on Thursday, December 8th followed by the documentary “Before The Trees Was Strange” directed by Derek Burrows. The Closing film “Bazodee” starring Machel Montano to close the festival with an evening screening on Sunday, December 11th at Fort Stanley, Fort Charlotte.
This year, the Festival will showcase 95 films from 26 different countries, including 31 features of which several are international premieres and all are Bahamian premieres. The five competition categories at BIFF are Spirit of Freedom: Narrative; Documentary; New Visions; Sports Highlight; and Short Film. With a Special section for World Cinema.
In response to the strength of the Caribbean Films, we have decided to dissolve the Caribbean Spotlight category. Films that would be considered for the category have been distributed into other sections and are eligible for a grand jury prize.
To View the 2016 BIFF Trailer click Here.
The official BIFF lineup is comprised of the following films:
SPIRIT OF FREEDOM (NARRATIVE)
HEAVEN’S FLOOR (Canada) / Director: Lori Stoll
THE OPEN (France) / Director: Marc Lahore
9 RIDES (USA) / Director: Matthew Cherry
DEATH ON A ROCK (USA) / Director: Scott Ballard
SPIRIT OF FREEDOM (DOCUMENTARY)
ALISON (South Africa) / Director: Uga Carlini
ARLETTE (Central African Republic) / Director: Florian Hoffman
EPIPHANY (Cayman Islands) / Director: Michael Maes
FREE CECE (USA) / Director: Jacqueline Gares
GOD KNOWS WHERE I AM FROM (USA) Todd Weider
SONITA (Afghanistan) Director: Rokhsareh Ghaemmaghami
THE IF PROJECT (USA) Director: Kathlyn Horan
DIVA: ENEMY OF PEOPLE (UK, St. Lucia) / Director: Tony Oldham
THE HOUSE ON COCO ROAD (Branada) / Director: Damani Baker
NEW VISIONS
DELINQUENT (USA) / Director: Kieran Valla
GIRL FLU (USA) / Director: Dorie Barton
LIVE CARGO (USA/ BAHAMAS) / Director: Logan Sandler
LIVING ROOM COFFIN (USA) / Director: Michael Sarrow
MINOR (Canada) / Director: Sam C. Avery
SHORTWAVE (USA) / Director: Ryan Phillips
THE MAHJONG BOX (China) Director: Fabian Gaillard
WORLD CINEMA
ALL THE BEST (Croatia ) / Director: Ankica Juric Tilic
ONE SMART FELLOW (USA) / Director: Timothy Busfield
THE FAMILY JUMBLE (Italy) / Director: Max Nardari
BETWEEN SISTERS (Italy) / Director: Manu Gerosa
SHU-DE! (USA) / Director: Michael Faulkner
SPECIAL SCREENINGS
BLIND (USA) / Director: Michael Mailer
BEFORE THE TREES WAS STRANGE (Bahamas) / Director: Derek Burrows
PAPA HEMINGWAY (USA/ CUBA) Director: Bob Yari
LONDON TOWN (UK) / Director: Derrick Borte
BAZODEE (Trinidad & Tobago): Todd
SPORTS HIGHLIGHT
THE TEAM (Turkey) / Director: Emre Sahin
THE BLACK LINE (USA/The Bahamas) / Director: Stan Jakubowicz
THE I84 RUNNING (USA) / Director: Greg Lassik
GAME (USA) / Director: Jeannie Donohoe
KID YAMAKA (USA) / Director: Matt Ogens
SHORTS
AFTERMATH () / Director: Ralf Beyerle
ANTON () / Director: NICO VAN DEN BRINK
BARBADOS SURFER GIRL (Barbados) / Director: Penelope Hynam
BEFORE ITS TOO LATE (Bahamas) / Director: Christopher Reid
BERNIE & REBECCA (USA) / Director: Melissa Kent
BIPOLAR & CHEESE () / Director: Scarlet Perez
BOAT PEOPLE (German, Austria) / Director: Paul Meschuh
CAHIDE’S OPEN MARRIAGE (Turkey) / Director: Ali Kemal Guven
CARL’S PRESENT (Bahamas) / Director: Kevin Taylor
CHOCOLATE CAKE (USA) / Director: Benjamin Shweky
COWBOYS (Spain) / Director: Bernabe Rico
CRIMINALS (USA) / Director: Jib Polhemus
DAISY (UK) / Director: Nancy Paton
FALLING (UK) / Director: Guy Davies
FRAIL (Switzerland) / Director: Ares Ceylan
FROM WHERE THE OPERA SINGS (USA) / Director: Corey Harrell
GAME (USA) / Director: Jeannie Donohoe
HAPPILY NEVER AFTER (Netherlands) / Director: Jamille Van Wijngaarden
IRREGULARS (Italy) / Director: Fabio Palmieri
JANUARY (USA) / Director: Craig Pospisil
JUDY’S CHILDREN (USA) / Director: Jacqueline King - Howell
KID YAMAKA (USA) / Director: Matt Ogens
LIKE A B1 (Seoul, Korea) / Director: Kerloch Yann
LILA & VALENTINE (France) / Director: Adrien Lhommedieu
LITTLE SOLDIER (UK) / Director: Stella Corradi
LOST BOY (UK) / Director: Aisha Porter-Christie
LOVE IN THE AGE OF LIKE (Canada) / Director: Theodore Bezaire
RATED (USA) / Director: John Fortson
REPLIKA (Switzerland) / Director: Luc Walpoth
RESERVATIONS FOR THREE (Canada) / Director: Steven Bennett
SHAVASANA (Canada) / Director: Gillian Ferrier
SITUATIONAL (USA) / Director: Scott Simonsen
SMILE (UK) / Director: Carol Younghusband
SWIRL (USA) / Director: Alyx Picard
THE DRUNK: GETTING HOME (UK) / Director: Gabriel Foster
THE DUKE: BASED ON THE MEMOIR (USA) / Director: Max Barbakow
THE FIREFLY GIRLS (USA) / Director: Katie Micay
THE HEM (Italy) / Director: Francesca Sambataro
THE LAND OF EXODUS () / Director: Skinner Myers
THE RAT & THE SNAKE (USA) / Director: Joao Rosa
THE UNFORGIVEN () / Director: Arnon Manor
THE VOICE IN THE HEAD () / Director: Cyrus Trafford
THREE MINUTE WARNING () / Director: Iqbal Mohammed
THREE WOMEN WAIT FOR DEATH () / Director: Isabelle Sieb
TI COQ () / Director: Jeff Maggi
TYRESE GIBSON: SHAME (USA) / Director: Paul Hunter
TWINSBURG (USA) / Director: Joe Garrity
VALUE OVER REPLACEMENT (USA) / Director: Ruben Grijalva
VICTORIA ROSANA MAITE (Chile) / Director: Inaki Velasquez, Pamela Hurtado
WE HAVE EACH OTHER (Ireland) / Director: Naomi Sheridan
WINTERS JOURNEY () / Director: Susanne Boeing
YOUTH (USA) / Director: Brett Marty
ZAAR (USA) / Director: Ibrahim Nada
EAT WHITE DIRT (USA) / Director: Adam Forrester
SOMETIMES (USA) / Director: Kate Sterlin
BOTTOMLESS (USA) / Director: Veronique Vanblaere
SCREENWRITERS RESIDENCY PROGRAM LINE UP
The festival is proud to be bringing back the annual Screenwriters Residency Program in Harbour Island. Mentors who make a living working in the industry from around the globe will nurture the 2016 Screenwriters Residents.
SCREENWRITING FINALIST INCLUDE
“Deadly Colors” Margaret Ford Rogers & Dane Krogman (USA)
“Last Indian War” Michael Graf (USA)
“Man Behind the Boys” Eric Gross (USA)
“Nullify” Greg Johnson (USA)
“P.O.V” Jason Darcy (Bahamas)
“The Darkness of Moor” James Everett (London)
Mentors Include: Kurt Wimmer, Jib Polhemus, Susan Batten, Christine Swanson, Nate Kohn
BIFF 2016 begins Monday, December 5th in Harbour Island and runs through Thursday December 8th and in Nassau, December 8th through to 11th. Venues include Romora Bay Resort & Marina, Pandora, Pirates Republic, Galleria Cinemas JFK, Blanc Du Nil, Fort Stanley and Rawson Square. For additional information please visit www.bintlfilmfest.com or call 242 698-1800
TICKETS WILL GO ON SALE ON THE BIFF WEBSITE
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.
