ALEC Baldwin and Demi Moore star in the opening night film, Blind.

BLIND, a drama starring Alec Baldwin and Demi Moore, has been selected to open the 2016 Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) in Nassau in December with a red carpet screening in Rawson Square.

Leslie Vanderpool, the Festival Founder and Executive Director, announced the final programme details yesterday, including the closing film, Bazodee, a Bollywood-style Caribbean musical starring Machel Montano.

Ms. Vanderpool said this year’s Festival will showcase 95 films from 26 different countries, including 31 features, of which several are international premieres and all are Bahamian premieres. Now in its 13th year, BIFF will take place from December 5 to 8 in Harbour Island and December 8 to 11 in Nassau.

Michael Mailer, the director of Blind, will open the festival with a screening in Rawson Square on December 8. Blind tells the story of a novelist who lost his sight in a car crash that killed his wife and several years later rediscovers his passion for life and writing when he embarks on an affair with the neglected wife of an indicted businessman. It will be followed on the night by the documentary “Before The Trees Was Strange” directed by Derek Burrows.

Bazodee, a Bollywood style Caribbean musical set in Trinidad and Tobago, is described as being true to yourself and honest in love at all costs. It closes the festival with an evening screening on Sunday, December 11, at Fort Stanley, Fort Charlotte.

Ms. Vanderpool said there are five competition categories at BIFF this year, four in Spirit of Freedom - Narrative, Documentary, New Visions, and Sports Highlight - and Short Film. There is a special section for World Cinema.

One category has been dropped for 2016. “This year, in response to the strength of the Caribbean Films, we have decided to dissolve the Caribbean Spotlight category,” Ms. Vanderpool said. “Films that would be considered for the category have been distributed into other sections and eligible for a grand jury prize.”

Venues for the 2016 Festival include Romora Bay Resort and Marina, Pandora, Pirates Republic, Galleria Cinemas JFK, Blanc Du Nil, Fort Stanley and Rawson Square.

BIFF is a non-profit organisation 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 cultural experiences, educational programmes and forums for exploring the past, present and future of cinema. It aims to raise the level of filmmaking, participation and education throughout the Bahamas and the world.

For information on the Festival and full film listings visit www.bintlfilmfest.com.

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