“Who doesn’t want to be in the Bahamas in December?,” a panelist rhetorically asks. This is especially true of such “an amazingly staged island festival with so much heart and spirit” as Bahamas International Film Festival, where “incredible films and networking with top industry players” go hand in hand. A hefty press presence covers such A-listers as Johnny Depp and Nicolas Cage as they join the likes of past guest U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (who delivered an address on Nassau, Bahamas’ relationship with the U.S. Embassy in 2012) amidst a showcase of 1,000-plus local and international films. BIFF is leveraging its locale’s innate tourism appeal without ever feeling touristy, as flown-in moviemakers rub elbows with breakout Bahamian talent during retreats on the Blue Lagoon Island.
Kick off happy hour at BIFF 2017. Photo taken by Davide De Pas
What is it you’re after—the art of cool, or the cool of art? The fact is, all of the most imaginative, surprising, and downright wild destinations tend to blur the fine line between the two. If the art of cool is measured by a fest’s ability to work with whatever iconic venues, raucous bars, and endearing local oddities its environment affords, then the cool of art is what’s waiting to be found within those stomping grounds—envelope-pushing programming, events that have never before been tried, let alone seen, and guests not afraid to make good trouble as they set trends. — Max Weinstein
Immediately following it's fifteenth annual festival scheduled for November 28 to December 6, 2018 the BIFF will travel to a lovely island in the Abaco Islands for a continuation of this year's celebration. The Screenwriters Residency Program and the Best of the Fest aspect of the festival will take place in Hope Town. During its visit to Hope Town a full program of films and festivities will be offered for the enjoyment of visiting filmmakers, guests and local residents. Hope Town, Abaco is the third of the Family Islands to be included as a part of BIFF's annual event.
The schedule of events coming soon
September 30, Script Deadline
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. For additional information, please visit www.bintlfilmfest.com
