BAHAMAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL UNVEILS OFFICIAL 2012 PROGRAM

Dustin Hoffman Directorial Debut “QUARTET” and Motown Australian Comedy “THE SAPPHIRES” 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 9th edition of the Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF), which takes place December 6-9, 2012 in Nassau.

BIFF will begin with QUARTET and end with a quartet of four Australian aborigine Singers called THE SAPPHIRES.

Weinstein Company’ “QUARTET” starring, Maggie Smith, will open the festival with a red carpet screening at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island on Thursday, December 6th while Australian Comedy “ THE SAPPHIRES” starring Chris O’Dowd will close the festival with an evening screening on Sunday, December 9th – also at the Atlantis Theater.

This year, the Festival will showcase 78 films from 26 different countries, including 45 features and 33 short films of which several are international premieres and all are Bahamian premieres. The four competition categories at BIFF are Spirit of Freedom: Narrative & Documentary; New Visions; and Short Film. Special sections include Caribbean Spotlight and Self Discovery as well as a World Cinema showcase.

The official BIFF lineup is comprised of the following films:

SPIRIT OF FREEDOM (NARRATIVE)

A.L.F. (France) Director: Jerome Lescure

APARTMENT IN ATHENS, APPARTAMENTO AD ATENE (Italy) Director: Ruggero Dipaola

CHANCE (USA) Director: Evan Kaufmann

GRASSROOTS (USA) Director: Stephen Gyllenhaal

HABIBI (Gaza) Director: Susan Youssef

MEHERJAAN (Bangladesh) Director: Rubaiyat Hossain

MR. SOPHISTICATION (USA) Director: Danny Green

THE DESTINY OF LESSER ANIMALS (Ghana) Director: Deron Albright





SPIRIT OF FREEDOM (DOCUMENTARY) ARISE (USA) Director: Lori Joyce & Candice Orlando

DOLPHIN BOY (Israel) Director: Dani Menkin

GREEDY LYING BASTARDS (Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Peru, Switzerland, Uganda, UK) Director: Craig Rosebraugh

HAITI UNTOLD (Haiti, Canada) Director: Dan Shannon

THE IRAN JOB (Iran, USA), Director: Till Schauder

THIS AIN’T CALIFORNIA (Germany) Director: Marten Persiel

UPRISING (Egypt, USA) Director: Fredrik Stanton

RISING FROM ASHES (Rwanda, South Africa, United Kingdom) Director: T.C. Johnstone

WOMANISH WAYS, FREEDOM, HUMAN RIGHTS & DEMOCRACY, (Bahamas) Marion Bethel & Maria Govan





NEW VISIONS BETWEEN FRIENDS (Trinidad & Tobago) Director: Omari Jackson

BETWEEN US (USA) Director: Dan Mirvish

BREAKFAST WITH CURTIS (USA) Director: Laura Colella

DEAD DAD (USA) Director: Ken J. Adachi

DEAD MAN’S BURDEN (USA) Director: Jared Moshe

MAYBE TOMORROW (USA) Director: Michael Wolfe

MY BROTHER JACK (USA) Director: Stephen Dest

REDLEGS (USA) Director: Brandon Harris

THE TAIWAN OYSTER (USA) Director: Mitchell Jarrett

THE STORY OF LUKE (USA) Director: Alonso Mayo

MULBERRY CHILD (USA) Director: Susan Morgan Cooper

SELF DISCOVERY

ART MACHINE (USA) Director: Doug Karr

INOCENTE (USA) Director: Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine

I AM NOT A ROCK STAR (Canada) Director: Bobbi Jo Krals- Hart





CARIBBEAN SPOTLIGHT

BREATHE (Bahamas, USA) Director Martin Khodabakshian

JACKSON (Bahamas, USA) Director: Karen Arthur & Thomas Neuwirth

NORMAN SOLOMON (Bahamas) Director: Maria Govan

SHE (Bahamas) Director: Kareem Mortimer



WORLD CINEMA

BEWARE OF MR. BAKER (USA) Director: Jay Bulger BITTERSWEET MONDAY

CAN’T STAND LOSING YOU (USA) Director: Andy Grieve

CITY MONKEY (China) Director: Kong Lingchen

FRENCH IMMERSION (Canada) Director: Kevin Tierney

GO LALA GO (China) Director: Xu Jinglei

IRVINE WELSH’S ECSTACY (Canada) Director: Rob Heydon

REGIN OF THE ASSASSINS (China) Director: Su Chao, John Woo

REVOLUTION (USA) Director: Robert Stewart RULES OF THE GAME

WITHOUT A NET (Brazil) Director: Kelly J. Richardson

SPECIAL SCREENING

QUARTET (USA, UK) Director: Dustin Hoffman

THE SAPPHIRES (Australia) Director: Wayne Blair



SHORTS ALEKESAM (USA) Director: Jason Berg

AMOS (USA) Director: Taylor Maxwell

APOCRIFO (Mexico) Director: Ernesto Fundora

ATLANTIS (USA) Director: Matthew Ornstein

BASEBALL IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA (Haiti, USA) Director, David Drag & Bryn Mooser

BEACHED (Guyana) Director: Kojo McPherson

BLACK IRISH (USA) Director: Anika Poitier

BRIGIDY BRAM (Bahamas) Director: Toby Lunn

BURNING HEARTS (Japan) Director: James McFay

BUSTED IN BRINGHAM (USA) Director Talibah Newman

CADAVER (USA) Director: Jonah Ansell

CRESENDO (German) Director: Alonso Alvarez Barreda

DELIVERY (France) Director: Fabien – Mariano Ortiz

DOCKET # 32357 (USA) Director: Randy Wilkins

FIGHT SCENE (USA) Director: Jim Ford

HOMEBODY (USA) Director: Kate Marks

HOURGLASS (Norway) Director: Pedro Collantes

JOCYLEN & THE COYOTE (El Salvador) Director: Pilar Colome,

LE NID (France) Director: Aurelien Drach

LEGACY (USA) Director: Maya Anand

MISSION OF MERMAIDS (USA) Director: Susan Rockefeller

ONE NIGHT STAND (China) Director: Michael Thai

OYSTER ROCKEFELLER (USA) Director: Charles Rogers

PEARL (USA) Director: Dan Butler

PLAY THROUGH (USA) Director: Paul Wagner

PRIVATE SUN (Palestine) Director: Rami Alayan

RAISE YOUR HANDS, (USA) Director: Elliot Kotek

RED AMBER GREEN (Jamaica) Director: Christopher Byfield

SOLACE (USA) Director: Tchaiko Omawale

THUGZ THE MUSICAL (USA) Director: Liam Sullivan

TO MUSIC (USA) Director: Sophie Kohn

TRAVIS PORTER: RED ROCK (Bahamas, USA) Director: Ryan Lightbourn

TU & EU (Portugal, USA) Director: Edward Shieh

VALSE FAVORITE (France) Director: Deborah Helpert

VICTOR (Philippines) Director: Jarell M. Serencio

The festival is proud to announce the return of the Filmmaker’s Residency Program. For the eighth year BIFF has broadened the program to include filmmakers from around the world to submit screenplays that are based in The Bahamas or Caribbean region. The Filmmakers’ Residency Program nurtures screenwriters by providing them with an unrivaled opportunity to spend a week with accomplished professionals who make a living working in the industry from Los Angeles and New York.

BIFF 2012 begins Thursday, December 6th in Nassau and runs through Sunday, December 9th and for the first time expands to Harbour Island and Governor’s Harbour “Island Hopping” December 10 – 14. For additional information please visit our website www.bintlfilmfest.com

About the Opening and Closing Night Films:

QUARTET, directed by Dustin Hoffman, Cecily, Reggie and Wilfred are in a home for retired opera singers. Every year, on October 10, there is a concert to celebrate Verdi's birthday and they take part. Jean, who used to be married to Reggie, arrives at the home and disrupts their equilibrium. She still acts like a diva, but she refuses to sing. Still, the show must go on... and it does.

THE SAPPHIRES, directed by Wayne Blair, 1968 was the year that changed the world. And for four young Aboriginal sisters from a remote mission this is the year that would change their lives forever. Around the globe, there was protest and revolution in the streets. Indigenous Australians finally secured the right to vote. There were drugs and the shock of a brutal assassination. And there was Vietnam. The sisters, Cynthia, Gail, Julie and Kay are discovered by Dave, a talent scout with a kind heart, very little rhythm but a great knowledge of soul music. Billed as Australia's answer to 'The Supremes', Dave secures the sisters their first true gig, and fly's them to Vietnam to sing for the American troops. Based on a true story, THE SAPPHIRES is a triumphant celebration of youthful emotion, family and music.

BIFF Goes Island Hopping with the BIFF Best of Fest Eleuthera, December 10 - 14 2012: The Best of the Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) goes island hopping to Harbour Island & Governor’s Harbour, December 10 - 14 2012 and will be open to the public. Hotel Partners Coral Sands, Harbour Island, The Landings and Pineapple Fields Govenor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, Global Princess Theater, Governors Harbour Eleuthera, The Haynes Public Library and many more.

About the Bahamas International Film Festival

The Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) is a nonprofit organization committed to providing the local community and international festivalgoers 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 more information visit www.bintlfilmfest.com or call 242 - 356-5939

BIFF 2012 Sponsors: Atlantis, RBC Royal Bank, Esso, BTC powered by Lime, Coldwell Banker / Lightbourne Realty, Carrousel Yacht Enterprises, Ministry Of Tourism, Bahamas Ferries, Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board, Bahamas Air, Majestic Tours, Bahamas Tourism Channel, Bahamas Airport Advertising Ltd., Bahamas Sol, Dermalogica Bahamas & Caribbean, Bahama Hand Print, Kings Realty, Orico, SandyToes, Bahama Divers, The Sign Post, IDYA Studio, Coles Of Nassau, Breezes Resort & Spa, Lilo Studios, Paintball Arena, Best Buy Furniture, Master Technicians, Self Drive Boat Adventures, Sheraton, Breezes, Coral Sands Resort in Harbour Island, Pineapple Fields Hotel in Governor's Harbour, Moet & Chandon, Caribbean Bottling Company, Sir Speedy, Heineken, Jolly Roger, The Bahamas Weekly, Alumaworx, Jim Whitehead Nassau Florist, Sherman Williams and many more. Among the Friends of the Festival are: Dr. & Mrs. Vanderpool, Mr. & Mrs Gregory Cleare, Mr. Raymond Winder, Mr. & Mrs. Paul King, Mr. James Lyle, Mrs. Meta Gail Charles and Dr. Lorne Charles, The Nassau Guardian, Tribune.