The Tribune

NINE Bahamians films will have a day to shine in the upcoming Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF). BIFF is a non-profit organisation dedicated to providing the local Bahamian community and international visitors with a diverse presentation of films from around the world. The festival has showcased more than 600 films from countries around the world exposing the Bahamas to an international audience of filmmakers. Here is a list of the talented Bahamiams taking part in this year’s festival.


25 Year Of Junkanoo

BIFF

Bahamas / 2012, 28 mins
Sunday, December 9 / 6:30pm

This year BIFF, Esso Bahamas Limited and BTC are pleased to provide the Youth of the nation with the opportunity to learn how to make a film in a day. 15 students from 4 schools; C C Sweeting, Woodcock Primary, A F Adderley Jr High School, C R Walker, participated in making a film in a day. The making of this year’s film is “25 Years Of Junior Junkanoo.” This exciting project will educate students on the art of film-making and give them an opportunity to tell the world the story of Junior Junkanoo. The Premiere will be unveiled before the BIFF Closing Night Film, December 9 at 6:30pm.


A Man With A Voice

Maria Govan, Kathryn Solomo

Bahamas / 2012, 59 mins
Friday, December 7 / 11:00am
Saturday, December 8 / 3:00pm

A Man with a Voice: Chronicles the Bahamian legend, Norman Soloman. Norman Soloman, a journalist, politician, an activist and a business man. This film sheds light on his journey while also illuminating the changing political landscape of our pre-independent Bahamas to recent.


Breathe

Martin Khodabakhshian

Long Island, Bahamas /USA / 2012, 51 mins
Friday, December 7 / 12:15pm
Sunday, December 9 / 5:00pm

William Trubridge attempts to break his own free diving record by going 300 feet with just two bare feet and one breath of air.


Brigidy Bram

Toby Lunn & Laura Gamse

Bahamas / 2012, 35 mins
Sunday, December 9 / 11:00am

In BRIGIDY BRAM, Kendal Hanna reveals his inner and outer realities through his artworks, memories and one-of-a-kind sense of humor. The National Art Gallery of the Bahamas celebrated Kendal Hanna with a retrospective exhibition of his art on his 75th birthday. Board chair D Gail Saunders wrote in the foreword to the catalog: “Kendal’s life was a struggle, but in spite of the numerous difficulties and hurdles, he persisted with his art and endured. His art, which is usually described as abstract, is not understood by everyone. But many have come to love his work and have grown to recognize and connect with the passion he expresses in his paintings and sculpture, a modest giant. Kendal Hanna today is counted among the “ leading Bahamian artists of our time.”


Jackson: Native Son

Karen Arthur and Thomas Neuwirt

Bahamas, USA / 2012, 70 minFriday, December 7 / 7:30pm
Saturday, December 8 / 4:15pm

JACKSON BURNSIDE, NATIVE SON, chronicles the diverse life and times of this deeply respected Bahamian cultural icon. He loved his Bahamas with a burning passion, devoting his life to exposing the rich design, architecture and heritage of his native land. After his education abroad, and becoming an assistant to Louis I Kahn, he returned to the Bahamas where he further developed his talents as a painter, architect, philosopher, mentor and Junkanoo.

She

Kareem Mortimer

Bahamas / 2012, 8 mins
Sunday, December 9 / 11:00am

SHE examines the lives of several female impersonators living in the Caribbean during the annual Ms Drag Bahamas beauty contest. Kevin Taylor and Kareem Mortimer speak to several drag performers and transgendered.

Strings

Will Robinson

Bahamas / 2012, 1 mins
Thursday, December 6 / 3:15pm
Friday, December 7 / 3:30pm

Sarah and Riley have been best friends ever since he was four and she was six years old. For just over a decade they lived in a globe of bliss. Unfortunately, for a year their world of ecstasy has been rotating like a counter-clockwise timepiece. Nonetheless, the duo endeavors to flee from sadistic forces that reside outside of a once deserted room of a previously eminent building. In the contrary, Riley is unable to escape, for in the time of darkness shrieking sound of ill-fated sous continuously penetrate the walls of the room as well as the dreams of his precious slumber. When awaken by the howling of his parents, Riley seeks consolation from Sarah who is capable of enduring the eerie weeping of her late grandmother.


Travis Porter: Red Rock

Ryan Lightbourn

Bahamas, USA / 2012, 20 mins
Friday, December 7 / 9:15pm

When their luxurious tour bus breaks down, budding hip-hop group Travis Porter becomes stranded in the remote town of Red Rock. After the bus driver witnesses a horrific crime, the group discovers the town’s deadly secrets and they must escape by any means necessary.

Womanish Ways, Freedom and Democracy

Marion Bethel, Maria Govan

Bahamas / 2012, 80 mins
Friday, December 7 / 1:30pm
Saturday, December 8 / 1:15pm

Five Bahamian women – Mary Ingraham, Georgiana Symonette, Mabel Walker, Eugenia Lockhart and Dr Doris Johnson, led the Women’s Suffrage Movement in The Bahamas. The journey to female enfranchisement spanned more than a decade, and took place alongside the dramatic backdrop of the Burma Road Riots in 1942, the General Strike in 1958, the Labour Movement of the 1950s and the quest for Majority Rule. Bahamian women voted for the first time on November 26th 1962.