The Tribune

BAHAMIAN film buffs will be able to experience the glamour of Hollywood’s biggest night at the second annual Academy Awards party hosted by the Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF).

The red carpet affair takes place on Sunday, February 24, at the Humidor at Graycliff.

In addition to seeing who will take home the coveted Oscar statuette during a live screening of the Academy Awards, the event will feature a special ‘Bahamian Oscars’ segment with awards for Best Feature and Best Short Film among other categories.

The nominated Bahamian films are mostly shorts and documentaries. The following films could be in contention for an award next week: “Hurt People”, “Last Week Tuesday”, “Good News, “Ghetto Boy”, “25 Years of Junior Junkanoo”, “Who Are We”, “She”, “Jackson: Native Son”, “Brigidy Bram” and “Womanish Ways, Freedom and Democracy”. They will be judged by a panel of judges including John Cox, Leah Davis, Lady Nuttal.

The festivities begin at 5.30pm with cocktails, followed by a fashion show hosted by Cole’s of Nassau at 6pm leading into the viewing of the 85th Annual Academy Awards.

The Bahamian Oscars will be handed out during the shows commercials.

There will also be a prize for the best dressed lady of the night, and for $10 extra attendees can take part in predicting the outcome of the Academy Awards. The persons whose predictions come closest will be rewarded with prizes.

BIFF founder Leslie Vanderpool told The Big T that the Oscar party is one film lovers won’t want to miss.

“This year, there is a very strong pool of Best Picture nominees, so it will be a great evening in a wonderful setting,” she said.

Ms Vanderpool said she is extremely excited about the ‘Bahamian Oscars’, because she feels very strongly that the wonderful local filmmakers should be encouraged and rewarded for their stellar work.

Tickets are $50 per person and include wine and hors d’oevres. Scotia Private Client Group is the sponsor of the event.

Ms Vanderpool explained that this is one the events which will be staged by BIFF throughout the year to raise much needed funds for the film festival. This year’s festival will run from December 5-8 in Nassau and from December 9-13 in Eleuthera. Film submissions are now being accepted.

The Academy Awards which will be hosted by Seth MacFarlane, creator of “Family Guy”, airs Sunday, February 24 on ABC.