Bermuda Film Festival

We the Jury: Panelists Speak on the BIFF

  The jury came from far and wide to  the Ninth Annual Bermuda International Film Festival.   The panel that had film festival directors (Roger Durling of Santa Barbara International Film Festival and Lia Rinaldo of the Atlantic (Canada    ) Film Festival, national journalists (Peter Rainer of NPR) and Robert Koehler of the Daily Variety), actors and filmmakers (Laura Elena Haring, Peter Riegert, and Emmanuel Itier) and local expert Elmore Warren, were responsible for selecting the winning films.

Emmanuel Itier and Roger Durling. To hear Roger's thoughts on the BIFF click here: Download roger.wav  To listen to Emmanuel's comments click: Download emmanuel.wav  For more information on the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and to read Roger's meeting with none other than Barry Manilow click here: http://www.sbfilmfestival.org/

Peter Riegert, Marjaneh Abedini, and Robert Koehler at closing night festivities. Koehler, writer for the Daily Variety and internationally reknowned film critic, would later add freqent flier miles after the festival by serving on the Guadalajara Film Festival jury. He will later go to Buenos Aires, then to Cannes.  To hear his thoughts on the BIFF click here: Download kohler1.wav  . Bob comments on the hazards of traveling the festival circuit from 30,000 feet: Download kohler2.wav   To see an example of Bob's work, click on this link : http://www.rottentomatoes.com/author-3435/ 

Peter Riegert (here with public relations specialiste, Carol Marshall), has had roles in over 60 films and television series', including  "The Sopranos", "Law and Order", and "Animal House".  He is also a director and writer (visit this site to see his filmography   http://imdb.com/name/nm0726200/ ) To hear Peter speak on the BIFF: Download riegert_juror.wav 

We the Jury Pictures

Left Picture: Jurors Lia Rinaldo and Elmore Warren.  Center Left: Jurors Peter Riegert, Robert Koehler, and Laura Elena Haring. Center Right: Michael Seabaugh, Jordi Herreros, advisory board member David Poland, and Lluis Quilez. Far Right: Seabaugh, Peter Rainer, Koehler, and Abedini.

Another Party Night in Bermuda

A magical week comes to a close. Due to technical issues, these came up late.  Sorry for the delay.

And the Winners are...the Festivalgoers!

The Ninth Annual Bermuda International Film Festival ended with a bang on Saturday with the awards ceremony and wrap party at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess. The big winners were "The Proposition" for feature narrative,  "King Leopold's Ghost" for documentary, "Avatar" for best short,  and "Kinky Boots" for the audience choice.  Special mentions included Bermudian Lucinda Spurling's "Rare Bird", "The Ring Finger", "Shark in the Head", and Thomas Allen Harris' "Twelve Disciples of Nelson Mandela" More on the finale and party coming soon.   To hear the awards ceremony click here: Download awards.wav

To view results, click here: Download biff_winners_release_final1.doc

BIFF Director Aideen Ratteray-Pryse Finally Comes up for Air...and gets to eat too

With a proverbial sigh of relief, and a  cup of mashed potatoesin her hand,  Bermuda International Film Festival Director Aideen Ratteray-Pryse could finally relax after another successful festival...until she had to do one more brief interview here: Download aideen.wav

Voices of the BIFF: Deputy Director Duncan Hall

   BIFF Deputy Director Duncan Hall, a former hockey journalist of all things, finally gets to relax after another smashing BIFF.  Hear Duncan before he passes out from exhaustion by clicking the button to the right: Download duncan_hall.wav

Hospitality at your Service

                              The stay in Bermuda was pleasant for filmmakers, publicists, jurors, and journalists thanks to  hospitality director Anna Summers (left) and travel coordinator Brenda Warwick. Hear Anna give her impressions on the festival to the right: Download anna_summers.wav

Gems of the BIFF: Dean Ming

  No, Dean Ming is not the name of the latest psycho thriller or romantic comedy.  He is a real person with superlative singing talent (click on link below to hear him sing a Bermuda Classic).  He is also a good friend to all of us who came to the BIFF.  Dean's official title was driver for the film festival, but he was much more than that.  He was a good friend to us all by taking care of us.  We can never appreciate enough all that he has done.  Thank you Dean, you are the best.  Download Deanming.wav

(Pictures Dean singing, with his lovely  mother, and with this journalist)

Volunteers: Backbone of the Fest

The tremendously dedicated and friendly volunteers of the BIFF made this the most pleasant experience for this journalist.   My buddy Marlee (here on left of volunteer Sarah Thompson) was the smiling face that greeted filmmakers, visitors, and journalists with equal friendliness.  To hear more about Marlee and volunteering click on the two buttons here: Download marlee1.wav Download marlee2.wav

Gems of the BIFF "Avatar": The Start of Something Big

                              

Movie poster of "Avatar" (courtesy photo). Unit Production Manager Jordi Herreros (left) and writer/director Lluis Quilez at the Bermuda International Film Festival (photo by Mike Takeuchi).

Remember the name of Lluis Quilez.   Because if  the short "Avatar" is a precursor of things to come, the Spanish filmmaker will be making a name for himself on the international film circuit in due time.  Quilez, who along with unit production manager Jordi Herreros, came to the Bermuda International Film Festival on a roll of sorts.  "Avatar" is in the middle  of  a 50 festival tour, and has already won eight awards.  It is currently a finalist for the best short film in Europe.   This film is that good. To hear Quilez speak in Spanish on "Avatar" click here: Download Lluis1.wav   Herreros translation: Download jordi1.wav  and Download jordi1a.wav .  Quilez on film festivals:Download lluis2.wav  and Herreros' translation: Download jordi2.wav

Fairmont Hamilton Princess Built for Royalty, Travelers and Even Journalists

   Fairmont Hamilton Princess (courtesy photo). Rehanna Palumbo, director of sales of the Fairmont Hamilton Princess (by Mike Takeuchi)

  Since I am a have sleeping-bag-will-travel type-of-guy, I don't think I have ever stayed at a nicer place than the Hamilton Princess.  The place is expansive, lush, and comfortable and is filled with staff willing to take care of their guests need, especially the jurors, filmmakers, and yes, the journalist of the Festival.   As the principal partner of the Ninth Annual Bermuda International Film Festival, sales director Rehanna Palumbo said that the Fairmont is pleased to be a part of the BIFF.  To hear Palumbo speak of this partnership, click here: Download rehanna.wav . For more information on the Fairmont Hamilton Princess, click on this button: http://www.fairmont.com/hamilton/

Twelve Disciples of Nelson Mandela is a Journey of Personal Discovery for Filmmaker

Picture one: Thomas Allen Harris greeting film goers at the Liberty Theatre in downtown Hamilton.  Picture two:  Harris at the Documentary Film Panel at the Front Room. (Photos by Mike Takeuchi).In the "Twelve Disciples of Nelson Mandela",  filmmaker Thomas Allen Harris finds more than he expected when setting out to re-trace the steps of his step-father, an ANC leader in the movement to eradicate Apartheid in South Africa.   To hear Harris speak of his film click here: Download Thomaspanel.wav   For more information on him, press the button to the right: http://chimpanzeeproductions.com/

*Note:  As someone who has viewed this film, what resonates with me most, is not the meticulous re-tracing of steps of the path of his father (which is incredible by the way), but the filmmaker's passion and care to make this a personal journey without putting himself in the forefront.  A solid, informative, and enlightening film. MT

The Ticket Guys

   They call them the boys from New York.  But Christian Roreau (left) and Todd Feinstein of Nuance Entertainment are also probably the most popular guys around.  They are the ones who supply the tickets for festivals like the BIFF.  While the rest of us recover from this festival, this dynamic duo is off to Newport Beach, California for the next fest.  No rest for the weary eh?  For more info on Nuance, visit www.Nuanceent.com.

Gems of the BIFF: "If There Were no Lutherans...Would There Still be Green Jello-0?"

Scene from "If There Were no Lutherans...Would There Still be Green Jello-o?"

Filmmaker Gayle Knutson at the BIFF (Photo by Mike Takeuchi)

  One film that had audiences chuckling throughout Bermuda was the short "If There Were No Lutherans...Would There Still be Green Jello-o?".    A hilarious look at a Lutheran minister's unique communications with those who drive by his church.  Including the title, messages like "Hell is hotter, but it's a dry heat" brighten the days of the passerby in a small Minnesota town. "If There..." is Knutson's second film at the BIFF.  Her first "Grandfather's Birthday" was a dramatic short.  To hear Knutson's comments on her film and film festivals, click here: Download Gayle.wav   To visit her film sites go to www.ChurchSignGuy.com and www.GrandfathersBirthday.com.

*Note: Fellow filmmaker Jeff Pearson ("Pirate Radio USA"), who is a stand-up comedian, said that she is "a natural comedic talent."  After meeting her, I have to agree.  MT

Metal: A Headbanger's Journey" Screens Tonight at the BIFF

With filmmakers Sam Dunn (left) and Scot McFayden in town for the screening of their film "Metal: A Headbanger's Journey" at the Little Theatre, the noise level of Hamilton is about to be raised a few decibels.   Hear Scot talk about the film and Sam about film festivals by clicking the buttons below. (Photo by Mike Takeuchi) Download HeadbangerScot.wav Download HeadbangerSam.wav