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The Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF), is marking its 19th edition this year, with events scheduled from November 13-22 across multiple locations including Baha Mar Nassau, Rock Sound, and Harbour Island Eleuthera.
BIFF Founder and Executive Director, Leslie Vanderpool, announced the program today is a line-up, comprising films both in and out of competition.
This year, BIFF will be hosting a total of 40 films hailing from 28 different countries. The exciting line-up includes world premieres, Caribbean premieres, and all Bahamian premieres. The festival features four competition categories: Spirit of Freedom: Narrative, Spirit of Freedom: Documentary, New Visions, and Short Film.
The forthcoming festival is scheduled to commence on November 13th at Baha Mar, premiering the film "They Call Me Peanuts". This film is directed by Kevin Taylor and produced by respected local figures Charlie Bahama, Gina Rodgers Sealy, and the late Obie Wilchcombe. The action-comedy, OLD GUY, is set to screen on November 17 at 8:30pm at Baha Mar, signifying the festival’s grand conclusion. The film is helmed by esteemed director Simon West and produced by BIFF veterans Jib Polhemus, Norm Golightly, and Martin Brennan. It showcases a remarkable ensemble cast that includes Christoph Waltz, Lucy Liu, and Cooper Hoffman. The Avenue in Q1 of 2025 sets the film for release.
Vanderpool emphasizes BIFF's esteemed role in global cinema, “we must be recognized for our commitment to presenting a diverse range of impactful films. BIFF underscores the importance of freedom of expression through film, viewing film festivals as platforms for curated visuals to elicit immediate audience reactions. The festival is known for its festive atmosphere, fostering a culture of camaraderie among attendees and creating a space for inspiration and unity.”
An established tradition BIFF continues island hopping to the beautiful island of Eleuthera,. This year, touching down in Rock Sound and Harbour Island.
The official BIFF feature lineup is comprised of the following films:
SPIRIT OF FREEDOM (NARRATIVE)
ALL THE LOST ONES (Canada) / Director: Mackenzie Donaldson
ENDLESS BORDERS (Iran) / Director: Abbas Amini
THE BUSINESS OF PLEASURE (North Macedonia) / Director: Goce Cvetanovski
TILL LOVE DO US PART (China) / Director: Ran Li
WINGWALKER (Mexico) / Director: Alonso Alvarez-Barred
SPIRIT OF FREEDOM (DOCUMENTARY)
CITY OF MERMAIDS (Italy) / Director: Andrea Fortis
NORMAN / NORMAN (Jamaica, USA) / Directors: Gabrielle Blackwood, Charles Warburton
WE WILL NOT FADE AWAY (Ми не згаснемо) (Ukraine) / Director: Alisa Kovalenko
NEW VISIONS
BLACK DOG, (United Kingdom) / Director: George Jaques
BOUND (United States) / Director: Isaac Hirotsu Woofte
WHAT MARY DIDN’T KNOW (France, Greece, Sweden) / Director: Konstantina Kotzamani
HAZARD (United States) / Director: Eddie Mensore
BAHAMIAN SPOTLIGHT
OCEAN'S ROSE (United States, Bahamas) / Director: Madeline Grace Kennedy
THEY CALL ME PEANUTS (Bahamas) / Director: Kevin Taylor and Producer Charlie Smith
EDDIE MINNIS: TING AN' TING (Bahamas) / Director: Kevin Taylor and Produced by Edgar Seligman
SHORT FILMS
ANGIE'S LOVE (Nigeria) / Director: Bayo Lambo
BIRTHMARKED (Iran) / Director: Mehrshad Golkarian
GIFT (China) / Director: Xiaotong Jiang
GOOMBAY KIDS: MAN OR MANGROVE (Bahamas) / Director: Maria Govan
GONE BEFORE YOUR EYES (Canada) / Director: Cara Yeates
HARBOUR ISLAND: WISDOM KEEPERS (Bahamas) / Director: Amancay Tapia
I PROMISE YOU PARADISE (Egypt) /Director: Morad Mostafa
IVAN (Cayman Island) / Director: Jazz Pitcairn
LA SIRÈN (United States, Nigeria) / Director: Owokere "Benji" Unanaowo
NOLA (Canada) / Directors: Natalie Remplakowski, Aisha Evelyna
OPERATION POTCAKE (Bahamas) Director: Maria Govan
PICTURE DAY (United States) / Director: Kelly Pike
SAGE (United Kingdom)/ Director: Max Blustin
SON (Iran) / Director: Saman Hosseinpuor
SPIDER-ZAN (Iran) / Director: Maryam Khodabakhsh
STINKY MANGO (Jamaica) / Director: Ina Sotirova
THE BASICS OF LOVE (United States) / Director: Joshua Nathan
THE CHURCH OF TONY DUFRESNE (Canada) / Director: Patrick Hodgson
THE ONLINE SHOP (Germany) / Director: Carsten Woike
THIRSTYGIRL (United States) / Director: Alexandra Qin
TO END ALL SPELLS (United States, Ghana) / Directors: Nana Kwabena, Zak Cedarholm
TRINIDAD REMAINS (Trinidad) / Director: Karen Martinez
what YOU eat (Japan) / Director: Ryo Sena
YELLOW DAISY BUTTERFLY (South Africa) / Director: Diek Grobler
BIFF commences on Wednesday, November 13, extending until Sunday, November 17 at Baha Mar New Providence Lawn Pavilion, followed by November 18 through November 22 in Rock Sound and Harbour Island, Eleuthera. Further details regarding the Festival and the participating filmmakers are to be released in the subsequent weeks. Please refer to the official site www.bintlfilmfest.com for comprehensive information.
About 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.
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