Film Festival a big hit
The 2018 Barbados Independent Film Festival (BIFF) was a success, exceeding even the expectations of its founders.
This from co-founder Jennifer Smith-Bent, who was speaking at the BIFF Awards Ceremony and final screening on Sunday at the Southern Palms Hotel.
“I think it went exceptionally well. We were a little bit more ambitious than we were last year with our programmes. This year we really tried to integrate local food, culture and I think it exceeded our expectations,” she said.
In addition to the 35 films shown, they added a Cine Cuisine event which was a special segment featuring the work of local chefs’ Eddie ‘Classic’ Irani, Mark ‘Moo’ de Gruchy and Rhea Gilkes.
While Smith-Bent said there was room for more local culture to be incorporated into the events, she said some of their challenges including getting the word out and volunteers.
“As we grow, the festival can only exist through voluntary efforts. We are all non-paid individuals who dedicate our time. If anyone is interested in being a part of the initial planning stages or [helping] during the week of activities, we welcome them,” she said.
She said the festival remained a great platform for local and international film-makers to network.
“By attending the events, the international film-makers get to learn about what’s happening in Barbados and the Caribbean. But equally so there is a lot local film-makers can get from interacting with those from abroad, some of them who are Oscar nominated,” she added.
Overall, there were 14 awards given out to actors and film-makers, including Alison Hinds who received the BIFF Award for Artistic Excellence at the start of the festival.
In the Jury Awards category; the Best Feature Length Narrative Film went to 6 Dynamic Laws for Success which was accepted by Gregory Bayne.
The Best Local Film-maker Award went to Rommel Hall for Abiola. The Carmichael Award For Exceptional Storytelling was presented to director Michael Mooleedhar for Green Days By The River and the McNeel Impact Award was given to SEED: The Untold Story.
In the Honorary Awards category, the Best Short On The Beach went to Climate Countdown by Kaia Rose, the Audience Choice Award was given to Concealed by Lyall Sumner.
Poetry Is An Island – Derek Walcott by Ida Does won The Sir Trevor Carmichael & Jennifer Smith Founders Award, while the BIFF Wish It Were Longer Short Award went to Standing Eight by Kazy Tauginas.
See You Yesterday won the Best Short Film, The Best Documentary Film went to Chasing Coral and Best of Festival Award went to Bad Idea Gone Wrong.
Local film-maker Shakirah Bourne won the Trident Award for Achievement In Film and Danish Lone Scherfig, won the Lifetime Achievement Award. (TG)