Events

BIFF 2012 WARM-UP WEEKENDER

BIFF is hosting a full weekend of film-related entertainment from February 24 to 26 to whip cinema-goers up into a frenzy ahead of the 15th annual Bermuda International Film Festival in March. All money raised by these events will go directly into staging BIFF 2012.

The warm-up weekender launches with a special Preview Party on the Friday night, followed by the February edition of the monthly BIFFlix film series on the Saturday evening, a fundraising walk on the Sunday morning and concluding with a glamorous "Live from the Red Carpet" event on the Sunday evening. In celebration of the 2012 Academy Awards, BIFF has teamed up with MEF to present this exciting event at The Deep within the Elbow Beach Hotel complex, where the Oscars will be shown live from Hollywood.

For more information about any of the events, please email info@biff.bm or call 293-3456.

Bermuda Shorts Preview Party (Friday, February 24)

The weekend will kick-off with an exclusive preview party for BIFF's members and patrons, where guests will get a sneak preview of a number of the short films that will be included in the Bermuda Shorts line-up for BIFF 2012. This is the category for which BIFF is a qualifying festival for the Academy Awards, so attendees have a chance of seeing a future Oscar winner. Two of the films that have been screened by BIFF have gone on to win Academy Award for Short Film (Live Action): "Wasp" (2005) and "Toyland" (2009). The party will be held at BIFF's headquarters on Front Street and attendance is by invitation only.

BIFFlix February Edition (Saturday, February 25, 6 p.m.)

For the final edition of the BIFFlix monthly film series before this year's festival, BIFF is excited to have secured "The Woman in the Fifth" to screen in Bermuda ahead of its U.S. release. It will be shown at 6 p.m. on February 25 at BUEI on Crow Lane in Hamilton.

Starring past Oscar nominees, Ethan Hawke and Kristin Scott Thomas, this thriller follows American writer, Tom Ricks, to Paris where he is desperate to put his life together again and win back the love of his estranged wife and daughter. When things don't go according to plan, he ends up in a shady hotel in the suburbs, having to work as a night guard to make ends meet. Then Margit, a beautiful, mysterious stranger walks into his life and their passionate and intense relationship triggers a string of inexplicable events.

The film was chosen to offer viewers a flavour for the type of film that will screen in the new Modern Masters category at BIFF 2012, showcasing exciting new works crafted by some of the most dynamic new directors working today. In "The Women in the Fifth," director Pawel Pawlikowski's sensibility is a unique blend of Eastern and Western European culture stemming from his Polish and Anglo roots. Pawlikowski pushes his material in a surprising way, pulling the rug out from underneath his audience and forcing them to readjust to a series of startling revelations.

Tickets are available on the door from 4pm or in advance, by emailing info@biff.bm or from www.tickets.biff.bm. Tickets: $10 BIFF members or $15 for non-members. Running time: 83 minutes. Language: English, French (with English subtitles). Rated R. Watch the trailer: http://www.biff.bm/bifflix.

The film was part of the 2011 official selection at the Toronto International Film Festival.
"Lush puzzler about a frustrated novelist benefits from old-fashioned art-film approach." (The Hollywood Reporter)

Argus Walks the Walk (Sunday, February 26, 8.30 a.m.)

The BIFF team is urging fans of the Bermuda International Film Festival to support its fundraising efforts by taking part in the Argus Walks the Walk 5K event on February 26. For the equivalent cost of a cinema ticket, a bag of popcorn and a soft drink, you can support your local film festival. Money raised will go straight into putting on BIFF 2012, a week-long film extravaganza of features never seen before in Bermuda. Argus Walks the Walk is a one-of-a-kind event in that you can choose the charity you want your $25 entry fees to benefit. For everyone that walks for BIFF, there is a free BIFF t-shirt. Register online at: www.racedayworld.com.

Live from the Red Carpet (Sunday, February 26, 7.30 p.m.)

For the finale, BIFF has team up with MEF to bring you a night of glitz, glamour and film talk at the "2012 Live From the Red Carpet" affair. The event is being held at The Deep in the Elbow Beach Complex on the night of the 84th Academy Awards. The awards will be broadcast live from L.A. in The Deep and guests will be able to predict the winners to win prizes. The event starts at 7.30 pm to allow guests to catch footage of the celebrities themselves arriving at the Oscars at 8pm local time. Join us for happy hour priced beer and wine all night, special Oscar-themed cocktails, trivia, a best dressed competition, red carpet photos and more. Tickets are priced at $25 and are strictly limited, with reserved seating available for the first 100. Buy online: www.bermudadining.com.