Left to right: Jarrod Knowles, WSFF Founder; Charles Smith, "When Pigs Swim" Director; Donna Mackey, Ministry of Tourism (MOT); Andre Miller (MOT); and Anita Johnson-Patty (MOT) Photo: Peter Urbanski

AVENTURA, FL -  February 27th marked the grand launch of Bahamian-born, Jarrod Knowles' WideScreen Film and Music Video Festival. The event saw international and American films and music videos as well as a handful of Bahamian films.

For the inaugural launch, he had help from the smash-hit Bahamian documentary, "When Pigs Swim", directed by Bahamian Charlie Smith, when one of the swimming piggies joined them on the red carpet.

"Our screening was a success, from the Pan African Film Fest in L.A. to the Widescreen Film Festin Miami," said When Pigs Swim director, Charles Smith. Miami was especially good because we had support from all our friends and family and the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism.  Even Ricardo Treco (Bahamas Consul in Miami) and his wife came out to support. Once we brought, Penelope (cousin to the swimming pigs in Exuma) everyone went crazy! Most people did a double take and said, 'Is that a pig?!'Penelope stole the show and gave a lot of attention to our film and Exuma."

The documentary has been getting a lot of notoriety since its release in 2014. The loveable pigs have become a top attraction of Exuma Island, and today visitors from all over the world travel to Exuma for an opportunity unlike anywhere else…swimming with pigs. 

"This film festival, organized by the talented and Bahamian-born Jarrod Knowles, was a huge success! We are not only ecstatic for Jarrod, but for the wonderful opportunity to show off the natural beauty of The Islands of The Bahamas", said Donna Mackey, Bahamas Film Commission Representative, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism.

Other Bahamian talents talents at the festival in Miami included Dwight Harris and his film ' Perfect Feet', Kareem Mortimer and ' Passage', Travon Patton & Tony McCartney with ' Dream', Winston Marshall with ' Up & Down', and Lavado Stubbs with ' Happy' (Bahamas Version).

The WideScreen Film and Music Video Festival saw over 1000 attendees. According to Donna Mackey, "The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism is working with Jarrod and the WideScreen Festival to bring the event to Grand Bahama Island next year."

If that comes to pass, one thing can be certain; when it comes to anything Bahamas…it only gets better.

For more details:www.widescreenfest.com

Check out all the photos on Facebook.

Festival founder, Jarrod Knowles with Charlie Smith holding Penelope (Photo: Peter Urbanski)

(Photo: Peter Urbanski)

Penelope the pig waits to be interviewed (Photo: Peter Urbanski)