Freeport, Bahamas - The Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) will feature an expanded film competition while on location for FLIFF on Location: Grand Bahama Island - Take 2, which runs from October 25 - 28, 2012. 

Organizers have called for original films nationwide for competition in four categories:

    High School

• open to any high school student, 14 - 18 years old as of August 1, who is a resident of The Bahamas.

• 5 minutes or less, addressing a theme of their choice.  

    College

•     open to any college student who is a resident of The Bahamas.

•     5 minutes or less, addressing a theme of their choice.   

    Open Bahamian Short

•     open to any Bahamian resident.

•     30 minutes or less, addressing a theme of their choice.

    Open Bahamian Feature

•     open to any Bahamian resident.

•     up to 90 minutes, addressing a theme of their choice.

Entrants (who will be known as, and referred to as ‘Directors’), must harness creative ideas, organize the production of the film and assume overall responsibility for every aspect of the film.  There is no limit to the number of films a Director may submit, but each entry must be original, and entered separately.

Contestants are invited to submit their entries to fliff@bahamas.com, via post to P.O. Box F-40251, or directly to the Ministry of Tourism’s Grand Bahama Office, 1st Floor Fidelity Financial Centre, Poinciana Drive.  The deadline for submissions is August 1, 2012. Finalists must provide 30-second and 60-second trailers of their films in HD format, and must supply 5 copies of their production on playable DVDs, along with 2 data discs containing the movie files in .mov or .avi file formats. Films in every category must be produced in HD format. All contestants will be able to see the status of their entry via the Bahamas Film Commission: Grand Bahama’s Facebook page - facebook.com/GBIFilm.

Last year, a total of 12 films from New Providence and Grand Bahama, ranging in duration from 2 minutes to 63 minutes, featured in the High School, and Open Bahamian competitions. The winners were “Politicking in Paradise”, "Shakespeare in LYTS” and “Cyber-Bullying” respectively.  This year, entries are expected to come from throughout the islands of The Bahamas.

“I loved attending FLIFF in Grand Bahama.  I didn't know there were so many filmmakers in The Bahamas," said Pamela Poitier, daughter of Academy Award winner, Sir Sidney Poitier, after attending FLIFF last year. "I met animators, production designers, gaffers, directors and actors.  I was shocked that so many talented Bahamians are pursuing their passions and creating a career for themselves in this country. All the films I saw blew my mind and opened up my world in a way that only films and documentaries can. I hope this event continues to come to Grand Bahama, as I will always attend and encourage others to as well, because film is a great way to learn what is happening in the world around us.” 
 
Hosted at Canal House, Pelican Bay Hotel, ‘FLIFF On Location’ will feature local & international films, outdoor screenings, presentation of a Career Achievement Award, specialist workshops [including underwater cinematography], location scouting for international filmmakers, and a wrap party / awards presentation at the Grand Lucayan Resort.          

For more information contact: Donna Mackey: dmackey@bahamas.com

(Senior Manager - Film Development, Ministry of Tourism, Grand Bahama Island)