From:TheBahamasWeekly.com
FLIFF On Location: Grand Bahama Island announces film winners
By Robbin Whachell, Editor, The Bahamas Weekly
Nov 2, 2012 - 3:35:48 PM
Film, stage and TV star and Career Achievement tributee, Giancarlo Esposito was presented with a piece of Bahamian art by the Grand Bahama Esposito can currently be seen in NBC's hit TV show, REVOLUTION and has been in such notable films such as “Rabbit Hole,” "The Usual Suspects," "Smoke" and "The Last Holiday." His performances in Spike Lee’s films "Do the Right Thing", "Mo’ Better Blues," “School Daze” and "Malcolm X" are among his most memorable.) He is seen here with Donna Mackey, Bahamas Film Commission/MOT; Chantal Bethel, artist; and Karen Seymour, Director MOT/Grand Bahama. Photo: Mackey Media Ltd / TheBahamasWeekly.com
|
Freeport, Bahamas - The 4 day film festival, FLIFF On Location: Grand Bahama Island wrapped on Sunday, October 28th with an awards ceremony and official closing at the Pelican Bay Hotel's Canal House after what organizers could thankfully say was a successful event despite the effects of Hurricane Sandy.
Pelican Bay Hotel general manager and chairman of the Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board, Magnus Alnebeck gave remarks and offered thanks to the visiting filmmakers who despite receiving advance notice of what they could expect with hurricane conditions in Grand Bahama, decided to brave the ship ride over on the Bahamas Celebration with rough seas, and ensuing island conditions, resulting in the event being able to move forward as planned.
The outcome was worth it, as the opening night boasted a full event and numbers continued to be stable throughout the entire weekend at screenings and the Career Achievement tribute to Giancarlo Esposito which was sponsored by the Grand Bahama Port Authority.
General manager of Pelican Bay Hotel (host site) and chairman of the Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board, Magnus Alnebeck offers remarks and thanks at the awards presentation. Photo: TheBahamasWeekly.com
|
After the bad weather passed and the sun peaked through the clouds the filmmakers were able to take a familiarization trip on Saturday and were shown some of the island's beautiful locations in hopes to lure them back to Grand Bahama for future film projects.
Audiences were treated to a fantastic lineup of films over the four days thanks to FLIFF. Films screened came from Cuba, USA, Cameroon, France, and of course The Bahamas.
Movie goers were thrilled to rub shoulders and speak with visiting stars and filmmakers, watch a wide array of film genres as well as check their emails and charge up their cell phones before returning home to blackout conditions for those without generators.
The weekend culminated with a heartfelt but simple awards ceremony on Sunday before the filmmakers and organizers faced the next challenge of getting them all safely home with the airport being flooded.
Bahamian film winners were:
Open Category -
The Price of Being a Man - Edmund S. Moxey
College Category -
Who Are We? - Brittney Armbrister
High School Category -
The Blame - Tiahjah Smith
The international films winners were:
Best Film - Drama:
Una Noche
Best Film - Comedy:
Sex, Lies & Surgery
Best Film - Comedy / Drama:
Supporting Characters
Best Documentary:
The Black Miami
Most Innovative:
How Do You Write Joe Schermann Song
International filmmakers left safely thanks to the generous support of Celebration Cruise Lines and felt their stay and experience was something they would never forget.
"What an amazing adventure! To stay at such an accommodating hotel with such great filmmakers and hosts, it made the FLIFF on location incredibly special. Even with the storm, the hotel and their staff went above and beyond making sure that we we're all comfortable! Thanks to everyone for a unforgettable experience."
Carlton Smith, Producer/Director, The Black Miami (USA)
"What struck me most was just how different all the films were (broad comedies, dark dramas, documentaries) yet they were all so strong, specific and special. The result being that I was so much less competitive than normal, and so much more inspired." Daniel Schecher,
Director/Co-Writer, Supporting Characters (USA)
"FLIFF was an amazing
experience on many levels. Despite the hurricane we got to see great
movies and meet inspiring filmmakers both from The Bahamas and other
countries. We were blown away by the warm Bahamian reception. I would
love to shoot there in the future. Thank you so much for inviting us." Lucy Mulloy, Director/Writer, Una Noche (Cuba)
"FLIFF on Location in Grand Bahama was an amazing mix of filmmakers,
friends and culture, all of which made my stay a truly remarkable
experience, I'd love to live again and again. Suffice it to say, FLIFF on
Grand Bahama rocks!"
Tarik Lowe,
Co-Writer/Star, Supporting Characters (USA)
"I truly enjoyed my experience at FLIFF Grand Bahama. The intimate
setting allowed me to connect with the audience and the other filmmakers
there, which is not always the case at other festivals. I was
definitely inspired by and honored to be included in the diverse mix of
programming. I look forward to seeing the festival grow in the coming
years and am proud to have been a part of it from nearly the beginning."
Gary King, Director, Writer, How Do You Write a Joe Schermann Song (USA)
Bahamian High School film category winner, Tiahjah Smith of Sunland Baptist Academy with Karen Seymour, Ministry of Tourism Director for Grand Bahama Island Photo: TheBahamasWeekly.com
|
FLIFF On Location: Grand Bahama Island
is a collaboration between the Fort Lauderdale International Film
Festival, the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Grand Bahama Island
Tourism Board. The event has been made possible through the generous
support of the following sponsors: Pelican Bay Hotel;
TheBahamasWeekly.com; Mackey Media Ltd; Bahamas Celebration Cruises;
Bahamasair; Balearia Bahamas Express; Grand Bahama Port Authority and
Group of Companies; Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board; FLIFF; Ministry
of Tourism and SkyBahamas Airlines.
Related article:
FLIFF On Location: Grand Bahama Island goes ahead despite weather conditions
For
more photos and information go to
FLIFF 2012 on Location: Grand Bahama Island
Uno Noche (Cuba) wins Best Film Drama. Left to right is Gregory von Hausch, FLIFF; Lucy Mulloy, director / writer; Yunior Santiago, producer; and Shlomo Godder, cinematographer (Floridians are acutely aware of the situation that is the day in-day out life of people virtually imprisoned on the island of Cuba. The US embargo created a life in a bubble where remnants of the 1950's pervades existence. Living with just the modicum of convenience is not easy and escaping is fraught with peril.) "FLIFF was an amazing experience on many levels. Despite the hurricane we got to see great movies and meet inspiring filmmakers both from The Bahamas and other countries. We were blown away by the warm Bahamian reception. I would love to shoot there in the future. Thank you so much for inviting us," said director Lucy Mulloy. Photo: TheBahamasWeekly.com
|
Gary King, director, How Do You Write a Joe Schermann Song (USA) wins Most Innovative Film presented by Gregory von Hausch of FLIFF. (Joe dreams of hitting it big on Broadway. After landing an opportunity to write for an Off-Broadway musical, he is forced to cast either the love of his life Evey or his newly discovered muse Summer. The realities of show business prove to Joe that writing is easy, living is hard.) "I truly enjoyed my experience at FLIFF Grand Bahama. The intimate setting allowed me to connect with the audience and the other filmmakers there, which is not always the case at other festivals. I was definitely inspired by and honored to be included in the diverse mix of programming. I look forward to seeing the festival grow in the coming years and am proud to have been a part of it from nearly the beginning," said director / writer
Gary King Photo: TheBahamasWeekly.com
|
Supporting Characters (USA) wins Best Drama Left to right is Gregory von Hausch, FLIFF; Daniel Schechter, director/co-writer; and Tarik Lowe, co-writer and star (A comedy about two New York film editors (and best friends) who attempt to hold on to their significant others while reworking a film in crisis.) "FLIFF on Location in Grand Bahama was an amazing mix of filmmakers, friends and culture, all of which made my stay a truly remarkable experience, I'd love to live again and again. Suffice it to say, FLIFF on Grand Bahama rocks!"said co-writer/star,
Tarik Lowe. Photo: TheBahamasWeekly.com
|
Writer, director and star Artus de Penguern at the screening of Sex, Lies & Surgery (France) which won Best Comedy. (When ER and GREY'S ANATOMY turn into a DALLAS kind of comedy, with love and money-related plots, a HANGOVER atmosphere, and A FISH CALLED WANDA characters, the result is THE LOVE CLINIQUE: a crazy 'but classy' comedy for all!) Photo: TheBahamasWeekly.com
|
The Black Miami wins Best Documentary. Left to right is Michael Williams, co-director; Carlton Smith, co-director; and Gregory von Hausch, FLIFF (Take a journey through history and learn the importance and significance that blacks played in the creation and progress of America’s Magic City. The Black Miami revisits the past to understand how the race lines in South Florida were created and eventually transcended. The Black Miami takes you into a history that is rarely told but is not forgotten.) "What an amazing adventure! To stay at such an accommodating hotel with such great filmmakers and hosts, it made the FLIFF on location incredibly special. Even with the storm, the hotel and their staff went above and beyond making sure that we we're all comfortable! Thanks to everyone for a unforgettable experience," said co-director
Carlton Smith Photo: TheBahamasWeekly.com
|
Despite island-wide power outage as a result of Hurricane Sandy, FLIFF On Location: Grand Bahama Island took place successfully with great attendance at the Canal House, Pelican Bay Hotel. Photo: TheBahamasWeekly.com
|
Film, stage and TV star and Career Achievement tributee, Giancarlo Esposito was presented with a piece of Bahamian art by the Grand Bahama Ministry of Tourism. Seen left is the artist, Chantal Bethel. Esposito can currently be seen in NBC's hit TV show, REVOLUTION and has been in such notable films such as “Rabbit Hole,” "The Usual Suspects," "Smoke" and "The Last Holiday." His performances in Spike Lee’s films "Do the Right Thing", "Mo’ Better Blues," “School Daze” and "Malcolm X" are among his most memorable.) Photo: TheBahamasWeekly.com
|
© Copyright 2012 by thebahamasweekly.com -