The party didn't stop at the red carpet... From a week of whacky island adventures off the road in Aruba, to cocktail parties till late - it was hard to get much reviewing done, I was having too much fun. I quickly had to master the art of speaking eloquently about international cinema whilst balancing a plate of hors doevres and a glass of Moet in one hand, and a designer handbag in the other- and they don't teach you that in film school.

A simple slideshow of sun and cinema, Aruba style:

My favourite director and favourite interview from the fest was with the genius Guillermo Arriaga, Academy award nominated writer/director of 21 Grams, Babel and 'The Burning Plain' screening at the fest. He is always so serious, but underneath I sensed he was warmer than a teddy bear. So at the end of my interview, I bravely asked him for a 2nd photo, even though he'd already taken one with me at the red carpet premiere. When he kindly agreed I asked him "do you want to smile or not in the photo this time, because i notice you always frown, so in our last photo when I smiled I looked like a grinning monkey!". "i'm sorry" he laughed, "i just do it to scare you film critics!"  (So we both tried to look very serious for this photo).

one small step for Wendy...one big step for my career?!  Snorkeling and ´snubar´ tours compliments of the film festival turned out to be devious ways my paparazzi colleagues could get pics of me in a bikini. and gave a new meaning to the term swimming with sharks.

I bravely went where no other aussie film reviewer has ever gone before, and drove my editor round the bend, literally.... On the Festival's 4WD safari tour of the island I took the keys, told my editor to take a back seat, and showed the international press how I got those initials.

loved driving my 4WD jeep cross country. and i'm proud to stay the Aruban escort who drove behind me (yep, we had an entourage) said I was a very good driver - "yes, now I believe you are Australian!"

silly things to do in the desert in Aruba when you've drunk more Moet than water, and the Tourism Commissioner is not around.

always better to be taller than the paparazzi. or they love getting photos at immodest angles.

Thieves at the Hyatt; this iguana stole my breakfast.

This is the iguana pretending he is invisible when I chased him for my breakfast.

5 days working hard at the Hyatt -on my tan. Now I could get used to that...

Wendy Dent