The Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) announced today the members of the jury that will preside over the 8th edition of the Festival, which takes place December 1st – 4th in Nassau. The jury was revealed today by BIFF Founder and Executive Director Leslie Vanderpool.

The four competition categories at BIFF are Spirit of Freedom: Narrative; Documentary; New Visions: First Look; and Short Film. Special sections include Caribbean and Environmental sidebars as well as a World Cinema showcase. Jury members are:

New Visions: First Look
Kareem Mortimer – Director (“Children of God,” “Float”)
Adam Reid – Executive Creative Director at Bodega Studios
Julie Sultan – President of International Sales & Distribution at W2 Media

Spirit of Freedom: Narrative & Documentary
Jim Browne – Film Programmer (“Street Fight,” “Crips and Bloods: Made in America”)
Maria Govan – Director/Writer/Producer (“Rain”)
Bonnie Voland – Head of International Marketing at IM Global

Short Film
Sergio Baradat – Designer/Illustrator/Photographer
Rasselas Lakew – Director (“Atletu”)
Oliver Mahrdt – President /Senior Agent at Hanns Wolters International, Inc.

Filmmaker Residency Program
Jordan Walker Pearlman – Director/Screenwriter/Producer (“The Visit” and “Constellation”) and President at CinEssence
Sean Robins – Senior Executive at Broken Road Productions
Till Schauder – Director/Producer (“Strong Shit,” “City Bomber”)
Andy Trapani – Producer (“The Haunting in Connecticut”)

The festival is also proud to be bringing back the Filmmaker’s Residency Program. For the second year BIFF has broadened the program to include filmmakers from around the world to submit screenplays that are based in The Bahamas or Caribbean region.

The Filmmakers’ Residency Program nurtures screenwriters by providing them with an unrivaled opportunity to spend a full day with accomplished professionals who make a living working in the industry from Los Angeles and New York.

BIFF 2011 begins Thursday, December 1st in Nassau and runs through Sunday, December 4th. For additional information please visit www.bintlfilmfest.com.

About the Bahamas International Film Festival

The Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) is a nonprofit organization committed to providing the local community and international festival-goers with a diverse presentation of films from the Bahamas and around the world. In addition to showcasing films that might not otherwise be released theatrically, BIFF provides unique cultural experiences, educational programs, and forums for exploring the past, present and future of cinema. BIFF aims to raise the level of filmmaking, participation and education throughout the Bahamas and the world.

Major Sponsors of the 2011 BIFF are; Ministry of Tourism, Atlantis, Royal Bank Of Canada, The Nature Conservancy, Dolphin Encounters, Galleria Cinemas, The Tribune, Bahamas Weekly and CheapCaribbean.com