After teasing local movie buffs for the past week with the announcement of the historic docu-drama Guiana 1838 as it’s Opening film, organizers of the Belize International Film Festival have finally released the names of the films selected to participate in the Third Edition of the Festival set for Feb. 21 – 28, 2005 at the Bliss Center for Performing Arts in Belize City.
Thirty three (33) films from four different categories will compete for seven Audience Awards. The winners will be chosen by the audience using ballot papers that can be found in the lobby outside the MAIN CINEMA after each screening. Awards will be given for: Most Popular Feature Film (OFFICIAL SELECTION), Most Popular Documentaries (CARIBBEAN FILMMAKERS, CENTRAL AMERICA & MEXICO VISTA and MADE IN BELIZE) and Most Popular Fiction Shorts (CARIBBEAN FILMMAKERS, CENTRAL AMERICA & MEXICO VIST and MADE IN BELIZE).
The remaining twelve (12) films in exhibition are: a selection of student films from the Escuela Internacional de Cine y Television of San Antonio de Los Banos, Cuba, the first film ever made in the English Speaking Caribbean The Right and The Wrong (Trinidad, 1969) by Mickey Nivelli (aka Harbance Kumar) and a selection of three film entries that did not qualify for festival competition but which organizers felt merited screening for their similarities to Belize’s indigenous cultures and the international issue of Human Rights.
Synopses along with production details of the 45 films listed below can be found on the festival website at www.belizefilmfestival.com
BELIZE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL - 2005 PARTICIPATING FILMS
OFFICIAL SELECTION (in competition)
Fiction:
1. Come Sweet Death / Komm Suesser Tod (Austria, 2000) Dir: Wolfgang Murnberger
2. The Community / La Comunidad (Spain, 2000) Dir: Alex de la Iglesia
3. The Con Game / Doble Juego (Peru, Argentina, Cuba, Spain 2004) Dir: Alberto Durant
4. Guiana 1838 (USA, Guyana 2004) Dir: Rohit Jagessar
5. The King of Bollywood (UK, India 2004) Dir: Piyush Jha.
6. Kisna – The Warrior Poet (India, 2005) Dir: Subhash Ghai
7. The Olive Harvest (Palestine, Israel 2003) Dir: Hanna Elias.
8. Our Country / Swades (India 2004) Dir: Ashutosh Gowariker
9. Out of Season / Fuera de Temporada (Argentina, 2004) Dir: Leonardo Maldonado.
10. Red Passport / Pasaporte Rojo (Dominican Republic 2003) Dir: Albert Xavier
11. Rolling Family / Familia Rodante (Argentina, Brazil, UK, France, Germany,Spain 2003) Dir: Pablo Trapero .
12. The Story of An African Farm (South Africa, 2004) Dir: David Lister
13. U R 4 Given (USA 2004) Dir: Cinque Lee
CARIBBEAN FILMMAKERS (in competition)
Fiction
Another Life / Otra Vida (USA, Venezuela 2004) Dir: Karry Fefer .
A Different Man / Un Hombre Diferente (USA, 2004) Dir: Albert Xavier
For Her / Por Ella (USA, 2004) Dir: Albert Xavier
Signaling Home / El Día Que Llegaron (Puerto Rico, 2004) Dir: Raúl Gacia.
Documentary
Ivan the Terrible (Grenada, Trinidad 2004) Dir: Neisha Agostini
Latin Kings: A Street Gang Story (USA, 2003) Dir: Jon Alpert
Memories of Montserrat (Montserrat 2004) Dir: David Lea
Montserrat’s Andesite Volcano (Montserrat, 2004 ) Dir: David Lea
Soldiers for the Streets (Canada 2004) Dir: Ngardy Conteh
CENTRAL AMERICA & MEXICO (in competition)
Fiction
It’s a Pleasure (USA, 2004) Dir: Elizabeth Szekeresh
King of Zinacantán, The (Mexico, 2003) Dir: Antonio Coello
Uraga: A Garifuna Story /Uraga:Una historia Garifuna (Guatemala, 2003) Dir: Ana Carlos & Guillermo Escalon
The Whore / La Puta (USA, 2004 ) Dir: Iris Almaraz
Documentary
From Girls to Mothers / De Niña a Madre (Nicaragua, 2005) Dir. Florence Jaugey
Hidden Truths / Verdades Ocultas (Nicaragua, 2003) Dir: Rossana Lacayo
MADE IN BELIZE (in competition)
Fiction
Oya (Belize, Canada, USA 2004) Dir: Winsom Winsom
Risking It All (Belize, 2004) Dir: Kimberly Vasquez
Yemaya Asesu (Belize, Canada 2000) Dir: Winsom Winsom
Power Play (Belize, 2004) Dir: Denvor Fairweather, Caleb Ortega, Edita Pariente, Louis Wade Jr., Michael Coye, Javier Molina, Elijah Small, Leticia Guerra
Documentary
Do You See What I See? (Belize, 2004) Dir: Suzette Zayden & Debbie Lisbey
Feast of the Giant Sharks (Belize, 2001) Dir: Carol & Richard Foster
The Hammock (Belize, 2004) Dir: Brent Tombs
A Howler’s Tale (Belize, 2004) Dir: Tony Rath
EXHIBITION ONLY
FILM SCHOOL – EICTV
Big mother, The / La gran madre (2003) Dir: Vita Randazzo (Honduras)
Child with Rain / Niño con lluvia (2003) Dir: José Angel Alayón (Spain)
Damm Circumstances / La maldita circumstancia (2002) Dir: Eduardo Eimil (Cuba)
Lost Paradise / Paraiso extraviado (2003) Dir: Andrés Buitrago (Colombia)
Marina / Marina (2003) Dir: Elena Arroyo (Spain)
Memorable Spring, A / Una Primavera en la Memoria Dir: Ariane Mondo (Brazil)
Underground Havana / Bajo Habana (2003) Dir: Terence Piard (Cuba)
SPECIAL MENTION
Fiction:
The Right and The Wrong (Trinidad & Tobago, 1969) Dir: Mickey Nivelli (aka Harbance Kumar)
Documentary:
Ancient Clues – Belize Blood Chambers (Belize 2004) Dir: Lionel Goddard
Coca and the Congressman (USA, Bolivia 2003) Dir: Jon Alpert
Sahara Marathon (Spain, 2003) Dir: Jon Garaño, Aitor Arregi
Walking to School / Camino Al Escuela (Peru, 2004) Dir: Humberto Saco
