Rave Reviews
Since our first festival in 1997, visiting filmmakers, industry professionals and members of the international press have had some kind words for our festival. Here are just some of their comments:
"The Bermuda International Film Festival is a small festival that remembers why film festivals began in the first place ... to expose filmmakers with unique stories and uncompromising visions." - Michael Ferraro, www.filmthreat.com, at BIFF 2006.
"A film festival in Bermuda is truly a rare treat in this chaotic world of disillusions and deceptions. Bermuda is indeed the exception to a ravaged planet."" --- Emmanuel Itier, Buzzine, at BIFF 2006.
"With a full roster of intriguing films....BIFF continues to emerge as an intimate and increasingly significant launch pad for an array of movies audiences are sure to be talking about in the months to come, all set against a charming and incredibly hospitable island backdrop." - Scott Huver, www.hollywood.com, at BIFF 2006.
"Festival guests got what they bargained for ... a trip to a lovely island, and a festival that increases in stature every year." -- Wendy Mitchell, www.indiewire.com, at BIFF 2004.
"The most amazing thing about Bermuda is how it seems to bring the festival guests together each year. Real friendships are made in the festival sun." -- David Poland, www.thehotbutton.com, at BIFF 2003.
"One of the pleasures of the Bermuda International Film Festival is the opportunity for everyone to debate the merits of the movies at nightly social events, often with the filmmakers themselves." -- Kevin Lally, Film Journal International, at BIFF 2003."
"BIFF has it all, really, from an unbeatable location to the right mix of films, guests, sponsors and, perhaps most importantly, attitude ... it was one of the best-run, best programmed mid-sized festivals I'd ever experienced." -- Tim Rhys, Publisher/Editor, MovieMaker magazine, at BIFF 2003.
"BIFF programmers simply peered around the globe for attention-worthy pictures, and unveiled their choices before enthusiastic crowds of local viewers and visitors from all over… an eclectic selection like this can offer well-focussed clues to trends that get lost in the shuffle of more crowded events." - David Sterritt, Christian Science Monitor film critic, April 26, 2002.
"BIFF dishes up a lively slate of pickings from around the world to appreciative local audiences...the standard is surprisingly and consistently high." - Nick Bradshaw, Time Out London film critic, May 15-22, 2002.
"BIFF is a relaxed but ambitious event which attracts filmmakers from around the Atlantic Rim, and boasts industry heavyweights such as Canada's Victor Loewy and LA lawyer Mark Litwak among its international advisers...BIFF jurors, TIME magazine film critic Richard Schickel and the near-legendary New York critic Rex Reed, would have been more than qualified to sit on any festival jury in the world, including Cannes." - Nick Roddick, Preview Magazine, May/June 2002 'Cannes Film Festival Special'.
"BIFF offers a rare mix: wide-ranging films, a few superb; great swimming in the Atlantic...let's hope as this festival continues to expand, it preserves its gemutlich spirit." - Erica Abeel, Film Journal, June 2002.
"What is most striking about those who attended the daily screenings is the spread of ages, from students to the elderly. Equally popular were the lunchtime panels in the Bermuda Arts Society's gorgeous headquarters above Town Hall." - Nick Roddick, Moving Pictures Cannes 2002 edition.
"For film lovers like us, BIFF is a once-a-year opportunity to gorge on the culturally exotic...and allows us to truly appreciate film for the art form that it is...we watched shorts, documentaries, dramas and comedies that made us laugh, cry...and, perhaps most important, make us think about the world in broader terms." - Chris Gibbons, RG Magazine, June 2001.
"I had a hunch that the Film Festival would be good. It's got a definite buzz to it. Often the most interesting people are the unknown. This is a Festival without any stars at all, and that's what makes it interesting." Iain Johnstone, former film critic of the London Sunday Times, at BIFF 2001.
"You're at the young stage of a festival that's going to become more and more important in the film world as it goes on." - David Poland, film critic and former director of the Miami International Film Festival, at BIFF 2001.
"This could become like Cannes. It's got the accommodation, the people are so much nicer, it's close to America….it's a terrific film festival, I think they've got it just right." - Elliot Grove, Director of London's Raindance Film Festival at our 2000 festival.
"In some ways, Bermuda is better than Cannes...Human Traffic has been shown at just about every festival throughout the world that you can think of...but the friendliness and atmosphere here is unique. It's great to support a festival like this." - Allan Niblo, Producer of Human Traffic at our 2000 festival.
"As a film festival, Bermuda is certainly unique because it's taking place in the context of a very financially-literate community. That's a rare thing to see - filmmakers nudged up so closely to the financial industry. It can only bring success." - Adam Page, CEO of The Ottawa Consulting Group (London) at our 1998 festival.
"We have been extremely impressed by the inventiveness and the success of the recent film festival....it is a large contribution to Bermuda in a variety of ways...we applaud the entire effort?we think this film festival has the potential to grow into a major Bermuda event." - Royal Gazette newspaper editorial, May 13, 1997.
"This is the best little film festival in the world." - Paul Hills, Director of Boston Kickout at our 1997 festival.
"One day, all film festivals will be like this." - Moving Pictures Magazine, Cannes 2002 edition.
