The Motherbaby International Film Festival gets underway at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute tomorrow evening.

The Film Festival, which is premiering in Bermuda is set to include all films for pregnant mothers and those who attend births.

Founder of Motherbaby International Film Festival and executive director of Sage Femme Diana Paul explained that the Festival was in its second year.

"We are screening films from Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Israel, France and the United States," she said.

"The 2008 Festivals are here in Hamilton, Traverse City, Michigan and San Jose, Costa Rica.

"You will see premieres, get to meet filmmakers and have an opportunity to discuss important issues with distinguished and knowledgeable panellists. We know you'll be inspired by this year's extraordinary offerings."

Ms. Paul is an advocate of natural birth and her three children were born at home.

She explained: "Two in Mill Valley, California and one in Oakland at my in-law's house.

"The midwife would not cross the bridge so I had to go to her. Giving birth this way made me want to be a midwife and help other women enjoy the same awe-inspiring experience.

"That opportunity arose when my family moved to Massachusetts and I began attending home births with Deborah Allen.

"Some women wanted their birth videotaped, so I took my small Sony 900 camera. It was unobtrusive and I was able to capture rare and beautiful images.

"In the late 90s, I began working with a professional videographer interviewing midwives. An interview with Dr. Robbie Davis-Floyd taped ten years ago at the MANA conference in Traverse City was edited this summer and is now part of the Motherbaby Festival.

The title: 'Evidence Based Childbirth'."

In 2004, her company Sage Femme moved its headquarters from Massachusetts to California and changed from the business world to the non-profit.

"Motherbaby was born to serve Sage Femme's mission of increasing awareness of the benefits of natural childbirth and homebirth," said Mrs. Paul.

"The images we select and create are designed to inspire, empower and clearly picture birth in the respectful hands of the mother."

Motherbaby International Film Festival organiser and production coordinator Sophia Cannonier said the events start tomorrow evening at 6 pm.

She is a founder of Citizens for Better Births, which is a grassroots organisation that advocates for women's choices regarding childbirth and health care. Mrs. Cannonier is also a homebirth mother of two, an experienced birth doula, conscious childbirth educator, Feldenkrais practitioner, and the director of the Bermuda Integrative Health Co-op. She is an apprentice midwife and has been a women's advocate in Bermuda for ten years.

The films include: "A Cow Trough," "Baby-led Breastfeeding," "Birth Dialogue," "Birth of a Family," "The Drugging of Our Children," "Evidence Based Childbirth," "The First Hour of Life," "Laboring Under An Illusion: Portrayal of Birth in the Mass Media," "Luna," "Children of Tak'alik A'baj," "Miss Margaret," "Orgasmic Birth," "Pregnant in America," "Sendero de Nimbe," "Three Mamas, Six Babies," "Vaccine Nation" and "Sendero de Nimbe."

To explain the background on the selection of the films, Ms. Paul said: "'Sendero de Nimbe' which was written, filmed, directed and edited by midwife Naoli Vinaver Lopez.

"This film is about a woman contemplating her options for birth and she was able to use the actual footage from the homebirth of her principal actor."

Of "Three Mamas, Six Babies" Ms. Paul explained that it was produced by midwife, Jennifer Gallardo, who filmed the natural births of three sets of twins.

"This is rare and interesting footage edited by James

Westby with his signature music," she said.

"A Cow Trough," which is having its world premiere, is based on an interesting twist on the use of an item.

"A cow trough is turned into a sumptuous birthing spa with the creative genius of a mother and her toddler," she said of the film.

"It is set to music and humorously edited by Matt and Frank Ferrel. I can tell you that you will never look at a cow trough in the same way again."

Another great offering is "Luna," which was filmed in Costa Rica, said the founder.

"This luscious birth video is narrative free and it is set to an amazing and beautiful rendition of 'Silent Night'," she said.

"In playful hours before the birth, the camera plays hide and seek with Luna's big sister, eighteen-month-old Sol. The camera and Sol toddle through the cabana together until bath time blending images of mamma in the birth tub and Sol in the bathtub.

"Baby Luna arrives in her own unique way and we feel refreshed, invigorated and so glad that all of this was captured on film."

"Children of Tak'alik A'baj" is a film with no narration, new music and tight editing.

"It features a rural Guatemalan couple giving birth to their ninth child at home," she said.

"There is no running water and no electricity either.

"But with a black-market for babies in Guatemala, it was no easy feat for the filmmaker to find a couple willing to have the birth of their baby videotaped."

The film "Miss Margaret" offers a rare look at life in the Deep South through the eyes of one of its last granny midwives — Margaret Charles Smith.

"After her book 'Listen To Me Good' was published, Mrs. Smith travelled outside of her native Alabama for the first time," said Ms. Paul.

"She became a popular and important addition to midwifery conferences, answering questions and telling stories from her rural practice.

"Mrs. Smith safely delivered over 3,500 babies in a lifetime that spanned nearly a century.

"She was raised by a former slave in the shadow of the Ku Klux Klan. She is courageous, dedicated, hard working and wise, and in her time, she never lost a mother."

The one hour long "Laboring Under an Illusion" is having its world premiere.

"It is hot off the press!" said Ms. Paul.

"This video shows how human childbirth is portrayed in American movies, television and tabloids. Humorist and media specialist, Vicki Elson uses 100 video clips to contrast Hollywood birth scenes with films made by natural childbirth advocates.

"It is hilarious, alarming and inspiring."

The film "Orgasmic Birth" aims to dispel some of the painful myths surrounding birth.

"At last, the video we've all been waiting for," said an excited Ms. Paul.

"Debra Pascali-Bonaro spent five years researching, interviewing and collaborating for this groundbreaking film, which visually and verbally presents birth as an ecstatic experience.

"Oxytocin, birth and digital videography make a great team in this highly informative film. Those interviewed include Ina May Gaskin, Maureen Corry, Elizabeth Davis, Sarah Buckley and Marsden Wagner."

The inspiration for "The First Hour of Life" came after Dr. Marshall Klaus gave a talk in Italy about his observations of a baby's first moments of life.

"Italian filmmakers interwove Dr. Klaus' interview with images from four home births," she said.

"This offers rare and amazing footage."

Mother Nature is always teaching us how to truly nourish our babies and "Baby-led Breastfeeding" aims to assist.

"The baby needs to be calm in order to nurse and for that, the mother needs to be calm and present with her baby," she said.

"This video shows us how to help babies follow their instincts. Heart to heart, skin to skin, the new/old technology that leads to successful breastfeeding and sublime satisfaction."

The Israeli film "Birth Dialogue" is set in Tel Aviv where most women deliver their babies in the hospital. "But these two filmmakers, Miri and Amit, decide to make their cosy apartment the birthplace of their first child," she said

"This is a thoughtful and sometimes humorous journey with the parents-to-be in the months leading up to and including the birth of their baby.

"At one point, Miri rapidly reads a long list of things 'needed' for the baby — none of which they had. Then she asks, 'Where is the love and affection?' on the list. Amit is seen alternately interviewing people, vacuuming the house and filming the busy street just off their balcony.

"It is Hebrew with English subtitles."

"Vaccine Nation" was produced by Gary Null. "Where would you turn, what would you do, who would you trust if you were imprisoned for shaken baby syndrome? This is high drama! Dr. Null has produced another groundbreaking video, which could change the way we look at vaccines, public policy and our very expensive health care system."

"Pregnant in America" has just recently been completed.

"The film explores the highs and lows of giving birth in the United States," said Ms. Paul.

"It is wildly funny in parts and profoundly moving always, there is a lot to learn from Mandy and Steve Buonaugurio's story."

The world premiere of "Evidence Based Childbirth" is a narrative from Robbie Davis-Floyd.

"It looks at four mothers, and it features lots of clips from gorgeous homebirths, while delivering the message that home birth is safe, desirable and simple.

"Ms Davis-Floyd has said: 'Ninety-four percent of births in the US are attended by obstetricians with only six percent attended by midwives. We need to flip the numbers'."

"Birth of a Family" is about women's empowerment.

"Christina van Duijn wants women to become educated in their choices and know all their options for a healthy delivery," she said.

"In this film, laughter, joy, tears and children all attend Christina's four births. This is a true love story in a unique and loving family."

In this investigative documentary, "The Drugging of Our

Children" acclaimed public health advocate and filmmaker Dr. Gary Null examines the increasingly common practice of prescribing psychotropic drugs for children, including preschoolers as young as two to four who have been diagnosed with ADD, or ADHD on a diagnosis of "excessive talking, fidgeting or squirming. Often loses things. Difficulty remaining seated, playing quietly or sustaining attention," has become a recipe for Ritalin, Prozac or both. "What does this have to do with Violence?" she asked.

"Come and see."