"When Voices Rise" the documentary film on Bermuda's 1959 Theatre Boycott has been picked up for a theatrical run at Liberty Theatre following the close of the film festival tomorrow.

All three Bermuda International Film Festival (BIFF) screenings of the film sold out - tickets for the final screening last night went in just 40 minutes - and demand for more screenings to be added remained heavy.

Filmmaker Errol Williams spent two years making the film and collecting interviews from the the surviving members of the Progressive Group - a secret society which organised the boycott - and other key figures in the event which, effectively, led to the desegregation of the Island.

"I am very grateful for the demand from the public for the film," Mr. Williams said. "I'm looking forward to having as many people as possible see it and now it looks like all of Bermuda will have the opportunity."

Liberty manager Nelda Simons said she was pleased to pick up the historic documentary for a week-long run at the theatre.

"I had always wanted it to be that way," she told The Royal Gazette yesterday. "I heard about the film while it was still in a conceptual stage and really wanted to show it here."

Ms Simons said she has not been able to see the film yet due to the high demand. "I haven't had a chance because the customers come first," she laughed when asked why she hadn't pulled a few strings.

"When Voices Rise" will be shown at Liberty starting Friday. Ms Simons said the film cannot move to Neptune Theatre at the end of the run because it is in a format which cannot be accommodated there.

Depending on support for the film, however, it may be considered for a longer run in Hamilton. Liberty Theatre will also be showing another BIFF sell-out film throughout next week.

"Monsoon Wedding", an Indian film selected as the closing movie for the festival, has been a hit on the festival circuit and won a Golden Lion in Venice.

The film's 9:30 p.m. screening on Friday is already sold out and the theatre opted to keep it another week.

Ms Simons said both "When Voices Rise" and "Monsoon Wedding" will be shown twice daily starting Friday.

Minister for Community and Cultural Affairs Randy Horton yesterday welcome the news of an extended stay for "When Voices Rise" and encouraged all of Bermuda to support the documentary.

"I think it is great and I want everyone in Bermuda - black and white - to get out and see it," Mr. Horton said.

"The film gives a great indication of how people, particularly black people, had to struggle and work to make things better for themselves.

"It's important that everyone in Bermuda get out and see this movie."

Monsoon Wedding will be shown at 2:30 and 7:15 p.m. daily except Sunday when it will run at 2:30 and 5:15 p.m.

When Voices Rise will be shown at 5:30 and 9:30 p.m. except for Sunday when it will run at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.