YOUNGSTERS will be given the opportunity to take their imaginations to the screen next month. A workshop by Bermudian Lucinda Spurling and Canadian Erik Goulet will enable 13 young children to produce a film for screening at the first BIFF Kids Film Festival.

"Making a film and having it screened at BIFF Kids will not only be great fun for the children, but it will also be an educationally and culturally enriching experience," said BIFF Kids director Aideen Ratteray Pryse.

"This is a fabulous opportunity for young people to learn essential film-making skills and further develop their interest in film under the supervision and instruction of two experienced film-makers."

The initiative was announced by Bermuda International Film Festival (BIFF) and Bank of Butterfield this week.

Interested children between the ages of 11 and 14 are asked to write 100 words about their favourite film or to draw or paint a picture of, or inspired by, their favourite film. Entrants must be sure to include their name, address, age and contact details as all submissions will be placed in a ballot box, and the 13 winners drawn randomly.

The winning entrants must be available between 6.30 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Friday, October 8; noon until 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 9; and 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Sunday, October 10.

"The 13 local children will learn the film language required to tell a story using images and sound," a BIFF Kids spokesperson said. "A set script will be used as the foundation for creating the story board required for planning the film-making process. Workshop participants will perform the various roles involved in the making of a film ? director, actor, cameraman, sound technician, prop master and so on."

Entries must be received by Friday, September 17. They may be submitted via post ? BIFF, PO Box HM 2963, Hamilton, HM MX ? or dropped off at the Butterfield Bank's Reid Street reception or the Bermuda National Library's Youth Division on Church Street. Written entries may be typed or hand written and may be submitted by e-mail to bdafilmibl.bm.

BIFF Kids will be held at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute theatre with films presented for two age groups of children ? seven to ten and 11 through 14. Screening times will be at noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. each day. The film line-up will be announced later this month.

Tickets for the event go on sale Friday, October 1 in the lobby of the Reid Street branch of Butterfield Bank, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. They will also be on sale Saturday, October 2, Friday, October 8 and Saturday, October 9, at the same times and location.

For more information, please telephone 293-3456 or 298-5543.