Bermuda International Film Festival.

Genghis Blues, which is nominated for a documentary Academy Award, will be one of 14 feature films/documentaries aired during next month's six-day festival.

Yesterday, festival director Aideen Ratteray Pryse announced the line-up for the April 14-20 event which will also showcase 15 short films.

In addition to Genghis Blues (which won the 1999 Sundance Audience Award), the Hollywood Film Festival's best feature winner The Children of Chabannes and the Neil Leifer short film starring Bill Murray and Alec Baldwin Scout's Honour will also be screen to local audiences.

Two Bermuda entries will make an appearance in the short film programme -- Allure, directed by Mount St. Agnes graduate Christine Barker and White Caps, directed by Andrew Green.

The films were selected from a record 242 entries which came from as far as Greece, Holland and Australia.

"We received more films than ever before this year and we are very excited by the variety and quality of the entries,'' said Ms Ratteray Pryse. "We know that the film-making community has heard about the Bermuda International Film Festival and directors around the world are eager to submit their movies and travel to Bermuda for the event.'' Audiences will see both a short and feature film as screenings To accommodate the large number of short films in this year's line-up, Ms Ratteray Pryse said that audiences at every screening will see both a short and a feature film.

And additional screenings have been added to the BIFF schedule resulting in both Liberty and Little Theatres showing matinees.

"With additional screenings, we will be better able to accommodate what we expect will be a large number of people interested in seeing the films,'' Ms Ratteray Pryse added.

Three awards will be handed out during the festival -- the Jury Prize, the Audience Choice Award and the Bermuda Shorts Award.

*** Here is the list of the films to be screened during the Bermuda International Film Festival: Feature and documentaries: Anima, USA, directed by Craig Richardson. An elderly couple, living in idyllic seclusion in New England, are discovered by a young man bent on knowing and exploiting the dark mysteries of their past; The Auteur Theory, USA, directed by Evan Oppenheimer. A black comedy/who-done-it in a film festival setting; The Children of Chabannes, USA, documentary, directed by Lisa Gossels and Dean Wetherell. The story of how the people of Chabannes, France, saved the lived of Jewish refugee children during the Second World War; Genghis Blues, USA, documentary, directed by Adrian and Roko Belic. A film about the exploration and friendship, which delved into the mystery of Tuvan throat-singing; Human Traffic, UK, directed Justin Kerrigan. A hilarious look at the UK's `Generation Y' and its pill-popping culture; Hurrah, Australia, directed by Frank Shields. A mysterious story of true love finding its own place and time; I want to Blow Up Silicon Valley, USA, directed by Jason Ward. A man's search for his past yields unlikely alliances and unexpected results as he takes action to disrupt the `progress' of Silicon Valley; Juvies, USA, documentary, directed by Liz Garbus. A disturbing look inside the juvenile justice system. Ms Garbus' previous BIFF entry, The Farm, was nominated for an Academy Award in 1999; Nasty Neighbours, UK, directed by Debbie Isitt. A thrilling black comedy that outs England under the spotlight and exposes cracks in the veneer of cul-de-sac life; Out of Depth, UK, directed by Simon Marshall. A tragic story of misguided goof intentions, family love and personal hopes and fears; Seducing Maarya, Canada, directed by Hunt Hoe. The story of Indian immigrants to Canada. A film about crossing boundaries -- personal, cultural and sexual; Simfonia Haraktiron (Dancing Soul), Greece, directed by Lucia Rikaki. This is a poetic film in which the wounded souls of a dancer and fencer are healed; The Tavern, USA, directed by Walter Foote. Two friends open a tavern in New York, which becomes a test of their wit and character, loyalty and faith; The Young Girl and The Monsoon, USA, directed by James Ryan. A film of amiable charm and offbeat humour that portrays the tug-of-war between a father and a daughter.

*** Short films: 6%, UK, directed by Simon Edwards; Allerd Fishbein's In Love, USA, directed by Danny Greenfield; Allure, USA, directed by Christine Barker who is a Bermudian; Das Clown, USA, directed by Tom Brown; Dead On Time, UK, directed by James Larkin; Devil Doll Omar The Short, USA, directed by Jarl Olsen; Grandfather's Birthday, USA, directed by Gayle Knutson; idolle, Germany, directed by Petra Schroder; Out The Fire, USA, directed by Luke Jaeger; papa's kleine meid, Holland, directed by Mathijs Geijskes; Scout's Honor, USA, directed by Neil Leifer; The Transformation, USA, Barry Strugatz; White Caps, Bermuda, directed Andrew Green who is a resident of Bermuda; and Who Me?, USA, directed by Dane Picard.

Individual tickets, Festival Passes and Partial Passes for the features and shorts can be purchased from the Visitor Service Bureau box office from April 3.

Top film: The poster for Genghis Blues which won the 1999 Sundance Audience Award.

MOVIES MPC