THE Bermuda International Film Festival (BIFF) has been hailed as one of "20 festivals worth the entry fee" by a prestigious industry magazine.

In its special tenth anniversary issue, managing editor Jennifer M. Wood praised BIFF for the value of its picks, saying it was one of only a few that gave film-makers their money's worth.

". . . there are just a few fests we believe give movie-makers their money's worth," she wrote. "While some festivals use their desirable location just to entice people to come to their event (then usher them into a theatre where they keep them all week), the Bermuda International Film Festival makes the most of paradise ? with seaside parties and events all week long.

"It also doesn't hurt that, at only six years old, the festival is gaining international steam, screening numerous films that had taken home top prizes at Cannes and Locarno before BIFF, and turning a number of magazine editors into converts."

Ms Wood attended last year's festival with her magazine's publisher/editor Timothy Rhys. The magazine has a circulation of 50,000.

BIFF director Aideen Ratteray Pryse welcomed the accolades.

"We are pleased that (they) enjoyed our festival so much, and that (they) think of the BIFF festival team so highly," she said. "In our case, it really does take an island to put on a film festival ? and we are extremely appreciative of the important roles played by our many festival volunteers, as well as our film-goers, sponsors and patrons, who together have made significant contributions to our success."

BIFF 2004 takes place from March 19-25.