jurors at the premier Bermuda International Film Festival announce the festival winner.

"Film is magic and you can't really quantify it,'' Canadian juror Tom Shoebridge explained.

But the jury, consisting of American actress, author and producer Jane Alexander, film aficionado and Mid-Ocean News Editor Tim Hodgson, and Mr.

Shoebridge -- the President of Ottawa's Summer Institute of Film and Technology -- face the difficult task of singling out just one of the festival's 14 independently-produced feature films.

And it's no easy task, they say, because the festival has brought to Island screens an eclectic cross-section of documentary and drama films, some made on a shoestring while others are the product of deeper pockets.

Jurors will be weighing directorial competence, story, and the intangible human qualities of each production.

"That includes how well did the director use his actors; how good were the actors and the acting,'' said Mr. Shoebridge.

Plus say the jurors, there is a "bonus'' category allowing them to identify the film with that special "unknown'' magic.

While the jury may be out on the winning film however, they were unanimous in their praise for festival organisers, the venues, and the quality of all productions in general.

"I'm astonished the (festival) committee could see so many films and select such very fine fare indeed,'' said Ms Alexander.

The festival -- which kicked off on May 1 and wraps up tonight with a closing gala at Ariel Sands Beach Club -- offered film buffs a chance to view independently-produced feature and short films from the UK, US, Canada, as well as Russian and India.

"Let's face it,'' said Ms Alexander, "the independents are the farm team for the large commercial industry and they've been around for as long as film's been around.'' Judging from the work, she added, some of the actors had very promising futures in the industry.

Festival organisers, meanwhile, said they were "extremely pleased'' with the festival's first steps and were already looking forward to next year.

"I wish you success, but I don't wish you Hollywood,'' said Mr. Shoebridge, who said the festival has shown the potential to bring Bermuda's cultural and physical uniqueness to the wider world.

Jane Alexander FILM FESTIVAL MPC REVIEW REV