Local actors, directors and producers will take centre stage at the opening two days of the Bermuda International Film Festival.

Four events highlighting Bermuda talent are slated to run on March 10 and 11 at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.

The Bermuda films will cover topics from Gombey Dancers in training to lionfish divers, the Spirit of Bermuda and artist Heather Nova.

Screening on the opening day of the festival at 4pm is The Isle of the Queen: Bermuda.

The documentary was shot by a German production house with the assistance of Bermudian filmmakers Lara Smith and Milton Raposo.

On the same day at 6pm, the festival will celebrate the film and television career of Bermudian actress Lana Young.

This will be followed by the BIFF 2019 opening party at BUEI from 8pm to 10pm.

An Evening with Lana Young will feature a screening of her latest film, Bentley’s Will in which she plays a lead role.

Ms Young said: “To be supported by BIFF, by my beautiful island in the middle of the sea and my fellow Bermudians, lifts my spirit so high it makes me feel like everything is possible. Thank you for having my back, Bermuda. It means the world to know you’re with me in this crazy and unpredictable business that I love so much.”

On March 11 at 6pm, Bermudian and Bermuda-based short filmmakers, as well as filmmakers who shot parts of their film locally or have other connections to the island, will be screened on what has been dubbed “BerMovies Day”.

Films featured include The Adventures of Raz: Milk Roaches by Bermudian animator Tashel Bean; Prince Jodie and Cicatrix by Rory Wilson, a UK-based Bermudian director; Requiem: The Story of Bermuda’s Disappearing Sharks by Bermuda resident director Alex Godfrey; Silent Times, which is partially shot in Bermuda, by director Christopher Annino, and Raghead, written by Tom Coash, a former resident of Bermuda.

A reception will follow the screenings.

At 8pm on March 11, BIFF will feature Emmanuel Itier’s The Cure, a documentary that Dawn Zuill, a Bermudian, helped to produce with the Hollywood actress Sharon Stone.

The film is described as “a worldwide journey into healing the mind, healing the body, and healing the planet”.

It features Ms Stone, and includes Vandana Shiva, Deepak Chopra and Mark Wahlberg.

Mr Itier, a director, will conduct a documentary master class on March 11 from 10pm to 11.30am, while Ms Young will host an acting master class from 2pm to 4pm.

Festival tickets for BIFF films, master classes and parties are on sale at www.biff.ptix.bm.

The BIFF festival, including award-winning international features, runs from March 10 to 17.