THE island's first film festival for kids will see local children decide the top two winners.

The Bermuda International Film Festival (BIFF) and Butterfield Bank yesterday invited children between the ages of seven and 14 to submit essays on why they should serve as jurors for the upcoming competition.

"We invite children ages seven to 14 who are interested in sitting on our juries to write to us, telling us in 100 to 250 words, why they liked a particular film that they have seen any time in the last two years," said BIFF Kids director Aideen Ratteray Pryse .

"We will read all the entries and will select the winners based on the film reviews that have been sent to us. We will announce the winners, and the two, three-person juries will watch the films for free during the festival in October, and select the winning film in each category."

Prospective jurors are reminded to include their age and contact details with their entries, which must be received by Friday, September 17.

According to a BIFF spokesperson, the Kids Festival will present eight films, four suitable for viewing by the seven to ten age group, and four suitable for viewing by the 11 to 14 age group. All screenings will take place at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute theatre.

"Butterfield Bank is delighted to be the presenting sponsor of BIFF Kids," said Alan Thompson, president and CEO of Butterfield Bank. "Inviting local children to sit on the juries is a great way to involve the local community in a festival that is sure to be a terrific addition to the local arts scene for young people."

The BIFF Kids Festival follows seven successful competitions geared towards adults, organised by the BIFF team and its volunteers. Those successes were most recently acknowledged by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scientists, which granted BIFF status as an Oscar qualifier for short films.

As of next year, short films accepted into BIFF will automatically become eligible for Oscar consideration provided they meet the Academy's qualifying criteria. In the past, films had to have had a theatrical run in Los Angeles County before they could receive Oscar consideration.

q Entries must be neatly typed or handwritten and may be mailed to PO Box HM 2963, Hamilton HM MX ? or dropped off at the Butterfield Bank, Reid Street reception, or at the Bermuda Youth Library on Church Street. Entries may also be submitted by e-mail, bdafilmibl.bm.

q Tickets for BIFF Kids films are $10, and will be on sale the first two Fridays and Saturdays in October ? 1, 2, 8, and 9 ? between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the lobby of Butterfield Bank's Reid Street branch. 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 in September.