THE Bermuda International Film Festival (BIFF) will be held a month earlier next year, organisers announced this week.

The Festival's conflicting with the XL Tennis Tournament, and a hope that the earlier scheduling might enable more of the film industry's heavy hitters to attend, were given as reasons behind the switch.

Held in May in its first years - 1997 and 1998 - BIFF has run every April since 2000. The next Festival is planned for March 19 to 25.

"We have contemplated this move for some time," said BIFF director Aideen Ratteray Pryse. "There are several reasons behind the move, not least of which is the conflict we have in April with the XL Tennis Tournament. That impacts our ability to attract volunteers, without whose support our event simply would not function as well as it does.

"We were well-supported at the box office in April, with many screenings sold out. In fact, we had record box office this year - but a move into March is something we feel will have a positive effect on attendance as well. No longer will film and tennis buffs have to make a difficult choice between attending a top independent film or watching two of the world's top tennis players square off."

The move to March is also expected to help the festival attract film industry heavyweights.

"Cannes is in May, and in mid-April, the heavyweights of the film business are busy preparing for their visit to Cannes," Ms. Ratteray Pryse said. "They either have a film at Cannes, or are interested in acquiring a film at Cannes, or are busy lining up meetings with other industry types during Cannes week.

"That makes it difficult for them to shoot down to Bermuda in April, even for a few days. By moving the festival to March, there is a greater chance we will be able to attract those people."

The deadline for receiving film entries for BIFF 2004, is November 1, 2003.