ACTOR Michael Douglas has again lent his support to the Bermuda International Film Festival (BIFF). A special preview of his new movie, , will open the annual event next month.

The gift of the film, which will not be released in the United States until some weeks later, marks the second time the Bermuda resident has contributed his talent to the event.

"Having a special sneak preview is just tremendous for our festival," said BIFF director Aideen Ratteray Pryse.

"We are delighted to have the film, and most thankful to Mr. Douglas for offering it to us. He provided us with for opening night two years ago, and was in touch again this year. We are most grateful for his support of our festival."

Like its title, the film, directed by Fred Schepisi, is a family affair. Joining Mr. Douglas in the cast is his father Kirk, his son Cameron and his mother Diana. Rory Culkin and Bernadette Peters also star.

features Michael Douglas as Alex Gromberg, a man caught in the middle. Trying to avoid the mistakes his father made while coming to terms with the ones he has already passed on to his own sons, Alex is navigating the tricky roles of father, son, and husband. Mr. Schepisi's previous films include and .

Michael Douglas has appeared in more than 50 films, including , and . He won an Oscar for Best Actor for , and shared Best Picture Academy Award honours for with co-producer Saul Zaentz in 1976. His role in earned him a Golden Globe as Best Actor.

Kirk Douglas has appeared in more than 100 films. He was nominated for Best Actor for his roles in and . He won a Golden Globe for his role as Vincent Van Gogh in , a role that also won him a Best Actor from the New York Film Critics Circle. Among his many noteable achievements, the Screen Actors Guild gave him a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999.

A second coup was scored with , the film selected to close this year's Festival, added Mrs. Ratteray Pryse.

An Alliance Atlantis Pictures release, the film opens in Canada and the United States in May. Victor Loewy, chairman of the motion picture division at Alliance Atlantis in Toronto, sits on BIFF's International Advisory Board, as does Tom Bernard, co-president of Sony Pictures Classics, which will release the film in the US. "Victor is a great friend of our festival, and we are pleased and grateful that he has given us for closing night," she said.

Directed by Richard Kwietniowski, tells the story of polite, mild-mannered Dan Mahowny, an assistant bank manager with a head for numbers, a knack for making decisions, and a devastating appetite for gambling. Dan Mahowny is the unlikely hero who takes on two of the financial institutions everyone loves to hate, the bank and the casino, and, for a brief while, he wins.

The most remarkable thing about this phenomenal story of $10.2 million of siphoned bank funds, staggering levels of embezzlement, and millions upon millions of dollars funnelled through the gambling networks, is that its central character is unphenomenal. stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, John Hurt and Minnie Driver. It will be screened at the Liberty Theatre at 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 17. will screen at the Liberty Theatre at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 11. A production of Mr. Douglas' production company, Furthur Films, it will be released by MGM Pictures and Buena Vista International in the United States on April 25.

Passes for any seven or 14 films are on sale between March 17-24 at . Individual tickets go on sale on March 31 at the Visitors Service Bureau on Front Street. The film festival runs from April 11 through 17.