be available to aspiring local film makers over a full day of workshops in conjunction with the Bermuda International Film Festival tomorrow.

All the workshops are free of charge but BIFF organisers are recommending that people pre-register on the website (www.bermudafilmfest.com). The six workshops will be held at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.

New York Magazine film critic Peter Rainer, a past Pulitzer Prize nominee for criticism, and Iain Johnstone, a former film critic for The Sunday Times, are heading up a prestigious panel on `The Role of the Press' which runs from 10.15 a.m. till 11.15 a.m. tomorrow. In addition to his role as critic, Mr.

Johnstone has had a hand in script writing working with Monty Python alum John Cleese on the scripts for the films A Fish Called Wanda and Fierce Creatures.

Also on the press panel will be the editor of Film Journal, Kevin Lally, and David Sterritt of the Christian Science Monitor.

The first workshop of the day, kicking off at 9.00 a.m. will be on "Telling the Story'' and will feature actor Peter Reigert (Local Hero, Animal House, Crossing Delaney). Mr. Reigert is also competing in BIFF this year with his directorial debut -- By Courier, based on an O. Henry story -- being screened among the shorts. The panelists will discuss how they find and develop storylines for their films.

The final three panels of the day will focus upon the nitty-gritty realities of making independent films -- financing, marketing and distribution.

BIFF organisers have put together a treasure trove of experience for these panels drawing in representatives from Miramax Films (Andrew Herwitz), Alliance Atlantis Communications (Victor Loewry), Manhattan Pictures International (Paul Cohen), the Irish Film Board (Rod Stoneman) and entertainment attorney, author and producer's representative Mark Litwak.

The 3.00 p.m. session on film financing will focus particularly on the role Bermuda can play in financing independent films with AS&K attorney Debra Poole offering lessons from her experiences related to film financing using Bermuda legal vehicles.

MOVIES MPC