Three days of music, dance, fine food and wine are on offer as part of an October fundraiser for the Bermuda International Film Festival (BIFF).

South African violin virtuoso Samson Diamond, Grammy Award-nominated gospel singer Odetta and the acclaimed Tango Y Mas Dance Company will perform and wine and foods native to South Africa and Argentina have been specially selected for the events.

In addition, an auction will give residents opportunity to bid on film memorabilia and original artwork, visits to film sets and luxurious holidays in destinations around the world.

Staged over three days, Reel World Weekend involves dinner and a performance by Tango Y Mas at the Fairmont Southampton, a South African jol (party) at a private home featuring an intimate performance by Samson and a gospel brunch, again at the Fairmont Southampton, where Odetta and the Seventh Day Adventist Mass Choir will take centre stage.

"All of us on the organising committee for this event are really looking forward to a great weekend," said Festival director Aideen Ratteray Pryse. "The three events are so diverse in nature that there really is something for everyone. The Tango Y Mas dancers have been to Bermuda before, and they are extremely popular.

"Anyone who saw the film Soweto Strings at BIFF this year will know about Samson's incredible musicianship, and of course Odetta is a legend in her own right."

A BIFF spokesperson said the Mid-Ocean Amphitheatre "will be transformed into an elegant Buenos Aires supper club" for Tango Y Mas' performance on Friday, October 10. The group will perform Colours of Tango, an historical account of the journey of the tango from the brothels of Buenos Aires to its ballrooms, under the direction of its choreographer and founder, Angel G. Clemente. Tickets are $200.

A South African jol is planned at the home of Dame Pamela and Andrew Banks the following night.

"South African food and wine will feature at an event that is sure to live long in the memory of its attendees," said the spokesperson. "South African violinist virtuoso Samson Diamond, who was featured in the inspiring documentary film, Soweto Strings, which screened at BIFF 2008, is just one of our guest performers.

"Samson was one of the earliest students of Buskaid, a Soweto-based music school founded and operated by British viola player Rosemary Nalden, who left London for Johannesburg in order to teach young musicians in the South African townships. Samson is now based in the United Kingdom, where he performs with some of the top British orchestras, including the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, the BBC Philharmonic and the Halle Orchestra. Other performers will bring the music and dance of South Africa to this spectacular evening."

Tickets are $450.

A performance by acclaimed gospel singer Odetta, described by the spokesperson as "one of the most important performers of the last 50 years", concludes the three-day fundraiser.

"Awarded the Presidential Medal of Arts in 1999, she took part in the march on Selma, sang for the masses at the 1963 March on Washington, and played for US President John Kennedy and his cabinet on the nationally televised Civil Rights programme Dinner with the President. Artists as diverse as Bob Dylan, Joan Armatrading, Joan Baez and Tracy Chapman credit her influence. At 76, Odetta's voice is as strong and impressive as ever; she performed in January of this year at a Martin Luther King Tribute in New York."

Tickets are $125 for brunch and show, or $75 for the show only.

The spokesperson continued: "The proceeds of Reel World Weekend will go to support the festival's educational programmes, as well as the festival itself. With the funds raised, BIFF seeks to advance film education, promote filmmaking and support film exhibition.

"Activities include: Supporting the BIFF Film Academy ¿ for nursery school, primary school, middle school, senior school and college-age youth ¿ which facilitates the study of the history, theory, art and business of making films, (the) establishment of grants, bursaries and/or fellowships for the study of filmmaking, providing support for the construction, maintenance, operation and support of facilities and equipment for film exhibition in Bermuda and organising and convening symposia, seminars and workshops on film, filmmaking and film education."

Tickets may be reserved by e-mail, eventsbiff.bm, or by calling the festival office, 293-3456.