French comedy Lolo is set to open the 2016 Bermuda International Film Festival.

It is part of a “carefully curated” programme of feature-length and short films that will be screened at City Hall, the festival’s new venue.

“To mark BIFF’s [Bermuda International Film Festival] move to the city, the defining narrative thread of ‘Cityscapes and Dreamscapes’ runs through the film programme this year,” organisers said.

“Urban backdrops from around the world contrast with more abstract landscapes to achieve true diversity and something for all tastes within the film selection.

“As ever the backbone of the festival is the celebrated World Cinema line-up, this year bringing features from France, Spain, Norway, Denmark, Luxembourg, Palestine, United States and the UK.”

Lolo, which premiered at Venice International Film Festival last summer, follows a 40-year-old workaholic who falls for a provincial computer geek while on a spa retreat with her best friend, but he must win the trust and respect of her teenage son for their fledgling relationship to survive.

The World Cinema offerings include the subversive drama Carol, which is nominated for a six Oscars this year, and Dheepan, the story of a Tamil freedom fighter. It took the prestigious Palm d’Or award at Cannes last year.

BIFF will also be screening Where to Invade Next, the latest documentary from Academy Award-winning director Michael Moore.

Two of the features explore the performing arts world: The Idol, inspired by a true story, follows a young contestant from Gaza into the final round of Arab Idol, and Miss Sharon Jones! follows R&B queen Sharon Jones over the course of a personally difficult year through the lens of two-time Academy Award-winning director Barbara Kopple.

BIFF 2016 attendees will also be treated to Bolshoi Babylon, a documentary granted unprecedented backstage access to the world-famous Russian theatre.

Another documentary, The Fear of 13, will take audiences to Death Row to hear the confessions and musings of convicted murderer Nick Yarris.

Rich European drama, Louder Than Bombs; frenetic Spanish comedy, My Big Night; and Scottish epic romance, Sunset Song, complete the World Cinema line-up.

Local offerings include the documentary Respice Finem: The History of The Berkeley Institute, directed by Karli Powell, Kara Smith and Lucinda Spurling.

The latest short film from Bermudian director Marq Rodriguez, Confessions:Complexions, which follows two stepsisters in their pursuit of beauty, will also be shown in the ‘From the Onion Patch’ segment.

As BIFF is one of only a small number of Academy Award Qualifying festivals for the Short Film — Live Action Oscar, there will again be a selection of short films from all around the world with about 20 entries competing for the Jury Prize.

The French drama Marguerite, set in the roaring Twenties, will close the festival.

The 19th annual Bermuda International Film Festival will take place from March 4 to 11. The box office will open this month, when the full programme and more detailed synopses will be available at www.biff.bm

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