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Tuesday, March 20-----Eight documentary features from first or second time directors are competing for Jury Prizes at the Bermuda International Film Festival, which has come to its mid-way point. The Award for Best Documentary Film, along with other prizes, will be announced at the Gala Awards Ceremony to be held on Saturday night, March 24.

NEW REALITIES – COMPETITION DOCUMENTARIES

BEYOND THE CALL
(Adrian Belic, United States)

In an Indiana Jones meets Mother Teresa adventure, three middle-aged men, former soldiers and modern-day knights, travel the world delivering life saving humanitarian aid directly into the hands of civilians and doctors in some of the most dangerous yet beautiful places on Earth, including Afghanistan, Albania, Chechnya, Cambodia, Burma, Thailand, Rwanda and the southern Philippines.

THE CATS OF MIRIKITANI
(Linda Hattendorf, United States)

Jimmy Mirikitani, an 85-year-old Japanese-American born in Sacramento and raised in Hiroshima, is living on the streets of New York in January 2001. When a neighbouring filmmaker stops to ask about Mirikitani's art, a friendship begins that will change both their lives. Winner, Audience Award, Tribeca Film Festival.

GOLDEN LOTUS, THE LEGACY OF BOUND FEET
(Joanne Cheng, China)

Against the backdrop of China’s modernity, and from along the banks of the northern Yellow River to remote Yunnan Village in southwest China, the filmmaker searches for the last survivors of Bound Feet – China’s 1000-year-old tradition of erotic beauty, mutilation and female survival.

A HEBREW LESSON
(David Ofek and Ron Rotem, Israel)

This delightful, thought-provoking documentary chronicles the lives of several immigrants to Israel who meet in a Hebrew language Ulpan (language class). Coming from such diverse places as China, Russia, Peru and other places, the differences between them is obvious, so is the common demonitator of thir humanity and their longing for a better life in their newly adopted country.

LIVING WITH LEW
(Adam Bardach, United States)

At the age of 33, Scott Lew was tragically diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Despite this devastating news and the rapid progression of his disability, Scott forges ahead with his dream to direct his first feature film. His relentless lust for life and wild, subversive sense of humour keep him going  through the bleakest of prognoses.

ROW HARD, NO EXCUSES
(Luke Wolbach, United States)

Two lifelong friends in their 40s compete in the Transatlantic Rowing Challenge, a two person, 3000 mile race across the Atlantic Ocean from Tenerife to Barbados that takes over 3 months to complete. The challenges of the race, wind, water, sun, exhaustion, and injury boil each team member down to his essence.

SLEEPING ISLAND
(David Martin de los Santos, Spain)

This rich, evocative, lyrical documentary speaks to a hidden Cuba, a magical, mystical place full of mystery and quiet beauty. With vibrant cinematography and incredible interviews the filmmakers get to the heart of Cuba’s Afro-Caribbean heritage.

STORM OF EMOTIONS
(Yael Klopmann, Israel)

This riveting film is a chronicle of the forced removal of Israeli settlers from the Gaza Strip. The action of Israeli soldiers forcibly removing their own citizens unleashes a storm of political and social turmoil.

Sandy Mandelberger, Bermuda FF Online Dailies Editor