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“In The Valley of Elah” “I’m Through With White Girls” “Rose” and “Iron Ladies of Liberia” Take Home Top Prizes.
Local Bahamian Filmmaker Gustavius Smith Wins $10,000 From Festival Filmmaker Residency Program
Competition winners were announced today at the awards ceremony, sponsored by Chopard, for the 4th Bahamas International Film Festival, held at the Atlantis Hotel & Resort on Paradise Island in Nassau. The announcements were made by Festival Founder and Executive Director Leslie Vanderpool with special presenter, actor Anthony Mackie.

The Festival showcased 88 films from 26 different countries, including 54 features of which several are world or international premieres and nearly all Bahamian premieres. The four competition categories at BIFF are Spirit of Freedom: Dramatic; Spirit of Freedom: Documentary; New Vision; and Short Film.

Below are the official competition winners at this year’s Bahamas International Film Festival:


New Vision
The New Vision Award sponsored by Hard Rock Café was awarded to the romantic comedy “I’m through With White Girls” from Director Jennifer Sharp.

Spirit of Freedom: Dramatic
The Spirit of Freedom: Dramatic Award sponsored by Chopard was awarded to the drama “In The Valley of Elah” from Director Paul Haggis.

Spirit of Freedom: Documentary
The Spirit of Freedom: Documentary Award sponsored by Chopard was awarded to “The Iron Ladies of Liberia” from Directors Daniel Junge and Siatta Scott Johnson.

Short Film
The Award for Best Short Film, sponsored by Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch was awarded to “Rose” from Director Hoku Uchiyama.

Capping off the ceremony was the announcement that BIFF’s Filmmaker Residency Program, jointly sponsored by Ansbacher, will award $10,000 to local Bahamian filmmaker Gustavius Smith for his project BUILT FOR LOAD. An honorable mention was given to Jason Darcy for his project ADAM’S QUEST.

BIFF’s newly installed Filmmaker Residency Program was established to award a significant cash prize to a deserving independent Bahamian and Caribbean filmmaker vying for funding on his or her project. The prize money will go directly towards the development and production of the film.

The esteemed group of Filmmaker Residency Advisors presiding over this year’s program and evaluating the candidates included Shoreline Entertainment CEO Morris Ruskin, filmmaker Lawrence Konner (“Mighty Joe Young”), producer Norman Golightly (“Ghost Rider”), veteran film festival director Nicole Guillemet, and writer/director Susan Jacobsen.