For IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15, 2006
Contact: Jean Desire
Boston Int’l Film Festival
617-482-3900

BIFF 2006 Award Winners

Congratulations to all of the filmmakers who
participated in the 2006 Fourth Annual Boston
International Film Festival. The winning films were
announced at the closing ceremony night at the
AMC Loews Theatres Boston Common on
Thursday, June 15, 2006. The Festival gathered
and recognized a group of multicultural filmmakers
from around the world who were cited for their
outstanding achievements.

________________________________________
FEATURE FILM AWARDS

Indie Spirit Best Picture Award
Frank Muggia for HOT TAMALE


Indie Spirit Best Story Line Award
Gabrielle Savage Dockterman for
MISSING IN AMERICA

Indie Spirit Best Director Award
DB Sweeney for DIRT NAP

Indie Spirit Best Actor Award
Jazsmin Lewis for TRACI TWONSEND

Indie Spirit Best Cinematography Award
Hiro Narita, A.F.C./A.S.C. for
VALLEY OF THE HEART’S DELIGHT

Indie Spirit Special Recognition Award
Sacha Parisot for LA REBELLE

Indie Spirit Special Recognition Award
Bobby Thompson for
TRACI TOWNSEND
________________________________________
SHORT FILM AWARDS

Indie Soul Best Picture Award
Vince Marcello for ZOMBIE PROM

Indie Soul Best Story Line Award
Keith Davis for FATHER’S DAY

Indie Soul Best Cinematography Award
Esther Peres for ELEVEN ELEVEN

Indie Soul Best Actor Award
Damian Dante Wayans for THE LAST MEAL

Special Recognition Award
Almayvonne Dixon for 3 THE HARD WAY

Special Recognition Award
Dan Hartley for LOVE YOU JOSEFF HUGHES


Special Recognition Award
Asma May Fouathia for MUSH

Special Recognition Award
Simbi Hall for LONG STORY SHORT

________________________________________
DOCUMENTARY AWARDS

Indie Spec Best Documentary Award
Andrea Kalin for THE PACT

Indie Spec Best Jury Award
Ray Ellin for THE LATIN LEGENDS OF COMEDY

Indie Spec Best content Award
Kelly Duda for FACTOR 8

Indie Spec Special Recognition Award
Joe Cultrera for HAND OF GOD

Indie Spec Special Recognition Award
Rick Wilkinson for JOURNEY INTO SUNSET

________________________________
ANIMATION AWARD

Best Animated film Award
Rod Maxwell for The Wishing Well

_____________________________
SCREENPLAY TO PRODUCTION

The Vision
By Mike Gerrard

December 31
By Julia Liberman

Life
By George Andrade
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
For IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 11, 2006
Contact: Jordan Stabile
Boston International Film Festival
617-742-3500

THE FOURTH ANNUAL
BOSTON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Boston, MA---The FOURTH ANNUAL BOSTON
INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL will kick off
opening night, June 7, 2006, with the New England
premieres of Rick Wilkinson’s Journey Into Sunset
and  Tim Boxell’s Valley of the Heart’s Delight.  



Journey Into Sunset documents actor Don Cheadle
and his family as they visit Africa for a charity
screening of his award-winning film Hotel
Rwanda.  As Cheadle and his family meet Sudanese
refugees their eyes, and the audience’s, are
opened to the suffering that has too often taken
place far outside the scope of Western media.



Valley of the Heart’s Delight tells the true story of
one depression-era reporter’s investigation of a
kidnapping and eventual murder that leads him
through a struggle with the ignorance and
corruption of the police and his own newspaper,
and with a public intent on lynching.  



Following this first screening will be a Gala Party
where guests can  meet many of the actors and
directors featured in the festival, which will be
running from June 7 through the 15.    

The Festival will screen over 110 of the latest and
most choice short and feature-length independent
films from Africa, Europe, Asia, North and South
America, and Australia.   It offers Bostonians a
unique opportunity to experience a wide variety of
the best new documentaries, dramas, comedies,
and gems of animation.  

Visit www.bifilmfestival.com <http://www.
bifilmfestival.com/>  for schedules, film synopses,
and film stills.

Reserve tickets by phone at 617-482-3900, or
purchase tickets online.  Choose from several
categories of attendance:  Individual Session
Tickets, All Screening Passes, or the All Access VIP
Passes which will entitle holders to attend all film
sessions and all social events associated with the
festival where they get a chance to meet some
influential people in the film industry including
some of the writers, directors, producers and the
stars of these independent films.



______________________________________
For IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 27, 2005
Contact: Kolomo Vanterpool
Boston Int’l Film Festival
781-935-0871

BIFF 2005 Award Winners

Congratulations to all of the filmmakers who
participated in the 2005 Third Annual Boston
International Film Festival. The winning films were
announced at the closing ceremony night at the
Hynes Convention Center in Boston on Sunday, June
26, 2005. The Festival gathered and recognized a
group of multicultural filmmakers from around the
world who were cited for their outstanding
achievements.

FEATURE FILM AWARDS

Indie Spirit Best Picture Award
Zola Maseko for DRUM

Indie Spirit Best Jury Award
Adam Selkowitz for GREENER MOUNTAINS

Indie Spirit Best Director Award
Zola Maseko for DRUM

Indie Spirit Best Actor Award
Taye Diggs for DRUM

Indie Spirit Best Cinematography Award
Fernando Fragata for THE TRUNK

Indie Spirit Special Recognition Award
Jonathan Heidelberger for GOODBYE HELLO

Indie Spirit Special Recognition Award
Eric Chambers for LOST IN PLAINVIEW

SHORT FILM AWARDS

Indie Soul Best Picture Award
Ari Sandel for WEST BANK STORY

Indie Soul Best Story Line Award
March & McKinley for OXTAILS

Indie Soul Best Cinematography Award
David Rick Balcorta for DON’T GIVE ME THE FINGER

Indie Soul Best Jury Award
Julien Roussel for AIMEE PRICE

Special Recognition Award
Michael Mahonen for SANDSTORM

Special Recognition Award
Darryl Smith for ONE LIFE TO GIVE

Special Recognition Award
Henry Miller for QUITTERS

Special Recognition Award
Michael Scalisi for SPIT

DOCUMENTARY AWARDS

Indie Spec Best Documentary Award
Carlos DeMenezes for TRESPASSING

Indie Spec Best Jury Award
Thea-Marie Perkins for BLACK THEATRE TODAY

Indie Spec Best content Award
Shaun Monson for EARTHLINGS

Indie Spec Special Recognition Award
Erez Barzilay for A CRY FOR MADIOM

Indie Spec Special Recognition Award
Debbie Takikawa for WHAT BABIES WANT

ANIMATION AWARD

Best Animated film Award
Jeff Fowler for GOPHER BROKE
_________________________________________________________________________
For IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 1, 2005
Contact: Kolomo Vanterpool
Boston Int’l Film Festival
617-742-3500

THE THIRD ANNUAL
BOSTON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Boston, MA---The THIRD ANNUAL BOSTON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
will kick off opening night, June 22, 2005 with the New England premiere of award
winning feature film, “Drum”, a true story about the growth of apartheid in
Johannesburg in the 50’s.  The film stars Taye Diggs in the role of a fearless, hard
drinking, charming young writer who goes undercover to daringly document the
multiplying tales of injustice that were occurring all around.    This First Session will
be followed by a Gala Party event.   There is something for everyone in this Festival,
ongoing from June 22 through June 26, 2005, providing an exciting, diverse, multi-
cultural experience for its audiences.  

The Boston International Film Festival is dedicated to honoring, encouraging and
rewarding the many talented and creative independent filmmakers from around the
world who dare to express themselves in new, unique and imaginative ways.

The Festival will screen the latest and most choice independent films from Africa,
Europe, Asia, North America and Australia.   It offers Bostonians a unique opportunity
to taste a wide variety of the best new documentaries, short films and gems of
animation as well as its outstanding roster of feature films.

For more information or to see the Schedule, where you can also read synopsis of
each film to be shown including plot summaries and screen shots of the cast,  
visit the web site: www.bifilmfestival.com .

To reserve your tickets now call 617-742-3500, or purchase your tickets on line.  
Choose from several categories of attendance:  Individual Session Tickets, All
Screening Passes, or the All Access VIP Passes which will entitle holders to attend all
film sessions, all after hours events and to meet some of the influential people in the
film industry including writers, directors, producers and the stars of these
independent films.

________________________________________



July 1, 2004

BIFF 2004 Award Winners

Congratulations to all of the filmmakers who participated in the 2004 Boston
International Film Festival. The winning films were announced at a closing night
ceremony held at the ROXY in Boston on Sunday, June 27, 2004. The Festival brought
together and honored a multicultural group of filmmakers from around the world who
were cited for their outstanding achievements.


FEATURE FILM AWARDS

Indie Spirit Best Picture Award
Brian Presley for GUARDING EDDY

Indie Spirit Best Jury Award
Robert Pratten for LONDON VOODOO

Indie Spirit Best Director Award
Scott McKinsey for GUARDING EDDY

Indie Spirit Best Actor Award
Kiko Ellsworth and Brian Presley for GUARDING EDDY

Indie Spirit Best Cinematography Award
Matthew Power for THROG

SHORT FILM AWARDS

Indie Soul Best Picture Award
Kevin Ackerman for LONELY PLACE

Indie Soul Best Short Award
Eric Devlin Taylor for HEADACHE

Indie Soul Best Cinematography Award
Steeve Gainer, ASC for LONELY PLACE

Indie Soul Best Jury Award
Paul Baker for CHANCE

Special Recognition Award
Lisa P. Hagerty for STRIKINGLY SINGLE

Special Recognition Award
Daniel Small for TIME AND AGAIN

Special Recognition Award
Tate Taylor for CHICKEN PARTY

Special Recognition Award
Miguel Gallego for THE CRYPT CLUB

DOCUMENTARY AWARDS

Indie Spec Best Documentary Award
Ziad Hamzeh for THE LETTER

Indie Spec Best Jury Award
Jonathan Schwartz for TURNED OUT; Sexual Assault Behind Bars

Indie Spec Special Recognition Award
Maryanne Galvin for THE PURSUIT OF PLEASURE

Indie Spec Special Recognition Award
Rhonda Haynes for BRINGING IN DA SPIRIT

ANIMATION AWARD

Best Animated film Award
Jim Goodman for THE DEVIL & MANNY SCHMECKSTEIN

========================================


June 1, 2004
For Immediate Release;
Contact; Monica Ursino or Michelle Algarin

THE SECOND ANNUAL
BOSTON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Boston, MA -- Bway 7 Productions announces the 2nd Annual Boston International Film Festival
beginning June 24th through June 27th 2004.

The Boston International Film Festival is dedicated to honoring, encouraging and rewarding the
many talented, creative, independent filmmakers from around the world who dare to express
themselves in new, unique and imaginative ways.

The Festival will be screening 114 short and feature films on both film print and video. Included
in the Festival are films from Canada, Mexico, Germany, Taiwan, South Korea, Iraq, Australia,
France, Japan, Brazil, England, Namibia, the United States, etc.

The Festival screenings will take place at the:

John Hancock Hall: 200 Berkeley St., Boston (Copley Square Area)
Hynes Convention Center: 900 Boylston St., Boston
The Bill Bordy Theatre: 216 Tremont St., Boston

A major goal of the 2nd annual Boston International Film Festival is to expand the national and
international interest in and reputation of the Festival, thereby attracting more film industry
professionals and an even higher quality of films and filmmakers. As an annual event,
increased press coverage and greater attendance of the Festival insures an ongoing multi-
cultural experience for Bostonians. This Festival will support businesses as well as all community
resources that support Boston’s economy and cultural development by bringing together
filmmakers and moviegoers from around the world. Furthermore, the Festival promotes
filmmakers who manage to illustrate their independent vision at the finest level of expression.

For more information, you can visit our website at www.bifilmfestivall.com or you may contact us
via e-mail: bifilmfestival@aol.com, or Phone 617-426-4600 / 781-935-0871.
_____________________________________________________

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 25, 2004
All Access VIP Passes
Contact; Jean Desire
Boston Int’l Film Festival
781-935-0871

THE SECOND ANNUAL
BOSTON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Boston, MA- Bway 7 Productions announces the Second Annual Boston International Film Festival
starting June 24th through the June 27th of 2004.

Contact Bway 7 Productions to reserve your All Access VIP Passes at 617-426-4600 or 781-935-
0871. With your VIP Pass you can attend the sessions, all after hours events and meet some of
the influential people in the industry such as Writers, Directors, Producers, and the Stars of
these independent films.

The Boston International Film Festival is a celebration for filmmakers worldwide. It is a
spectacular and ambitious undertaking. It is dedicated to honoring, encouraging and rewarding
the many talented, creative, independent filmmakers from around the world who dare to
express themselves in new, unique and imaginative ways.

The Festival will be screening movies on film and video from around the world, the screenings
will take place at the following locations.

John Hancock Hall; 180 Berkeley Street, Boston Back Bay/Copley Square area.
Hynes Convention Center; 900 Boylston St. Boston, MA 02115 and
Bill Bordy Theater; 216 Tremont St. Boston, MA 02116.

The Boston International Film Festival’s current goal is to create an annual event that would
produce a multi-cultural experience for Bostonians. This Festival will assist businesses as well as
all community resources that support Boston’s economy and cultural development, by bringing
together filmmakers and moviegoers from around the world. Furthermore, the Festival will
promote filmmakers who manage to illustrate their independent vision at the finest level of
expression.

For more information, you can visit our website at www.bifilmfestivall.com or you may contact us
via e-mail: info@bifilmfestival.com, or Phone 617-426-4600 or 781-935-0871.
====================================================================
============
_____________________________________________________


----------------------------------------------------------------

July 7, 2003
For Immediate Release

Contact: Erica Morales at Bway 7 Productions,
781-935-0871

FIRST ANNUAL
BOSTON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Eric Perlmutter “Season Of Youth”
1st Winner of the Indie Spirit Category (for Best Narrative Feature)

Dan Halperin “Road Doggs”
2nd Winner of the Indie Spirit Category

Sayed Badreya “T for Terrorist”
1st Winner of the Indie Soul Category (for Best Narrative Short)

Rebecca Abbott “Herbert III”
2nd Winner of the Indie Soul Category

Eric Devlin Taylor “March 1st”
3rd Winner of the Indie Soul Category

Gayle Ferraro “Anonymously Yours”
1st Winner of the Indie Spec Category (for Best Documentary Feature)

Laura Kightlinger “Sixty Spins Around The Sun”
(for best Documentary)

Harriet Hirshorn “Raboteau Trial”
3rd Winner of the Indie Spec Category

Special Recognitions

Todd Norwood “Jack Milton; Fairy Tale Detective”
Winner of the Best Story Line Award

Darren Genet “March 1st”
Winner of the Best Cinematography Award

George Moore and Aleta Staton “Herbert III”
Winner of Best Acting Performance Award

Todd Norwood “Jack Milton; Fairy Tale Detective”
Winner of Best Achievement in Creativity

_____________________________________________________

June 2003
THE FIRST BOSTON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Sponsored by Bway 7 ProductionsBoston, MA- Bway 7 Productions announces the first Boston
International Film Festival Starting July 3rd through the 5th of 2003.

The Boston International Film Festival is a celebration for filmmakers worldwide. It is a
spectacular and ambitious undertaking. It is dedicated to honoring, encouraging and rewarding
the many talented, creative, independent filmmakers from around the world who dare to
express themselves in new, unique and imaginative ways. The Festival will be screening movies
on film and video from around the world, including Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, Japan,
Brazil, England, Haiti the United States, to mention a few. The screenings will take place at
theJohn Hancock Hall located at 180 Berkeley Street Back Bay/Copley Square area.

The Boston International Film Festival's current goal is to create an annual event that would
produce a multi-cultural experience for Bostonians. This festival will assist businesses as well as
all community resources that support Boston's economy and cultural development, by bringing
together filmmakers and moviegoers from around the world.

Furthermore, the festival will promote filmmakers who manage to illustrate their independent
vision at the finest level of expression.
_____________________________________________________
BOSTON GLOBE
JUNE 15, 2003
BOSTON GETS AN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
AUTHOR: LOREN KING
EDITION: THIRD
SECTION: ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT
PAGE: N15
INDEX TERMS:
LIV

AN INDEPENDENT PRODUCER AND FILMMAKER, PATRICK JEROME OF DORCHESTER, HAS
UNDERTAKEN THE DAUNTING TALK OF MOUNTING A NEW FILM FESTIVAL IN BOSTON THAT HE
HOPES WILL ATTRACT A WIDER AND MORE DIVERSE AUDIENCE THAN THOSE WHO ATTENDED
ESTABLISHED FESTIVALS. THE BOSTON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL WILL TAKE PLACE JULY 3-
5 AT JOHN HANCOCK HALL AND WILL SHOWCASE 50 FEATURES, DOCUMENTARIES, SHORTS, AND
ANIMATED FILMS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, AS WELL AS GUEST FILMMAKERS.

JEROME, WHO IS PRESIDENT OF A MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTION COMPANY, SOLICITED
SUBMISSIONS OVER THE PAST YEAR. THE 50 FILMS SELECTED, FROM CANADA, ENGLAND,
MEXICO, HAITI, AND THE US, WERE CULLED FROM 1,000 ENTRIES. ALSO ON THE BILL IS JEROME’
S THIRD FILM, “HOLLA AT ME,” WHICH JUST PLAYED THE TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL IN NEW YORK.

“I’VE BEEN IN THE BUSINESS FOR 12 YEARS, AND I’VE GONE TO MANY FILM FESTIVALS,” SAYS
JEROME, WHO IS FINALIZING THE SCHEDULE FOR POSTING ON THE FESTIVAL’S WEBSITE.
“FILMMAKERS AND VIEWERS SHOULD BE TREATED WITH RESPECT. I WANT THIS FESTIVAL TO
HELP INDEPENDENT AND LOCAL FILMMAKERS BY GIVING THEM A CHANCE TO EXPOSE THEIR
WORK AND FIND AN AUDIENCE.”

IN ADDITION TO MANY NICHE FESTIVALS, BOSTON ALREADY HOSTS THE BOSTON FILM FESTIVAL
AND, LAUNCHED JUST THIS YEAR, THE BOSTON INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL. “THERE HAS NOT
BEEN A GOOD REPRESENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL FILMS AT FESTIVALS HERE,” SAYS JEROME.
“I STRONGLY FEEL THAT THERE IS AN AUDIENCE, PARTICULARLY IN THE INNER CITY, THAT
DOESN’T SHOW UP FOR OTHER FILM FESTIVALS.” FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.
BIFILMFESTIVAL.COM.
_____________________________________________________

WEEKLY DIG
THE BEST LITTLE PAPER IN BOSTON
The Boston International Film Festival
by Asa Pittman

For Bostonians tired of battling the Hatch Shell's heat and crowds every Fourth of July, there's a
new holiday pastime - watching movies in an air-conditioned theater. This year, celebrate
Independence Day with one, two or three days of independent film screenings at the Boston
International Film Festival July 3 through 5.

Not to be confused with similarly named Boston film festivals, the Boston International Film
Festival, in its first year, is unique from other city film festivals because of its cosmopolitan
flavor, says BIFF director and founder, Patrick Jerome. “When you look at the mainstream film
festivals that already exist around here, there's less focus on the international, the world
market and its cultures.” Jerome decided to start the international festival to supplement
Boston's lack of diversity, reasoning that both foreign filmmakers and Beantown audiences
would benefit from the cultural exchange; directors could introduce their films to the coveted US
market and Americans could expand their cinematic boundaries. The goal of the festival is
threefold, says Jerome: “to have fun sharing cultures, educating ourselves, and promoting the
filmmakers.”
To attract a diverse repertoire of films, Jerome, a filmmaker himself, solicited submissions
using the most powerful communications tool at his disposal, the Internet. Ads posted on
Filmthreat.com, Indiewire, and the festival's official Web site, bifilmfestival.com, along with a
modest direct marketing campaign garnered responses throughout the United States and from
other countries, such as Australia, France, Mexico and Egypt. Jerome and his festival crew had
the difficult task of pruning the more than 1,500 submissions to about fifty. “It was tough,”
Jerome recalls of the screening process, “Sometimes you'd say 'this movie is so good' then
later on find one that was three, four times better.”
Occasionally, films of exceptional quality immediately distinguished themselves as festival
contenders. Season of Youth, a feature-length drama chronicling racial tension between black
and white teenage America, was such a film says Jerome. “All of us [involved with the festival]
sat down and watched this movie - it's a spectacular movie.” The film's risky subject matter
increased its appeal to a selection committee seeking not only cultural, but creative diversity in
the films it accepted. Jerome is happy with the committee's choices: “There are so many
striking movies [in the festival]. It's so daring to see the filmmakers 'go there.'” The BIFF's
liberal policy was welcome news to filmmaker Gayle Ferraro, whose documentary on the sex
trade in Southeast Asia had been rejected from numerous festivals due to its controversial topic.
Her film, Anonymously Yours, makes its New England premiere at the BIFF. Ferraro hopes to
screen future projects at the fest, “I want to see the festival around for a long time.”

Indie fans can see Ferraro's flick and the other BIFF screenings at the John Hancock Hall in
Boston.
June 6 -14, 2008
Copyright 2003 bifilmfestival.com.
May 4, 2007
For Immediate Release;
Contact: Naomi Kondo

THE FIFTH ANNUAL
BOSTON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Boston, MA – BIFF announces the 5th Annual Boston
International Film Festival, beginning June 6, 2007 and
running through June 13, 2007

The Boston International Film Festival is proud to
encourage and support independent filmmakers from
around the world.  The festival strives to promote
international understanding, by bringing a variety of movies
to the diverse Boston community.  These films will both
entertain and educate viewers about the world today.  The
goal of the festival is to display the passion and unique
visions of the filmmakers in an environment that brings all
cultures together.

The festival will be screening 92 short and feature films from
24 countries, including Australia, Canada, Cuba, France,
Germany, Greece, Haiti, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel,
Italy, Mexico, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Singapore,
South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tibet, UK,
Ukraine, and USA

The festival screenings will take place at the AMC/LOEWS
Boston Common: 175 Tremont St. Boston

For more information, you can visit our website at www.
bifilmfestival.com or you may contact us via e-mail:
bifilmfestival@aol.com, or by phone (617) 482 – 3900
_________________________________________________________________________
For IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 14, 2007
Contact: Jean Desire
Boston Int’l Film Festival
617-482-3900

BIFF 2007 Award Winners

Congratulations to all of the filmmakers who
participated in the 2007 Fifth Annual Boston
International Film Festival. The winning films were
announced at the closing ceremony night at the
AMC Loews Theatres Boston Common on
Wednesday, June 13, 2007. The Festival gathered
and recognized a group of multicultural filmmakers
from around the world who were cited for their
outstanding achievements.

________________________________________
FEATURE FILM AWARDS

Indie Spirit Best Picture Award
Florian Gaag for Whole Train


Indie Spirit Best Story Line Award
Wes Halula for MIDNIGHT CLEAR

Indie Spirit Best Director Award
Marc Benardout for SINNER

Indie Spirit Best Actor Award
Carmen Chaplin for “DAY ON FIRE”

Indie Spirit Best Cinematography Award
Day on Fire

Indie Spirit Special Recognition Award
Norm Hunter for HER BEST MOVE


SHORT FILM AWARDS

Indie Soul Best Picture Award
Rita Rani for BOMBAY SKIES

Indie Soul Best Story Line Award
Alvaro Ramos for ANONYMOUS

Indie Soul Best Cinematography Award
Conor colwell for L. A. NOIR

Indie Soul Best Actor Award
Rebekah Chaney for WASTE LAND

Indie Soul Best Director Award
Rebekah Chaney for WASTE LAND

Special Recognition Award
Francesco Oldenbourg for APOSTATIZE

Special Recognition Award
Reggie Currelley for PIECES


Special Recognition Award
Carlo Essagian for DRIVER’S TEST

Special Recognition Award
Edgar Revilla Rodrigues for ENCUENTROS

________________________________________
DOCUMENTARY AWARDS

Indie Spec Best Documentary Award
Aneisha Sharma for FREEDOM AT THE EDGE

Indie Spec Best Cinematography Award
Jack Tankard for ON GREAT WHITE WINGS

Indie Spec Best content Award
Glenn Gebhard for CUBA A LIFETIME OF PASSION

Indie Spec Special Recognition Award
Damian Kolodiy for THE ORANGE CHRONICLES

Indie Spec Special Recognition Award
Maryanne Galvin for WHAT’S GOING ON UP THERE
________________________________
ANIMATION AWARD

Best Animated film Award
Michael Attardi for ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS
VILLAGE

_____________________________
SCREENPLAY TO PRODUCTION

SELLING LIFE
By Patricia Mahon
_________________________________________________________________________

                 Smooth Sailing For 5th Annual BIFF
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mary DeBerry
June 17th 2007  



























































The powerhouse staff of the BIFF is supremely humble.  I chatted throughout the day with
Jerome, Vanderpool, Jean Desire or “J.D.”, the Program Director and Jenna Pitts – who
introduced each Q&A session with a terrific sense of timing and polish.
I kept uncovering amazing facts about this group.  Jerome’s production company BWAY7
Productions has a film ready to go to DVD distribution.  The film, called “Holla at Me”,
reminded me of Spike Lee stylistically when I saw the preview.  In addition, their festival
was the last one to screen the critically acclaimed documentary “Ten Questions for the
Dahli Llama”.  It now goes directly to national distribution.
In talking with Program Director, J.D., I noted how much I liked their choice of three shorts
and one feature comprising each “session”.  I told him it provided good pacing for
stretches of sitting, and necessary trips out for food and the restroom.  “It also gives the
people their money’s worth” responded J.D.  “We think that’s important”.  JD watched the
entire crop of over 1000 films along with the screening committee to choose which films
would make the cut and be shown at the BIFF.  I commented that choosing which films to
put where must have been difficult.  “Oh no, that’s nothing” he confessed.  “The most
difficult thing is choosing which films to be in the festival.  There are so many wonderful
and well done films.”  The quality as well as quantity of submissions was overwhelming.
Festival Director Jerome is a filmmaker too.  He learned most of what he knows on his
own.  He had two of his own short films screened.  One of them, the haunting “Lyrics of My
Life”, was also screened at Cannes this year.  It is a psychodrama with music written by
Jerome in English and French.  The other short Jerome directed was written by the winner
of the BIFF “Screenplay to Production” contest from last year.  The short, “December 31”,
is a mystery about an investigative reporter who is looking to rev up her career by solving
a ten-year-old murder.  The BIFF committee was impressed by the screenplay and chose
it to be produced in time to screen this year.
































Here is a small sampling of the amazing films I saw: They included an animated piece
about political conspiracies called “Saul Goodman” that was funny and scary at the same
time.  A Bollywood-type musical, “Bombay Skies”, done as a senior thesis by Rita Rani
about a young girl trying to follow her dream.  It was shot beautifully in both LA and in
India.  A documentary about the lagging interest of youth in the space program intrigued
me.  Titled “What’s Going On Up There”, it explains that most of today’s youth were born
well after the nation-wide excitement of the US landing on the moon in 1969.  Many of
them think our landing on the moon is a myth!
While many of the film actors were unknowns, some producers and directors talked big
names into performing in their films.  A young man finding his way in life at a bar in New
York City had the help of James Gandolfini, Joe Mantegna and Louis Gossett, Jr. in “Club
Soda”.  During the Q&A afterward with director Paul Carafotes, we learned that his wife
was about to give birth at home, but his many other siblings were present to support him.  
Oh yes, and the young man in his film, Steve R. McQueen, is the grandson of the
legendary Steve McQueen.
Ryan O’Neal agreed to play a part in a short called “Waste Land”.  This short, which
included sprinklings of voodoo and faith healings, is about a young woman beset by
demonic spirits in a most erotic manner.  That Q&A session with the director/writer/actor
Rebekah Chaney was one of the most interesting I have ever attended!
Hugh O’Conor, played a young man unluckly in love who suffers amnesia and is accused
of murder after “Speed Dating”.  This fast-paced feature combined comedy, drama and
mystery quite artfully.  And I saw so many more great films and great performances! All I
can say is don’t miss this festival next year!
To participate, check out the films screened, find out about the “Screenplay to Production”
contest, or just learn more about the event, go to the festival’s website, http://www.
bifilmfestival.com/.  
The 5th Annual Boston International Film
Festival was held June 6 through the 13th this
year right
in the middle of downtown Boston.  It was nestled
in the set of buildings next to Emerson College
and the Theater District, directly across from the
bustle of the Boston Commons.  The festival
struck a coup this year screening all films at the
mega-multiplex, Lowe’s AMC Theater.  For a
festival only in its 5th year - it is doing extremely
well.
It is obvious that the success of the
festival is due to the hard work, laser
focus and solid organizational skills of
festival founder and director, Patrick
Jerome.  In a few short years Jerome and
his core group have managed to grow
the festival exponentially.  This year,
2007, they drew well over 1000 entries
from 24 countries and 47 nationalities,
and brought in a huge percentage of the
films’ directors, producer and actors to
attend the festival.
I thoroughly enjoy attending film
festivals.  They are crazy, creative,
collaborative celebrations.  But somehow
the gang at the BIFF managed to keep
the crazy to a minimum.  I spent all day
Saturday, June 9th at the festival,
courtesy of Festival Director Jerome and
his Public Relations Director Tacuma
Vanderpool.  If it’s not too corny or old
fashioned to say - I had a blast.
I saw a great variety of films in a
comfortable, technically current venue.  
There were no technical snafus.  I got to gab
with all kinds of creative people.  Food and
drink were readily available. The festival
director was visible, available and involved.  
The programming “sessions” were in
comfortably watchable 3 shorts and 1
feature setup.  And even more amazing was
that even late in the day, the staff was calm,
cool and collected. I commented to Jerome
that by this point in a festival, at least one
person is sick, one is crying, some tickets
are lost, and no one can find the film that
starts in 2 minutes.
Jerome laughed looking as fresh and
enthusiastic at 10pm as he did at noon.  Tall
and handsome, with a “light-up-the-room”
smile, he shook hands, hugged people and
welcomed all the arriving participants
personally.  “Well, things are rolling along”
he admitted.
I spoke to the winning screenwriter,
Julia Liberman, who came to see her
creation brought to life on the big
screen.  “I just took a chance and
entered it” admitted Liberman.  She
had no idea her work would be
considered good enough to win.  “It
was exciting, and a good chance to
learn about what it takes to make a
film”.  Program Director J.D. said it was
also a way to keep giving jobs to area
actors and film technicians.
Jerome saw his very first film in the
cinema when he was 12.  It was an
ultra-violent karate film. It scared him
so badly he had nightmares for a
week.  But he was intrigued and went
back to the Movie Theater.  The next
film he saw was the goofy “Any Which
Way But Loose” with Clint Eastwood
and the orangutan.  That’s when the
light bulb went on for Jerome.  He
discovered that there are many ways to
express thoughts and ideas on film and
he knew he had to pursue that as his
life’s work.
Jean Desire
Jenna Pitts
Patrick Jerome
Patrick Jerome
Patrick Jerome
Mary DeBerry
Tacuma
Vanterpool
Julia Liberman
_________________________________________________________________________
May 4, 2008
For Immediate Release;
Contact: Naomi Kondo

THE SIXTH ANNUAL
BOSTON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Boston, MA – BIFF announces the 6th Annual Boston
International Film Festival, beginning June 6, 2008 and
running through June 14, 2008.

The Boston International Film Festival is proud to
encourage and support independent filmmakers from
around the world.  The festival strives to promote
international understanding, by bringing a variety of movies
to the diverse Boston community.  These films will both
entertain and educate viewers about the world today.  The
goal of the festival is to display the passion and unique
visions of the filmmakers in an environment that brings all
cultures together.

The festival will be screening over 100 short and feature films from
30 countries, including Argentina, Australia, Brasil, Canada, Cape
Verde, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Haiti, Hongkong,
India, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria,
Panama, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Senegal, Singapore, South
Africa, Spain, Thailand, Tibet, UK, Venezuela, and USA.

The festival screenings will take place at the AMC/LOEWS theater,
Boston Common: 175 Tremont St. Boston.

For more information, you can visit our website at
www.bifilmfestival.com or you may contact us via e-mail:
info@bifilmfestival.com or by phone (617) 482 – 3900
_________________________________________________________________________