Belize International Film Festival 2017 Launches!

By BBN Staff: The long-anticipated list of films making the Official Selection for the 12th Edition of the Belize International Film Festival (BelizeIFF) was revealed during a brief ceremony at the Bliss Centre on Friday, September 15, 2017 .

The selection featured the screening of the movie HOGAN by Belizean brothers Jah and Faron Smith and a surprise appearance by three important figures in Belize’s boxing history, Roy “Shorty” Clark, David Dakers and Kid Bowers, who attended the event.

Founder and Festival Director, Suzette Zayden announced the Official Selection of twenty nine (29) films from eighteen (18) countries along with fifteen (15) music videos from Belizean artists filmed in Belize.

According to Zayden, the selection process was difficult as always.

“This year, we encountered a surprising amount of films that dealt with mental health, migration, and resistance to oppression. Some had happy endings, some – not so happy, and some are still fighting to be heard. This festival will help those voices go further,” Zayden said.

The 2017 Belize International Film Festival starts today and ends on Sunday, November 12, 2017.

The event officially opens with the USA/Belize production INHERITANCE Dir: by Jessica Kaye and Laura Davis that was shot completely on location in Belize with a majority Belizean cast and crew.

A preview event was held yesterday at the Mental Health Association and the Costa Rican Embassy that will feature the Costa Rican film, THE SOUND OF THINGS Dir. By Ariel Escalante followed by a panel discussion on suicide and its impact on those left behind.

This year’s official selection per categories are:

Feature Narrative:

1. CARGO (Bahamas, 2017) Dir. Kareem Mortimer
   2. CUBA LIBRE (Cuba, 2015) Dir. Jorge Luis Sanchez
   3. DESERT / DESIERTO (Mexico, 2016) Dir. Jonas Cuaron
   4. GREEN DAYS BY THE RIVER (Trinidad & Tobago, 2017) Dir: Michael Mooleedhar
   5. HOGAN (USA/Belize, 2017) Dir. Jah Smith
   6. INHERITANCE (USA/Belize, 2017) Dir. Jessica Kaye and Laura Davis
   7. SALSIPUEDES (Panama, 2016) Dir: Ricardo Aguilar & Manuel Rodriguez
   8. THE SOUND OF THINGS (Costa Rica, 2016) Dir: Ariel Escalante

Feature Documentary:
1. AMSTERDAM: TRACES OF SUGAR (The Netherlands, 2017) Dir: Ida Does
2. FINDING OSCAR (USA, 2016) Dir. Ryan Suffern
3. K2 & THE INVISIBLE FOOTMEN (USA /Pakistan/Brazil, 2015) Dir. Iara Lee
4. LIFE IS WAITING (Western Sahara /USA/ Spain, 2015) Dir. Iara Lee
5. MADE IN BANGKOK (Mexico/ Thailand, 2015) Dir. Flavio Florencio

Shorts:
1. GRANDMA’S STOVE (Indonesia, 2015) Dir: Rahma Nurlinda Sari
2. HARD TIMES (Costa Rica, 2016,) Dir: Adrian M. Ramirez
3. HOLY TRINITY (Canada, 2017) Dir: Blake Morrow
4. HOTEL (Cayman Island, 2016) Dir: Trevor Murphy
5. OLDE E (USA, 2016) Dir: Xavier L. Neal- Burgin
6. ON TIME (USA, 2016) Dir: Xavier L. Neal- Burgin
7. SATURDAY (Costa Rica, 2015) Dir: Nicole Villalobos
8. SELF-PRESCRIBED (Cayman Island, 2016) Dir: Laurel Burgan
9. SWIMMING IN THE DESERT (USA, 2016 ) Dir: Alvaro Ron
10. TENSE (Jamaica, 2017) Dir: Rajeev Pollard

Short Doc:
1. THE PAINTING OF WAR (Indonesia, 2016) Dir. Agustinus DWI Nueroho
2. THE WOOD THRUSH CONNECTION, (USA, 2017) Dir. Dayna Reggero
3. WHALE SHARK (Belize & USA, 2017) Dir. Sean Sullivan

Out of Competition:
1. THE WEEKEND (Trinidad & Tobago, 2016) Dir. Sean Hodgkinson
2. JUST A LITTLE LUCK (Belize, 2017) Dir. Michael Flores

Work in Progress:
1. MARY JANE: THE WOMEN OF WEED (USA) Dir. Windy Borman

Music Video
1. ABOUT LIFE – Dir: Kenneth Flowers – Artist: Unlmtd
2. COCAINE – Dir: Carlo Habet – Artist: Big Bang
3. DO DA X – Dir: Junimar – Artist: Di X Band
4. DR. MALARKIE – Dir: Junimar – Artist: Coconoboy
5. I MAHOGANY – Dir: Roland Gabourel – Artist: Ras Seraphim
6. IMAGINE – Dir: Carlo Habet – Artist: STiG Da Artist
7. JANKUNU TIME – Dir: Wayne Joseph – Artist: Harlem Youths
8. LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT – Dir: Kenneth Grant – Artist: Cross Di Nitro
9. NUH TRUST – Dir: Olynn Kingston – Artist: TY
10. NUH WA YOUR MAN – Dir: Heavy Films – Artist: Dajah
11. ON FLEEK – Dir: Dice Pandy – Artist: Ernestine Carballo
12. SLAVEMAN – Dir: Anthony Diego – Artist: Deizel Da Don
13. SOCA FEELING – Dir: Shauna Williams – Artist: Boss Lady
14. SUH MI LIKE IT – Dir: Michael Vasquez – Artist: Denise Castillo
15. TILL THE END – Dir: Jermaine Jenkins – Artist: Ronald “Young C” Reneau

The Belize International Film Festival (BelizeIFF) is a unique culture-centric festival that focuses on independent films with storylines celebrating cultural diversity, topical social issues and stories of resistance.

It is recognized internationally for its strong, diverse film program, informational industry presentations and growing list of visiting celebrities.

It’s impact on Belize’s growing audiovisual industry over the last eleven editions is evident in an increased interest in the audiovisual as a career option and higher quality local productions.

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