Tourism official: Bahamas Stars in Film
Director General of Tourism David Johnson touted the Bahamas’ recent film success, including an award for the Ministry, as the Seventh Annual Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) featured more than five dozen films from December 1 to 5.
Mr. Johnson pointed out that the festival showed three of the 14 films generated through his ministry’s promotional campaign, the 14 Islands Film Challenge. The Challenge generated much publicity in the United Kingdom, culminating with the Bahamas Tourist Office in London winning a prestigious Travolution Award for Best Use of Social Media in connection with the project.
“Over these five days, 65 films will be showcased,” Mr. Johnson said. “More than a dozen of these are films made in the Bahamas, about the Bahamas or by Bahamians. Three of the festival’s films are shorts made by UK filmmakers who participated in the 14 Islands Film Challenge, a brilliant promotional campaign that has been a triumph in the United Kingdom for the Ministry of Tourism & Aviation.
“It is certainly good news that more Bahamian audiences will get to see screenings of these films that have been so widely accepted in the UK.”
Mr. Johnson said the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation was pleased to have been a founding sponsor of the festival. Over the years, the Ministry of Tourism & Aviation has contributed more than $1.5 million to BIFF. It is estimated that the country has received $15.7 million worth of worldwide publicity from BIFF.
