Organisers of a Bermuda documentary film series winding up this month hope to spark enough interest in local cinematography to create Bermuda's first film board.

Dr. Sajni Tolaram, professor of English and Film Studies at Bermuda College, hopes to discuss the idea of a film board, and other topics, at a special panel discussion and forum that ends the film series on November 19.

"Film Boards offer production support to filmmakers financially, technically, and for distribution, to name a few areas," said Dr. Tolaram, who will be moderating the forum. "Films produced by such a board become resources for schools, colleges and universities, libraries, and various organisations."

The forum is the finale of a series of Bermuda documentaries shown jointly at the Bermuda College and at the Bermuda National Gallery, including 'When Voices Rise' (2002), directed by the late Errol Williams; 'Rare Bird' (2006), directed by Lucinda Spurling; 'My Backyard' (2007), directed by Choy Aming; and 'Behind the Mask' (2008), directed by Adrian Kawaley-Lathan.

"The documentaries screened have exemplified Bermuda's history, evolution and social and environmental topics," said Dr. Tolaram.

But she said the series was meant to be far more than just an acknowledgement of Bermuda's local filmmakers.

"It is also meant to showcase the worth and validity of their various projects," said Dr. Tolaram. "They resonate with various sectors of the Island. These documentaries are also significant because they are art forms that mirror many aspects of our society and its development. There has been a lot of energy stirred up by the film series.

"People have been saying things to me in passing like 'I have this film on DVD but I want to see the film again on the big screen' or 'I didn't get to see it on the big screen when it was offered'. Other people have also marvelled at the quality of the films."

In the forum several local filmmakers such as Ms Spurling, Mr. Aming and Mr. Kawaley-Lathan will talk about the challenges of making films in Bermuda.

Dr. Tolaram called filmmaker Ms Spurling, who this year released 'The Lion and the Mouse', a "one woman tour de force".

"She constantly moves from strength to strength," said Dr. Tolaram. "She has tremendous accomplishments. We will also have the burgeoning talent of Mr. Aming and Mr. Lathan who, in their respective films, are contributing greatly to the good of the Island.

"We will also have Florenz Maxwell who was a member of the Progressive Group that led the 1959 theatre boycott.

"She is also one of the interviewees in the film 'When Voices Rise' (2002). It is so important to remember the director Errol Williams who died a few years ago.

"Mrs. Maxwell will speak about some of the meaningful contexts that shaped that documentary, and her part in the Progressive Group."

Tom Butterfield, director of the Masterworks Foundation, will also take part in the panel discussion.

Dr. Tolaram said it was unfortunate that Col. Brendan Hollis couldn't be at the panel, as he was "a kind of grandfather to local filmmaking".

"We showed two of Col. Brendan Hollis films, 'Bermuda Transportation' and 'The Easter Lily', during the film series," said Dr. Tolaram. "He had so much to do with laying the groundwork for Bermuda documentaries.

"He is living overseas. He produced 45 historical vignettes and a feature-length documentary in the 1960s."

Dr. Tolaram said one of the most popular films in the series was possibly Dale Butler's 'Out Among the Ins' (2009) about the homeless in Bermuda.

"I would have to say that people have reacted to all of the films in different ways, especially when we have had the filmmaker present," said Dr. Tolaram.

"It has been outstanding. The conversation has been comfortable and easy going. The audience usually already owns a DVD or wants to buy one after seeing the film.

"For 'Out Among the Ins' we had a fairly large audience. This might be because it is still fairly new even though it has been screened a few times since it was released in September.

Also, in some cases, students were required to see it which was really good."

She said there was a real connection between the documentaries and film history.

"Their work is aligned with classic film structures," she said. "Their sensibilities tap to the roots of the documentary forms. That is very important for the quality of films already made in Bermuda and the potential we have for tremendous quality in our films now at present and in the future."

She said documentaries can be valuable and powerful forms of influence.

"I have to acknowledge the Bermuda International Film Festival (BIFF) and its director Aideen Ratteray-Pryse and her fine team. Many of these films premiered at BIFF which offers the necessary big screen and an audience.

"But beyond the film festival, it is necessary to have multiple viewings. We need to mine these films for their value and appropriate context in discussions."

The panel discussion and forum will be held at the Bermuda College on November 19 at 6.30 p.m. in the North Hall Lecture Theatre, room G301.

It is free and all are welcome to attend.