With the Bermuda International Film Festival (BIFF) beginning today and the Run for Freedom taking place on Sunday, the two events have more in common than people might think.

A few of the films selected for the film festival have themes that fit in with the message behind the Run for Freedom – with at least three of the films showcasing modern-day trafficking of women and children from Eastern Europe.

The 'Unknown Woman' and 'Unfinished Sky' both deal with women and the brutal after effects of sexual slavery. Iska's Journey is a film about children disappearing and possibly being trafficked.

Duncan Hall, deputy director of BIFF explained why the films were chosen and how they fit into the theme of the run.

"The three films are very different, but have common threads about the treatment of women and the prevalence, even today, of trafficked women.

"We have sometimes been asked why some of our films explore these darker issues, but, at BIFF, we have always sought to do so. Festivals are a great place to explore these issues, and bring them into the light, because film is such a powerful medium for not only entertaining audiences, but for educating people, too.

"The films in question are fictional, of course, but they address issues that are very real for women throughout the world, and they have their roots in real events."

Milton Raposo, one of the organisers of Sunday's race and a participant in the film festival, says although many Bermudians and people all over the world aren't educated about modern day slavery, it isn't too late to do something about it.

"It's very sad that slavery is still a going concern in 2008. Unfortunately, the truth is that the demise of slavery is not enforced enough. But who is to blame? The governments? The traffickers? The people selling their relatives to the traffickers?

"It's a big question and I'm not sure if I have the right answer. What I do know is that if we see something that doesn't look right, then we need to make a stink about and get it stopped."

He continued: "There are a lot of people in the world who don't know anything about slavery, especially modern slavery because they think it's gone and it's a thing of the past. Unfortunately it's not.

"What I would say to anyone is that we all have family, right? I for one would never want to see a niece or a nephew or any relative of mine get put into a system like slavery.

"I'd also ask Bermudians who refuse to acknowledge the issue 'What's more important? Your conscience or your flat screen TV?'

"I had someone moan about having to pay $20 to run the course on Front Street. They said they could run around the block for less. So I told them it was an extremely small price to pay considering there are 20 million slaves in the world right at this moment in 2008. They changed their mind and now they are running."

The run, which can also be walked, starts at 1 p.m. at Barr's Bay Park and finishes at the same spot, where entertainment is being lined up from 1.45 p.m. Late-comers will be encouraged to do the walk and catch up afterwards.

Entry forms are available from Daisy & Mac, Washington Mall Upper Level, KAFU Hair and Gallery in Parliament Street, The Royal Gazette office in Par-la-Ville Road, and are being distributed elsewhere.

It costs $10 for children up to 16; $20 for adults; $50 for a family of four; $30 to enter on the day of the event. The first 300 entrants will receive a free T-shirt and goody bag.

You can send direct payments to Bank of Bermuda's Run For Freedom account on 010-778488-011. You can also sign up on-line, or let organisers know you're a local charity who could benefit from Run For Freedom, by e-mailing runforfreedom[AT] yahoo.com.

For more information, visit www.geocities.com/runforfreedom/london_bermuda.html or check out the Run For Freedom Facebook group, which now has more than 200 members.