The Bermuda International Film Festival, a seven-day event since its inception in 1997, is expanding to nine days beginning next year.

The ninth annual festival will be held March 17-25, 2006.

Expanding the festival will provide additional prime-time slots for the festival?s film offerings, providing filmgoers with more convenient screening options ? and it will also benefit Bermuda?s tourism industry by providing a second, weekend option for travellers to the festival. ?Our growth works for everyone ? the festival, filmgoers, and the island?s hotels and other businesses that benefit from tourism,? says festival director Aideen Ratteray Pryse. ?It is one of those occasions when everyone wins.?

The first festival in 1997 screened 22 films in the Liberty and Little theatres. Since then, the festival has moved to three, then four, theatres ? and now screens at Southside Cinema and the Tradewinds Auditorium at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute as well as at the Liberty and Little venues.

Ms Ratteray Pryse added: ?The extra two days will mean that our Wrap Party, which is hugely popular, can now be held on a Saturday night.? Tickets for the festival will go on sale Monday March 6, online only, at www.biff.bm. The festival box office will open on March 11.

The festival is offering gift certificates in time for the holiday season. Anyone wishing to purchase a gift certificate may do so by ringing the festival office at 293-3456.