Combining art with businesses may pay local dividends, according to the director of Bermuda's International Film Festival.

Festival director Aideen Ratteray Pryse was the guest speaker at the Hamilton Lions lunch on Wednesday.

And in a unique interpretation of this year's Heritage Month theme, Mrs. Pryse said the festival was taking the concept of working together to heart.

Mrs. Pryse said that the festival, dubbed "the best in the world'' by visiting filmmakers, was made even more successful by the business partnerships forged.

And she suggested that such partnerships would benefit Bermuda both culturally and economically in the long run.

"We hope that an earlier start leading up to next year's festival will result in partnerships really beginning to pay dividends for Bermuda,'' said Mrs.

Pryse.

"This year's festival laid the groundwork, and next year we will see the impact,'' she added.

Mrs. Pryse suggested that the festival had reached a critical stage in development.

She said that this year's festival hosted twice as many guests as last year.

And she added that local industries should be prepared to meet expanding demands for accommodations and services.

Ms Pryse said that in addition to documentaries and shorts, the film festival featured a number of workshops focusing on the film business.

The workshops, including one entitled "From Script to Screen'', gave both visitors and locals insight into film financing and production.

"The film finance angle is one which has the potential to make Bermuda's festival stand apart from the others,'' Mrs. Pryse said.

Aideen Ratteray Pryse MOVIES MPC