with the premiere of four feature-length films.

The festival will be screening a total of 14 feature films accompanied by 15 `shorts' throughout the coming week. A panel of judges sat through a record 242 entries before selecting a shortlist of films from both seasoned directors and acclaimed newcomers working in eight different countries.

Festival director Aideen Ratteray Pryse said: "A stunning number of creative, funny, dramatic and, at times, wacky films were watched this winter by a dedicated group of now bleary-eyed film fanatics, for the purpose of exploration and discovery.

"In fulfilling one of the aims of the film festival to broaden appreciation of this art form we want to take audiences down roads they didn't even know existed, where assumptions are challenged and understanding encouraged -- roads that standard Hollywood fare bypass.

"Among the feature films to be screened this year at the Liberty and Little Theatres, we have five US productions, three UK productions and one each from Canada, Greece and Australia.

"The subject matter ranges from comedy to family relationships to drama and suspense. In addition to the features we will showcase three documentaries, all from the USA, that look at the Nazi occupation of France, Tuvan throat singing and juvenile delinquency -- the variety couldn't be greater.

The festival will also play host to a number of workshops on a wide range of aspects of the film industry, from film making to film financing. This year four workshops are being run for enthusiasts.

An opening night party will be held on the BIFF Boat this evening while The Wrap Party, at which prizewinners will be announced, will be held at La Coquille restaurant next Thursday. Entry to each party costs $40.

Both film and party tickets are available from the Liberty and Little Theatres.

The Royal Gazette will be previewing each of the 14 feature-length films on each opening night. For reviews of tonight's premieres see pages 44 and 45.