The Bermuda International Film Festival (BIFF) is appealing to Bermudian and Bermuda-based filmmakers for entries into its fifth festival.

The deadline for entries is January 1, 2002 and entry forms can be downloaded from the BIFF website (www.bermudafilmfest.com).

BIFF organisers hope to attract a record number of local entries for this year's festival which is slated to run April 12 to 18. Most Bermudian entries in the past have been short films competing in the Bermuda Shorts category. Denton Williams' "Molehill" - screened last year - was the only local entry for 2001.

The year before two local shorts were entered - Christine Barker's "Allure" and Andrew Green's "White Caps" - and in 1998 Bill Madden's "WorldWatch" competed. The most successful Bermudian entry to date was Alison Swan's feature film "Mixing Nia."

The film took home BIFF's Audience's Choice Award in 1998 before going on to capture additional accolades at festivals world wide. Organisers are willing to accept "works in progress" as entries provided the final print will be ready by April 1, 2002.

Films may be submitted by tape in formats NTSC, PAL or SECAM and those selected for screening must be made available in either 16mm or 35mm format.

No films which have been commercially released in video format will be considered and submissions should be no more than two years old.