A new membership plan offered by the Bermuda International Film Festival gives members an early ticket purchase option for both the main festival in March and the BIFF Kids Film Festival, which will be held October 14-16.

Members who choose either the ?producer? ($50 yearly) or ?director? ($100) level of membership will get an opportunity to purchase tickets to BIFF Kids at a special members-only advance box office on Thursday September 29 from 2-4 p.m. at the Logic Internet Caf?, 10-12 Burnaby Street, Hamilton.

Producer and director-level members also receive other special benefits, including a 20 per cent discount on up to 10 BIFF Kids tickets and priority access to children?s film production camps held by BIFF.

Membership levels range from $20 to $100. The range of benefits depends on the level of membership. Some benefits include early notification of upcoming films and events, discounts on merchandise and access to future members-only events. Anyone wishing to become a member of BIFF may send the festival an e-mail at infobiff.bm requesting a membership form, or simply sign up at the special members-only advance box office tomorrow.

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The box office for BIFF Kids will open tomorrow.

Located at the Logic Internet Caf? the box office will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday and at the same time and location on Saturday, October 1, Friday October 7, Saturday October 8 and Friday October 14. Tickets will also be available at the Liberty Theatre on October 14 from 5-7 p.m. and on October 15-16 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Tickets also go on sale online at www.biff.bm from Friday. A small processing fee will attach to online ticket purchases. Twenty-four films from 15 countries, plus 22 films made by local children at a series of film production workshops presented by BIFF this summer, will screen at BIFF Kids. The line-up includes films suitable for ages 5-17.

The festival opens on Friday October 14 with a 7 p.m. screening of the classic animated film, Mad Monster Party, and continues with screenings at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. A costume parade at 6.30 p.m. will precede the opening night film. BIFF Kids will award prizes for the best costumes.

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Bermudian actor Danjou Anderson will act as a ?reader? for two of the films offered for youngsters at BIFF Kids. The two films, the short film Little Pig is Flying and the feature-length film Empress Chung, are both sub-titled. The films are suitable for ages five and up.

?Danjou will read the dialogue along with the actors in the film,? explained BIFF programmer, Vicky Zabriskie. ?This technique has been used very successfully at top children?s festivals, including the Sprockets International Film Festival for Children in Toronto. It really helps younger children, who may be experiencing a sub-titled film for the first time.

?Danjou has a great voice, and a commanding presence. We are delighted that he has kindly agreed to assist us with this new initiative.?