BIFF to host two films for children

There?s something for everything in the Bermuda International Film Festival, even the children with two award-winning films for them.

In ?Kirikou and the Sorceress?, tiny Kirikou is born into an African village upon which a sorceress called Karaba has cast a terrible spell: the spring has dried up, the villagers are being blackmailed, the men of the village have either been kidnapped or have mysteriously disappeared.

But no sooner has Kirikou delivered himself from his mother?s womb than he wants to rid the village of Karaba?s curse and understand the cause of her wickedness.

The film won both the Children?s and Adult Jury Awards for Best Animation at the Chicago International Children?s Film Festival. The film screens on Sunday March 20, 1.30 p.m, at the Little Theatre.

The second film, ?Mariken? is a family film, based on a well-known Dutch tale from the Middle Ages. The film recounts the compelling and poetic story of a spirited young girl named Mariken.

The orphan Mariken lives in a secluded forest with an eccentric old hermit. One day she decides to leave her forest and sets off for town to buy a new goat.

On her adventurous journey into the ?real? world, she finds out about the good and bad sides of people.

The film won a Special Jury Prize at the 2001 Festival International du Film Pour Enfants de Montreal and the Young People Jury Award at the Toronto International Film Festival for Children, Sprockets, in 2001. The film screens on Saturday March 19, 1.30 p.m., at the Little Theatre.

Belco Kite Man issues annual warning

The Bermuda Electric Light Company?s ?kite-man? will be talking to 1,500 primary one and primary two students at 25 different primary schools in the next two weeks to talk about kite-safety.

For 20 years Cornell Dunkley has taught children about the dangers of crashing a kite close to Belco lines.

?It?s based on safety as far as making sure they fly their kites in the right places ? open spaces, parks and beaches,? Mr. Dunkley said. ?To be aware of any power lines that may be around them?.

He said his main concern was to let them know what to do in case their kite-strings do get tangled in power-lines.

?Don?t try and retrieve it yourself or tug on it,? he said. ?We will give them a number to call. We have crews working all around the clock to take care of that.?

Belco?s kite campaign began last Friday, he said, when he visited West End Primary and Somerset Primary. And as part of its annual campaign, Belco will be holding its annual kite safety poster competition.

The rules for the competition will be distributed during school visits and can also be picked up from Belco customer service on Wesley Street or at the head office on Serpentine Road.

Up to two winners will be selected in the categories of ?best safety message? and ?most beautiful? they said.

The winners from both categories will then be judged for best poster overall.

All winners will receive Belco bird kites while the student with the best poster will get to go to Belco with their class, where the Belco bird will give their school?s principal $500 ?to be put towards a project that will directly benefit the student?s class?.

A school visit schedule is available from corporate communications coordinator Nicole Williams-Smith at 299-2824.

Rotarians celebrate centenary

More than one million Rotarians in 166 countries world-wide celebrated Rotary International?s Centenary last Wednesday.

Bermuda?s four Rotary clubs joined in the celebrations by planting 100 trees around the Island, and Premier Alex Scott hosted a reception at Camden where the first trees will be planted.

?There are few organisations that last 100 years,? Rotary International 2004/05 president Glenn E. Estess said. ?We must draw inspiration from past success to help us face the challenges of a second century of service.?

Dedicated to community service, Rotary hopes to celebrate a polio-free world this year. Rotary has contributed more than $500 million and countless volunteer hours since 1985 to immunise more than two billion children in 122 countries.

Since its formation in Chicago in 1905, Rotary has remained dedicated to volunteer community service, promoting high ethics and peace both international and internally.

In addition to thousands of volunteer hours, each year Rotary contributes millions of dollars in humanitarian aid and relief around the globe, funds 1,000 scholars to study abroad, and provides cross-cultural exchange for 7,000 young leaders. For more information, visit www.rotary.org.

Residents throng to Home Show

Coldwell Banker?s third annual home show was a hit for thousands of homemakers at the number one shed on Saturday.

Coldwell Banker agency manager Susan Thompson said the turnout at the event had been ?absolutely incredible?.

?Last year we had approximately 2,000 people,? Ms Thompson said. ?This year we had 300 people in the first hour?.

Expanding from last year, the show expanded to both floors of the shed increasing the number of booths from 34 to 70.

?Fifty-eight different companies are involved,? she said. ?Last year there were approximately 28. She said the trade booths were great opportunity?s for businesses as they could attract people who would not normally look for their products.

?There are unique products here that people don?t even know exist in Bermuda,? she said. The show also offered free seminars, including ?tips to first-time home buyers?.

When asked about the need for a home-show during a housing crisis, she pointed to the 2005 new homes guide which listed several soon to be built housing complexes which would ?help a little bit to ease the crisis?.

With low interest rates, she said banks were lending money on better terms which ?allowed people to move quickly?.

?Property is always a good investment,? she said. ?The stock markets are bad and people are looking for ways to make money?.

Even if people did not come away from the one-day show with a new home, they could always enter to win a plasma TV or kitchen and laundry appliances in the prize-draw.

Ms Thompson recommended several trade-booths to see at the show. Majestic Innovations sold a permanent paint-job for your home for around $30,000. After approximately one month of preparation, surface conditioning, prime guard, caulking and top coat, your home will be moisture-free for 25 years, they said.

Safe Stride Bermuda sold a spray that made a shoe stick to normally slippery tiles.

At the Bermuda Tanks booth half of a metal water-tank was on display. ?Rather than wait to build a tank block by block, dig a hole and drop the tank right in,? they said.