Bermuda may not have entire streets or studios dedicated to filmmaking, but the art form is still very much alive and well.

And to highlight the extent of the work being undertaken by Bermudians, the Bermuda National Gallery (BNG), working in conjunction with the Bermuda College, is running a new documentary film series directed by Bermudians, about Bermuda culture and history.

“I feel like this is the beginning of an interesting project,” said BNG director Lisa Howie. “We are shedding light on the fact that film is an active industry here.

“We might not have entire streets devoted to film, like some other countries, but film is something that is very much alive here.”

The series of documentaries directed by Bermudians is being shown once a week at lunchtime at the BNG and once a week in the evening at the Bermuda College from now until late November.

Many of the documentaries will already be familiar to Bermudians. Films such as ‘Rare Bird’ (2006) directed by Lucinda Spurling, ‘When Voices Rise’ (2002) directed by the late Errol Williams and ‘My Backyard’ (2007) directed by Choy Aming, have taken home accolades in previous years at the Bermuda International Film Festival (BIFF).

There are also newer films such as Vanz Chapman’s ‘Bike’ (2009) a docudrama about a Bermudian teenager focused on getting his first motorbike.

Llewellyn Emery’s film ‘With These Hands’ (2009) looks at the factors that have combined to make Bermuda what it is today.

“Hopefully, this is another art form that people will continue to move to,” said Ms Howie. “It doesn’t have to be just BIFF that supports filmmaking on the Island. Hopefully, other organisations will come forward to support filmmakers.”

She said it was also important to support young, emerging artists. “The critical question that has driven the exhibition is how does the past inform the present and the future?” added Ms Howie.

The films at the BNG are being shown alongside a historical art exhibition organised jointly between the BNG and the Bermuda National Trust.

“These films dovetail nicely with a historical, factual-based art exhibition,” said Ms Howie. “The art sheds further light on some aspects of the films, and the films often highlight political aspects or environmental issues, not present in the art.

“For example, Col. Brendan Hollis’ film ‘Bermuda Transportation’ (1989) looks at a particular time in Bermuda that might be complimented by a piece of art by Alfred Birdsey.”

She said they didn’t have any art in the exhibition that highlighted something like environmental sustainability or protection, but films like ‘My Back Yard’ do look at these issues.

Certain periods talked about in Lucy Spurling’s latest documentary ‘The Lion and the Mouse’ about Bermuda’s historical relationship with the United States are illustrated by the artwork.

“We have some wonderful works that reference the blockade runners in the 19th Century,” said Ms Howie. “There are wonderful works that indicate the connection to the United States in lithographs.”

Many of the films for the lunch hour showing have been abridged so that people can return to work without missing anything.

But the same film would be shown again in its entirety at an evening viewing at the Bermuda College.

Ms Howie said she would have liked to take the film series further, but had financial restraints.

“If I had a sponsor for my lunchtime series, I would be willing and able to ask local lecturers to speak,” said Ms Howie.

“Presently, I can’t ask that. It costs too much money for people to put together a lecture with an uncertain audience. If we had a sponsor I could continue with that.”

But many of the filmmakers, at least those who are living on the Island, will be present at the screenings, or at a special forum at the end of the film series.

One of the series organisers Sajni Tolaram, who teaches English and Film Studies at Bermuda College, said: “Bermuda has an extraordinary collection of films by local filmmakers.

“Our filmmakers have developed a tremendous sensitivity to know what is relevant. They have achieved an extraordinary mastery of cinematography.”

She said she looked at the films as a tapestry of Bermuda culture.

“They are a mosaic of Bermuda. When you look at films in this series of documentaries, you are seeing the entire nature of a country, its people and what the past represents and the current challenges. This is about how the past informs the present.

“‘When Voices Rise’, even though it focuses on the careful dismantling of desegregation, still speaks to elements today.

“Adrian Kawaley-Lathan’s documentary ‘Behind the Mask’ examines Bermuda’s Gombey traditions.

“Most people think they are just the Gombeys, but actually there are tremendous distinctions between the different troupes in terms of their families, drumming, costuming and so forth.”

Tomorrow, ‘Behind the Mask’ will be shown at the BNG at 12.30 p.m. It will be shown again on October 15 at the Bermuda College at 6.30 p.m.

Other films in the series include, ‘Bill Ming: Stories of Wood, Wind & Fire’ (2007) directed by Andrew McKay, ‘With These Hands’ (2009), and ‘Bermuda Five Centuries’ (2000) directed by Reimar Fiedler

The series culminates in a film forum at the Bermuda College on November 19 at 6.30 p.m. in room G301 in the North Hall. It will be moderated by Miss Tolaram and will included the film directors as panelists.

For more information about the films to be shown see the Bermuda Calendar in this newspaper.