Four short films will pump up the number of Island entries to the 11th Bermuda International Film Festival to six this year. In addition to the ambitious animated film done by students from Mount Saint Agnes Academy and a documentary on Bermuda's proud Gombey tradition, there will be local shorts with conservation themes, one based on street-kid's life in Uganda and another animated offering.

The local films competing for the Bermuda Shorts award are: 'Walking With Joseph' (director Charles Reilly), 'Old School/New School' (Look Bermuda), 'Sleeping With Whales' (Andrew Stevenson) and 'Crabbo' (Sami Lill).

"Added to Adrian Kawaley-Lathan's documentary about the Gombeys, and the animated piece by students from Mount Saint Agnes Academy, that makes six local films in the festival," says programming director, David O'Beirne. "By any standards, that is prolific when you consider the population of Bermuda. We are delighted to have so many local films in the line-up."

The short films screening in competition are eligible for the M3 Wireless Bermuda Shorts Award, which carries a $3,000 cash prize.

The vast majority of short films will screen before a feature, but six will screen as part of BIFF's Short Series, '95 Minutes of Shorts'.

Those six are: 'The Parabolic Dish', 'Stuff', 'A Day in the Life', 'Bloom', 'Taxi Driver', and 'Kirksdale'.

The short films selected to screen at BIFF are:

Walking with Joseph (d. Charles Reilly, Bermuda): Joseph lives by his wits on the streets of Kampala Uganda. An orphan, he is poor but optimistic about his future. With an education he knows that he can pursue his dreams. All he needs is support and compassion.

Old School/New School (Look Bermuda): A member of the old guard of Bermuda musicians, Stan Seymour (Lord Necktie), meets one of Bermuda's top young performers, Gavin (Sundjata) Smith to share their music and their thoughts. They soon find some common ground, and perform Stan's hit, 'Diddlybops and Gooseneck Handlebars', before tackling Gavin's song, 'Kite'. This is an affectionate look at two mainstays of Bermuda's musical history.

Sleeping With Whales (d. Andrew Stevenson, Bermuda): After 10 weeks trying to film whales last spring, this footage represents the filmmaker's first occasion using an underwater camera. Despite the humpback's friendliness, he has never been identified. However, "Magical Whale" has instilled in the filmmaker a boundless enthusiasm for his species.

Crabbo (d. Sami Lill, Bermuda): This short animated film was created in response to the ongoing difficulties in Bermuda in finding a balance for sustainable tourism. It highlights in an insightful manner the paradoxical nature of the relationship between development and conservation.

Carissa (d. David Sauvage, USA): Carissa tells the real-life story of Carissa Phelps who, at the age of 12, was abandoned by her mother in the lobby of Fresno's Juvenile Hall. Feeling unsafe and with few resources available, she fled to the streets where, homeless and alone, she had to take care of herself. The documentary explores Carissa's life on the streets between ages 12 and 14, and captures her in her final year at UCLA, where she recently graduated with joint law and MBA degrees. This inspiring film offers a sobering view of life on the streets and will change the way the world sees homeless and at-risk youth.

Triple Concerto in D Minor (d. Daniel Mitchell, Australia): In a timeless age, Rebecca, an ambitious young girl from Clarinda, had always wanted to play her beloved triangle with an orchestra. When the National Youth Orchestra comes to town to hold auditions, Rebecca has the chance to make her everlasting dream come true.

When Elvis Came to Visit (d. Andreas Tibblin, Sweden): Elvis needs a babysitter when his Mom is unexpectedly called away from her apartment. The next-door neighbour is her best bet, but will he make the right impression on her young child?

In the Name of the Son (d. Harun Mehmedinovic, United States-Bosnia-India): Even after leaving Bosnia to start a new life in Los Angeles, Tarik, a former soldier, cannot escape the war. He comes face to face with the past when Pavle, a soldier who spared Tarik's life on the battlefield, shows up at his door. The two men grapple with the tormenting memories of war and uncertainties of the future.

Deface (d. John Arlotto, USA): Inside North Korea, daily life is bleak and freedom of expression is nonexistent. One man risks his own life to express rage at the corrupt, oppressive dictatorship that has claimed the lives of his wife and daughter, who starved to death. He gives hope to others by using graffiti to change the propaganda on billboards, so all can see: Our Nation is Strong Dying.

When the Time Comes (d. Thomas Forwood, France): Even in the most loving, tranquil homes, terminal illness causes stress and tests relationships. When a nurse arrives to help Guillaume care for his old friend Anthony at home, the balance of life is upset. With patience and earned respect, over time, the three find strength and comfort in each other.

Ark (d. Grzegorz Jokajtys, Poland): An unknown virus has destroyed the entire human population. Oblivious to the true nature of the disease, the only remaining survivors escape to the sea. In great ships, they set off in search of uninhabited land.

Toyland (d. Jochen Alexander Freydank, Germany): Germany 1942: In order to protect her son Marianne Meibener tried to make him believe that the Jewish neighbours are going on a journey to "Toyland". One morning her son has disappeared — the Jewish neighbours too. Toyland is a film about guilt, responsibility, and lies — both big and small.

Emily Cries (d. Rafael Kapelinski, Poland) (pictured above): Martial law has been imposed in Katowice. Stephen falls in love with Emily, but his love is not returned. Desperate to get Emily's attention, he invites her to a dance lesson.

Snowtime (d. Dana Dorian, Scotland): Colin takes Cumberland for a walk in a snowstorm. Colin complains about the weather while Cumberland does his best to ignore him.

Deep Breaths (d. PJ Dillon, Ireland): When Danny sees the woman he loves boarding a train with a stranger, he decides to follow them. What he discovers reveals a shocking truth. This atmospheric psychological thriller is about a relationship in crisis, and the lengths people go to when they are desperate.

Soft (d. Simon Ellis, UK) (pictured below): When a father and son are independently terrorised by the same gang of youths, Dad is forced to deal with fears that he hasn't had to face since leaving school.

Barren (d. by Quinton Lavery, South Africa): A series of grotesque murders grip a small town with fear. Three characters come together, each of them carrying their own agenda they desperately want to keep secret. Set in a country that has become one of the most murderous in the world, Barren takes a step back to examine this in a way that brings mystery and suspense to the audience in the most emotionally entertaining way possible.

The Legend of the Slow Man (d. by Armando Del Rio, Spain): Life has not been easy for Juan Jose Salgado. Always following behind everyone else — until he discovers his misfortune is his greatest talent. Soon he desires more and Juan finally finds his peace in an unlikely companion.

The Prestidigitator (d. Hugo Sanz, Spain): Christian doesn't feel like studying for tomorrow's exam at all, but he knows that if he fails again his mother will be very disappointed. The choice Christian eventually makes has a predictable outcome and it teaches him an important lesson.

The Song of the Cricket (d. Dany Campos, Spain): Joseva Perurena, a young terrorist, wants to start a new life together with his girlfriend. However, cutting ties with the past is never an easy thing to do especially when the consequences have not been fully considered.

A Day in the Life (d. Nicolas Daenens, Belgium): Money is what Mario, Tom, Jimmy and Emin want. They need euros for different reasons, and find different ways to get them. Despite their separate interests, over the course of one day their lives and fortunes become intertwined, and each gets what he deserves.

Stuff (d. Karl Hearne, Canada) Stuff is about the Woman who has everything and the Man who has nothing — and what happens when they move in together.

Bloom (d. Lance Larson, USA): Herrera's used car lot is a dismal place, owned by an angry man. His vicious dogs guard the inventory at night, when only two other people are supposed to be on the property: Doug, the security guard and Rose, the bookkeeper. On one dark night at their dead-end jobs, the two witness a tragedy and learn that hope can wither in an instant.

The Parabolic Dish (d. Xavi Sala, Spain): During the broadcast of the Pope's visit, Vicente's television is broken. Desperate, he decides to make a homemade parabolic dish. Success gives Vicente more than he bargained for as he ventures into overload.

Kirksdale (d. Ryan Spindell, USA): In the deep south of 1960s Florida, down canopy roads, amongst blooming live oaks, rests a quiet place of healing. Kirksdale Hospital, a plantation turned mental asylum, provides patients with a calm environment to ease their inner turmoil¿ at least on the surface.

Taxi Driver (d. Roman Bondarchuk, Ukraine): In an abandoned port town, a taxi driver falls in love with a woman who is a passenger in his car. He decides to marry her, lures her to his house — and then locks her in the bathroom while he gets ready for the big day, and she tries to escape. Based on real-life characters in the Ukrainian town of Kherson.

BIFF runs from March 28 to April 4. Tickets will go on sale tomorrow at 10 a.m. both online at www.biff.bm as well as at the festival's physical box office, Washington Lane, Hamilton.