International Film Festival (BIFF) represents an important milestone in Christine Barker's master plan.

Despite having spent years of her life working as an eco-toxicologist -- she holds degrees from Western and Concordia universities in Canada -- Miss Barker's aim is to become a full-time film maker.

Having undergone a cinematic epiphany whilst visiting California in 1992, the former Mount St. Agnes graduate has been plotting ever since to rescript her career path.

Today, she sees her future through a well-defined lens: blending her interest in global ecology with moviemaking. The combination, she says, will allow her to bring awareness to major issues affecting our planet whilst entertaining viewers.

Already Miss Barker is hard at work on two speculative projects: a pilot for a television series and a feature-length film, details of which must remain under wraps for now. Self-described as "having so many interests it's just ridiculous'', the aspiring film maker hopes that the TV pilot project in particular will prove to be her big break.

Christine rescripts career "My interest in this programme would focus on doing something that is entertaining and socially relevant,'' she says. "The mandate for the show would be to educate and entertain the public. It is definitely going to be challenging; would involve a lot of travel, and be the cumulation of a lot of interests for me.'' Focussed and disciplined in order to accomplish all she does, Miss Barker allocates specific portions of her busy life to script writing, and says that while she can churn out dialogue almost anywhere (even while commuting), she must be relaxed in order to be creative about character and plot development.

Explaining why it took her until her early 30s to make the serious transition from her present profession to film making, the eco-toxicologist says: "It was about recognising who I am and what I enjoy the most. When you are younger you succumb to your own pressures, and you think you are supposed to take certain passages. Hopefully, as you get older you determine what paths are for you. Now I prefer to address my ambitions regarding environmental science from behind a camera as opposed to behind a desk.'' Delighted that Allure is included in the current BIFF line-up, Miss Barker, a frequent returnee to the Island, where her family lives, says the topic -- the monetary value of human organs -- was chosen because it is "a huge ethical issue, and also has the potential to be a decent film''.

"My intent was to take a story with a distinct beginning, middle and end, where I could develop characters, set up a situation, and provide some sort of satisfying end to that situation,'' she explains.

From a business perspective, Miss Barker says that her film demonstrates to future interested parties that she has the ability to "work through all the elements that are required to make a movie''.

"It was a great learning experience,'' she says of Allure, "but had I known how much work was going into it I wouldn't have done that story!'' Review of Allure: Page 31