best in independent films from around the world.

Nearly 40 films will be screened April 20-26 at the Liberty and Little Theatres.

The festival, which began in 1997 and has received more than 300 entries -- 130 features and 180 shorts -- will offer several new features this year.

"In the past we had two categories: feature-length films and short films, and we programmed the festival that way,'' director Aideen Ratteray Pryse explains.

"We have given the film line-up more structure this year. We will have a North American showcase of films, a European showcase, and a category we are calling `Official Selection -- World Cinema.' We are hoping to have films from as many countries as possible represented in that category.

"Also for the first time, we have set up a separate competition category for documentaries,'' Mrs. Ratteray Pryse continued. "In our first three festivals we have always had strong documentaries, so we decided that it was time they had their own category, and a separate award as well.

"Of course, we are back with a series of short films as well, with the winning filmmaker receiving our Bermuda Shorts Award.'' The festival will also pay tribute to Irish cinema with a sidebar of films from the Emerald Isle.

"I have been working with the Irish Film Board, and with production companies and distributors in Ireland, on the film lime-up,'' the festival's director of business affairs Duncan Hall explains.

"I expect to finalise that line-up in the next couple of weeks. The Board's chief executive, Rod Stoneman, has kindly agreed to come to the festival, and I expect that he will introduce several of the films.'' The Bermuda International Film Festival's more than 300 entries have been whittled down to approximately 50 films, with final considerations taking place this week.

"We hope to announce our final line-up before mid-month,'' festival programmer Dave O'Beirne says. "As our festival becomes even more popular, we will have to devote more and more time to film watching. It is a pleasant problem to have. We really are spoiled for choice.'' Individual tickets will go on sale on Monday, April 9 at the Visitors' Service Bureau on Front Street. Full passes and partial passes will go on sale before that, with details to be announced closer to the date.