She has returned home amid a busy schedule of work and wedding planning to be one of the jurors in the Bermuda Film Festival which begins on Friday.

Local film maker Alison Swan, who ran away with BIFF's audience choice award two years ago, is back to offer her critical expertise and taste to the panel of three.

Ms Swan, who writes as well as directs and produces her films, held the script and story up as the integral ingredients to a good piece.

"Script is very important,'' she said. "How the story is developed and how the characters are developed. Are they believable? Are they believable within the world that has been created? "Is there coherence in the story and does it make sense? Are there any holes in the story?'' Ms Swan claimed that shortfalls in other areas could be forgiven if a storyline was strong and interesting.

"You could have great shots and absolutely wonderful cinematography but if the story fails then it doesn't work and you're left feeling that watching the film was boring,'' she said.

"But you could have a movie that doesn't look good from a view of film quality but if the story is strong, interesting and well developed, then you could be forgiving,'' she added.

Ms Swan, who said she was acutely aware of the difficulty of writing a truly original piece, pointed out: "There are really no new stories, only rehashes.

"How many mafia movies have we seen,'' she said, "and then the Sopranos comes on the scene and gives a new angle and a fresh new look.'' Acting and cinematography, while clearly of lesser importance than the script to Ms Swan, do play an integral role.

"I will be looking at the acting and although the awards are for directors it is important to see what kind of performance the director was able to get out of the actors,'' she said.

"Although funding can be a challenge for independent film makers,'' Ms Swan added, "cinematography is important. The angles and the types of shots taken do make a difference.'' While here at home, Ms Swan is working on a tight deadline for the screenplay of The Other Side of the River by Alex Kotlowitz. Her fiance me is due in at the weekend and she revealed a hectic schedule of wedding arrangements also have to be attended to.