The Bahamas InternationalFilm Festival will take place for the first time Dec 9-12 in Nassau, Bahamas.

The event plans to presentabout 50 films encompassing international features, shorts, documentaries andanimated films. The theme of this year's competitive section is Spirit OfFreedom with a focus on films providing insight into the "mosaic of culturesthat make up our world."

The festival also plans toshowcase a series of innovative films by emerging artists, with a specialModern Maverick Award to be presented to Roger Corman.

Executive director of thefestival is Leslie Vanderpool, who declares that one of her main missions iseducation and connection between the film industry and the Bahamas. Foundingsponsors for the festival are the Bahamas Ministry Of Tourism and the AtlantisParadise Island Resort.