Anthony Mackie and Sawyer Spielberg Headline BIFF 2025: Bahamas Film Festival Marks 20 Years With Strong Lineup

Photos courtesy of BIFF

The Bahamas International Film Festival will mark its twentieth year in 2025, and the program shows how much the festival has grown. The week of events will take place from December 7 to 14, first in Nassau and then in Harbour Island. The festival will keep its long tradition of connecting both islands, giving audiences two different settings to enjoy films, conversations, and tributes. Venues include John Watling's Distillery, Baha Mar ECCHO Gallery, Goldwynn Resort, and Valentine’s Resort and Marina.

This year has a special meaning for many Bahamians who have watched the festival expand from an intimate event to a respected space for filmmakers from around the world. Leslie Vanderpool, the founder and executive director, says the festival has always centered on free expression and shared experiences. The 2025 program includes twenty eight films from twelve countries. There are world premieres, Caribbean premieres, and all Bahamian premieres, and the festival keeps its three competitive sections. These are Spirit of Freedom, New Visions, and Short Film.

Anthony Mackie will receive the Sir Sidney Poitier Tribute Award on Monday, December 8. His tribute will be held at Baha Mar at 7:30 p.m. Mackie has spoken openly about how much Poitier’s legacy means to him and says he looks forward to being back in The Bahamas. The Poitier family has also shared its full support of this year’s choice. Mick Davis will lead the career conversation during the tribute.

Sawyer Spielberg will receive the Shining Star Tribute on Tuesday, December 9 at 7 p.m. at the Goldwynn West Lawn. Two of his films will screen that evening, and Davis will also moderate the conversation with him. Spielberg says he is honored to join the festival and excited to bring the teams behind both of his BIFF projects. His recent work in television and film has drawn steady attention, and several new projects are already in motion for the coming year.

The complete list of participating films is included below, along with the festival dates.

• FESTIVAL DATES:

BIFF runs from December 7 to 10 in Nassau, then from December 11 to 14 in Harbour Island.

• FILMS:

SPIRIT OF FREEDOM (NARRATIVE)

MARTYR OF GAWANUS, United States, Directed by Brian Meere

10 KILOS, Bolivia, Directed by Doron Eran

BITTER TEARS OF ZAHRA ZAND, UK and Iran, Directed by Vahid Hakimzadeh

KEEP QUIET, United States, Directed by Vincent Grashaw

NEW VISIONS

NOBODY WANTS TO BE HERE NOBODY WANTS TO LEAVE, United States, Directed by Cash Robinson

WHERE WE COME FROM, Germany, Directed by Marc Brummund

THE DUTCHMAN, United States, Directed by Andre Gaines

SHORT FILMS

AND THAT’S FOR THIS CHRISTMAS, Bulgaria, Directed by Peter Vulchev

BUICK, United States, Directed by Michael Godere

COYOTES, United States, Directed by Vashti Anderson

DISCOUNT DOUG, United States, Directed by Joshua Nathan

HOWARD, United States, Directed by Paulina Olivia Keszler

JUST THE USUAL, Denmark, Directed by Nanna Tange

PERFECT RESTAURANT, Afghanistan, Directed by Mahmoud Salmimi

SAVERIO, United States, Directed by Ellen Ancui

SNIPPED, Denmark, Directed by Alexander Saul

STEVEN, The Bahamas, Directed by Lavado Stubbs

TERRARIUM, United States, Directed by Christopher C. Rogers

THAT ONE IS NOT FOR ME, Spain, Directed by Ana Rosa Diego

THE DRIVE, United States, Directed by David Arrow

THE ROADS WE TRAVEL, Barbados, Directed by Mary Cecilia Walker

THE STINGRAY WHISPERER, The Bahamas, Directed by Madeline Kennedy

THERE’S SOMETHING I HAVE TO TELL YOU, United States, Directed by Jamie Savarese

VENUS DESCENDING, Brazil, Directed by Guil Parreiaras

WHITCH, United States, Directed by Hoku Uchiyama

SPECIAL SCREENINGS

COYOTES, United States, Directed by Colin Minihan

MODI THREE DAYS ON THE WING OF MADNESS, United States, Directed by Johnny Depp

THE QUEEN’S JEWELS, United States, Directed by Joshua Friedman

As BIFF reaches twenty years, its focus on independent voices remains steady. This year’s events, tributes, and films show how committed the festival is to both film culture and the wider Bahamian community that supports it every year.