The 2008 BIFF Kids Film Festival runs October 17-19 at the Tradewinds Auditorium at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute. The opening night film will show at the Little Theatre in Hamilton. The Festival will showcase 28 top children's films from around the world and 7 films created by students of the BIFF Film Academy Summer Camps.
Tickets are $12.50 and are available online at www.bdatix.bm, and Monday through Saturday at: Transact on Reid St. in Hamilton and at Picture Perfect in Heron Bay Plaza, Southampton. Tickets will also be avaialble at the Little Theatre on Friday, October 17 from 5:30 - 6:30 and from the BIFF ticket desk in the lobby of the BUEI on October 18 and 19 from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
The BIFF Kids Film Festival is presented by the Bermuda International Film Festival in partnership with Butterfield Bank.
Stay on top of all BIFF events by signing up for their monthly e-newsletter. Just visit their website www.biff.bm and click on "Join Our Mailing List".

Tickets are on sale now for the Reel World Weekend, the Bermuda International Film Festival fundraiser featuring three days of music, dance, fine food and wine.

The event kicks off on Friday October 10 with Colours of Tango at the Mid-Ocean Amphitheatre at Fairmont Southampton Hotel featuring the acclaimed Tango Y Mas Dance Company, continues on Saturday October 11 with a South African Jol (Party) at the home of Dame Pamela and Andrew Banks where South African violin virtuoso Mr. Samson Diamond will perform, and wraps up with a Gospel Concert at Fairmont Southampton on Sunday October 12 featuring Odetta and Bermuda’s Hamilton Seventh Day Adventist Mass Choir.

The fundraiser will also feature an auction to raise funds for BIFF’s education programmes. The auction includes film memorabilia, visits to film sets, original artwork, stays in countries such as Argentina, South Africa, Italy, France, the United Kingdom and United States – and much, much more. Auction bidders can make their bids at the weekend events, or online during the week leading up to the weekend.
Tickets may be purchased at www.bdatix.bm. For more information about Reel World Weekend, see www.reelworldweekend.bm.

On October 11th and 12th, the first-ever Bermuda Festival of Sail will bring added fun and family entertainment to the finals weekend of the King Edward VII Gold Cup. The new event is presented by Argo Group and supported by volunteer help from the Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Bermuda and the Bermuda Sailing Association.

The Festival of Sail will be held against the backdrop of Bermuda’s most prestigious international sailing event, the King Edward VII Gold Cup presented by Argo Group. Families and visitors coming to the Hamilton waterfront will be treated to some of the world’s best match race sailing. This is Stage 8 of the World Match Race Tour Championship. The Festival of Sail will take place in Barr’s Park, adjacent to the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. Admission is Free.

During the entire Gold Cup week and the Festival of Sail, the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club will be open to the general public. RBYC and Argo Group invite the people of Bermuda and visitors to the islands to enjoy the club facilities and the festival and to witness the world’s top match racing Skippers sailing for the Gold Cup.

As a family fun event with a pirate and nautical theme, the Festival of Sail is open for all. Families with children and young adults are invited to take part in activities celebrating boating and the sea. Activities throughout the day include sea shanty performances, nautical photo stations, a fun castle, face painting, boat rides, a boat show, a Bermuda Sailing Association information station, pirate appearances,historical sailors highlights, live music and Gold Cup Match Race commentary for Saturday and Sunday’s competition.

For a special attraction, Spirit of Bermuda will be at RBYC and the Festival of Sail from 1pm-4pm both Saturday and Sunday, sponsored by Bermuda Container Line. Young adults who have trained aboard the sloop will be on board to show guests around and answer questions about their own experiences. The Tall Ships Bermuda 2009 committee will be on board to promote their 2009 event, recruit volunteers sign up young Bermudians who want to take part in any leg of the Vigo-Tenerife-Bermuda-Charleston-Boston-Halifax-Belfast race.

In the 2008 Gold Cup, Frenchman Mathieu Richard will be back in Bermuda to defend his title in the 101st year of sailing for the spectacular golden trophy. In 2007, Richard defeated Bjorn Hansen of Sweden 2-0 in the finals to take the gold. Hansen will also return hoping to unseat the reigning champion. Great Britain’s Ian Williams, winner of the 2006 Gold Cup, will be on hand, too, sailing hard to regain his championship form in the Bermuda classic.

The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club Commodore Ralph Richardson notes that, “the goal of the Bermuda Festival of Sail is to introduce the joy of sailing to the youth of Bermuda and to their parents as well.

For further detail on the Festival of Sail or King Edward VII Gold Cup, contact:

Festival of Sail- Starla Williams, Mobile +1 441-335-4351 • Direct +1 441-292-9741
King Edward VII Gold Cup- Talbot Wilson, Mobile +1 850-217-7138 • Direct +1 850-432-8170
Argo Group - Wendy Davis-Johnson, Mobile +1 441-300-3719 • Direct +1 441-278-3719

Looking for countertop? Take advantage of the sale on now at BBS Enterprises. In-stock Zodiaq quartz® countertop is on sale through the end of August. Quantities are limited so shop early to avoid disappointment. Zodiaq quartz, a DuPont product, combines the strength and beauty of natural quartz with advanced technology for a product that is as durable as it is dramatic.

In addition to Zodiaq quartz®, BBS can also supply and install Corian® and granite countertops. BBS is currently located within the Southside Industrial Park in St. David’s but are scheduled to move to Unit # 28A Wallers Point Road, Southside on September 1st. Visit them before the move and take advantage of the sale, or visit their new location for all of your countertop needs.

If you’re not familiar with Southside and require more detailed directions, please give BBS a call at 292-3022.

Award of Excellence

• Clothing & Accessories

Category Gold Awards

• Best Kitchenware
• Best Lingerie
• Best Business Attire
• Best Men’s Underwear
• Best Cosmetics – MAC Cosmetics

As appeared in the Bermudian Magazine July issue:

Some say that constant change lies at the heart of successful retailing. Certainly Gibbons Company, the last true department store in Bermuda, appears to have embraced that belief with continual renovations, progressive marketing and exciting merchandise, and those efforts have helped Gibbons Company earn the Award of Excellence this year in Clothing & Accessories.

In department after department, the store is brimming with the latest fashions, homewares and accessories to suit all seasons, sizes and styles. From sexy lingerie to men’s underwear, from ties to women’s business attire, from kitchenware to cosmetics – Gibbons Company carries all of this year’s award-winning styles.

What began as the Woman’s Shop in 1923 and became Gibbons Company in 1987, has evolved into the biggest department store on the island. With CEO and Merchandising Manager Paula Clarke leading the way, the store offers three floors – about 33,000 square feet from Reid Street to Church Street – of everything your household might need and a few things you might just want. Of course there are also the NINE WEST, Twenty 5 Reid, MAC Cosmetics stores and The Perfume Shop in Dockyard that make up the Gibbons fashion and accessories group.

This fall, all departments at Gibbons Company will offer complete online shopping – a first for Bermuda. Perfumes and Gift Cards are already available at www.gibbons.bm. This innovative department store consistently endeavours to provide their customers with the best of everything, from the essential to the distinctive – a point not missed by our judges.

Capital G Bank is pleased to announce its “No ATM Fee” initiative. Holders of the Capital G debit card can withdraw cash at any ATM in Bermuda, or anywhere in the world, without paying a fee. No other debit card issued in Bermuda offers this benefit.

The account holder’s debit card and related account will not be charged a fee for any withdrawals, deposits or transfers. Typically, consumers are charged anywhere from $2.50 - $3.50 when using their debit card at another bank’s ATM. In Capital G’s case, any fee charged will be reimbursed by the 2nd business day of the following month. So no matter who owns the ATM, Capital G Debit Card holders can use it free of charge.

John Kephart, President and CEO of Capital G Bank said, “The No ATM Fee initiative will be beneficial to customers who like and need to withdraw cash, but don’t want the extra fees. This programme also allows our customers to access an expanded ATM network. They can swipe their debit cards at any ATM and Capital G will not charge a fee on their account.”

Customers should note that Foreign Exchange Rates and Foreign Currency Purchase Tax (F.C.P.T.) apply when using the Capital G Debit Card internationally, including foreign Internet-based companies. The F.C.P.T. is not included as part of the “No ATM Fee” programme and related credits to customer accounts.

In February, Capital G also launched its first ATM location outside of Hamilton at the Raynor’s Shell Service Station in Southampton. This ATM will also offer Capital G Bank customers fee-free deposits and withdrawals without having to travel into Hamilton.

Capital G Bank is a full service bank providing integrated wealth management services in banking, investments and trusts. Capital G Bank is located at 19 Reid Street in Hamilton. For more information, call 296-6969 or visit capital-g.com.

The Detechtives are here to help.

Computers have quickly become a standard part of our everyday lives. Let's face it, when they're working right, we sometimes forget just how much convenience and efficiency they bring us. We rely on them for our business, communications, and entertainment, and for our photos, music and videos. We even rely on them for socialising! The technology certainly has advanced but so have computer-related issues - they've grown in scope and they've grown in complexity.

The Detechtives, Logic's certified team of computer technicians, are ready to help when your computer melts down. We're here to take the mystery out of your computer experience, to bridge the gap between you and your technology. We offer diagnostics, virus clean-up, installations, Internet set-up, peripheral set-up, training and so much more. So leave the bothersome set-ups and installations to us. Forget about your crashes, your glitches and your meltdowns. We're here to solve those annoying problems that sidetrack your peace of mind. The Detechtives cover all the angles -we'll even train you so you can be more at ease with the day-to-day operation and maintenance of your system.

The Detechtives are based at Logic on Burnaby. Just call 296-TECH (8324) and if we can't help you on the phone, a Detechtive will be dispatched to your home. You can count on us. With on-call and 'by appointment' service and convenient drop-in hours, we’re there when you need us.

Contact us at 296-TECH (8324) or TheDetechtives@logic.bm

The Bermuda National Gallery and Bacardi Limited are proud to present the 2008 Biennial Exhibition of Contemporary Bermuda Art. The 8th Biennial will run from April 25 to September 4 and features 86 works by 41 local artists, selected by an international jury from more than 250 submissions from 68 artists.

The Biennial comprises of work completed by Bermudian and resident artists between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2007. The exhibition was open to all Bermudian artists on the Island or overseas as well as foreign nationals who were resident in Bermuda for at least six months during the competition period.

The distinguished international jurors for this year’s Biennial were Mark Krisco, Artist, Curator, and instructor, Art Institute of Chicago and Franklin Sirmans, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Menil Collection, Houston, Texas. In a joint statement, they explained: “We have particularly focused on the artists that have not hesitated beyond comfortable boundaries; artists whose work has led them to a place outside comfortable boundaries – a place that may even seem “foreign” to them. It has been our experience that it is such artists who “go out on a limb” create art that comes from a place deeper within themselves. Far beyond competence and ego, it is a place that all viewers will relate to aesthetically and soulfully.”

In addition to new works by established artists such as Sharon R. Wilson, Charman prize winner Katherine Harriott, Will Collieson, Vaughan and Amy Evans, Dana Cooper, Caroline Troncossi, Edwin M. E. Smith and Jill Amos Raine, this year’s Biennial also features new talent such as Frank Chiappa, Miles Manders, Charles Godet Thomas, Kok Wan Lee and Susan Pearson, who are exhibiting in the Biennial for the first time. BNG Director Laura Gorham said: “Every two years, the Biennial presents a snapshot of our contemporary art scene and this year the picture is as diverse, thought provoking and innovative as ever. Indeed, we think is one of the strongest Biennials we have ever mounted.

“The Biennial is a subjective selection by experienced and knowledgeable international jurors who are not familiar with Bermuda’s artists. We believe this brings a fresh critical eye to Bermudian art that selects work based on its artistic merit and quality. We believe that by having the courage to submit to this process, local artists benefit enormously from the exposure, constructive criticism, prestige, and understanding of how their work is considered in an international context.”

This year’s Biennial is accompanied by a 100-plus page catalogue that illustrates all works in the exhibition, truly providing a complete record of the Biennial. The catalogue includes an essay by Bermudian scholar Dr. Christina Storey in which she examines the role of both collections and exhibitions in the development of the museum as an institution, and looks specifically at the special place that a biennial has as a potent type of exhibition. Dr. Storey received her PhD in Modern History from Oxford University and her BA in History and Literature from Harvard,

The Biennial also features a complementary programme of lectures, educational events and panel discussions featuring many of the Biennial artists. For further details, visit www.bng.bm

The Bermuda National Gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Monday to Saturday. Admission free.