This week as her special guest from the arts Ruth Copland is pleased to be interviewing founder and executive director of the Bahamas International Film Festival, Leslie Vanderpool. The Bahamas International Film Festival or BIFF is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing the local Bahamian community and international visitors with a diverse presentation of films from around the world. In addition to offering films that might not otherwise be released theatrically in the Bahamas, BIFF provides a unique cultural experience and set of educational programs and forums for exploring the past, present and future of cinema. Leslie launched the film festival in 2004 as a non-profit organization dedicated to creating a cine-literate arts community, bridging cultures, gaining knowledge, and attracting a targeted tourism sector through the film industry. The festival has showcased more than 800 films from countries around the world and has attracted such lumimaries as Johnny Depp, Nicolas Cage, Laurence Fishburne, Daryl Hannah, Sir Sean Connery, Debra Messing, Sidney Poitier, Danny Glover and many more. Leslie received a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations before going on to pursue her passion for theater and filmmaking. She studied at the Lee Strasberg Acting Institute and studied Shakespeare at Balliol College, Oxford University in England, where Alan Rickman, Fiona Shaw and many more honed her skills. In addition to spending over a decade planning and developing film festivals, Leslie has been innovative in taking filmmaking into schools where she has taught all aspects of filmmaking. She has also created unique cultural experiences such as ‘Summer Films In The Square’ and ‘Theater In The Park.’ Leslie is an entrepreneur with a strong background in marketing, branding, film production and sponsorship. She spends her time between California and The Bahamas advancing the film industry while partnering with startups and established film production companies.
Tune in Saturday 9-10 PM to find out more about the life and art of Leslie Vanderpool. For more info and to hear previous shows visit www.itsaquestionofbalance.com
