Cayo Scoop! The Ecology of Cayo Culture

The 2021 Belize International Film Festival kicked off yesterday.  They'll have 10 days of films, including some from Belize.

"OPENING CEREMONY of the 15th Edition Belize International Film Festival - November 5th, 2021.

Hosted by: Belizean writer and actress, Maryam Abdul Qawiyy
Welcome: Film Commissioner of Belize, Nigel P. Miguel,
Presenting Partner Address: CaribbeanTales-TV.com, Courtney Panchan
Keynote Address: Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, Hon. Anthony Mahler,
Festival Overview & Thanks: BelizeIFF Founder and Director, Suzette Zayden.

Included in the ceremony are video greetings from many filmmakers around the globe whose films make up the Official Selection for the 2021 BelizeIFF."

The Wood Thrush Connection won the Best Short Documentary award at the 12th Belize International Film Festival.  You might see someone you know in the documentary.  Spoiler alert, it's Roni Martinez.  Those little birds really fly a long way to experience the beauty of Belize, where much of the documentary takes place. 

The BIFF has pictures of all the winners from the ceremony.

"Audubon North Carolina’s Climate Initiative brings attention to the challenges birds face as our climate changes. In partnership with Forsyth Audubon, The Wood Thrush Connection, produced by the Climate Listening Project, connects people around the world – from North Carolina to Belize – through a shared love of the climate threatened Wood Thrush. Meet some climate heroes, learn about full life-cycle conservation approaches, and discover the importance of habitat protections and the threats of climate change to this beloved bird. Learn more about the effects of climate change on the Wood Thrush."

Yochi was screened last night at the Cayo Welcome Center to kick off the Belize International Film Festival.  Daniel Velazquez did the behind the scenes video.  It's worth a watch, and it was all filmed in Cayo, of course.

The BIFF has released a promo video highlighting some of the movies that will be screened.  The 2 Belizean films highlighted are Yochi, and Pillaging of the Chiquibul.  It starts on Thursday, November 10th.

"Catch a glimpse of some of the awesome films screening in Belize at this years 11th edition of BIFF."

The deadline has been extended for submissions to the 11th annual Belize International Film Festival.  The new deadline is this Friday.  

Submission PDF: http://belizefilmfestival.com/images/2016/docs/BIFF-2016-Entry-Form-FILM.pdf

The Belize International Film Festival has a trailer out, with snippets of some of the movies that will be shown this year.  The BIFF will be the week starting the 16th of July.  A few Belizean made movies will be shown at the festival, including the short 'Intruder,' and the documentaries 'The Cohune, Gibnut, and Us,' 'Fight Against the Lionfish Invasion,' and 'Living the Homeless.'

"We hope you'll join us at the 2014 Belize International Film Festival!  This year's festival selection is more exciting than ever before, with films from around the globe.  See you at the movies!"

UPDATE - The BIFF has been moved to November 3rd through the 12th.

The dates are set for the 2023 BIFF, June 22nd to July 1st, and this year, it'll be in Cayo and Belmopan.  They are calling for submissions.

'Ready, set, action! The 16th edition of the Belize International Film Festival is back from June 22nd to July 1st, 2023 in Cayo! Belmopan and San Ignacio. Save the date and get ready for an amazing lineup of films and events!  

Video of the day.  The Belize International Film Festival created a video of all this year's winners.  Tecuani & the Duende won twice, and the Belikin video about the Chiquibul also won an award.  

The Belize International Film Festival was last week, and Yochi, a film shot totally in Cayo, won for Best Short Film.  Wings of Hope, a documentary made in Belize by Carol Foster, also won in its category.  34 films from 20 different countries were reviewed.  17 Belizean music videos were judged, and Melonie Gillett won for Soca Mode.

Yochi will be shown tonight at the Cayo Welcome Center.  

The 2016 BIFF starts on Thursday, and they have quite a lineup of movies and documentaries.

Yochi, which was filmed here in Cayo, will premier at the Belize International Film Festival.  It's getting great reviews, and is getting noticed.

"Yochi, a film written and directed by Las Cruces filmmaker Ilana Lapid, will premiere at the 2016 Belize International Film Festival"

Video of the day.  This video won at the Belize International Film Festival.  It was created during a retreat in Belize.  It's stunning, and is really worth the watch.

"After the seas have disappeared, a courageous pilot fights against vicious sky pirates for control of the last remaining source of water: the clouds.  The bulk of the film was made using nothing but laptops during a 7-week artist retreat on a small caribbean island."