Aruba film festival plans second edition for June 10-16

The Aruba International Film Festival has set the dates for its second annual festival, to run June 10-16.

The first information about the second year was announced today in Aruba by AIFF founders and producers Giuseppe Cioccarelli and Jonathan Vieira.

The Aruban government continues to support the festival as it moves into its sophomore edition, in addition to sponsorships from local businesses.

Viera said: “AIFF is a good example of how government money is used to support local businesses and to promote the tourist industry on the Island. The festival generated tremendous worldwide publicity for Aruba last year. The great press throughout North American, Europe and South America is a testament not only to the festival but the entire local community who participated and brought it to life as the international media looked on.”

Last year’s inaugural event showed 25 films and welcomed the likes of Richard Gere, Guillermo Arriaga, Thelma Schoonmaker and Patricia Clarkson. The organisers said the 2011 edition would be “even bigger.”

Industry veteran Claudio Masenza will return as Artistic Director. He said: “I was truly impressed with the love, passion and curiosity shown by the people of Aruba for the selection of international movies - the Italian selection, the Indian selection, and so on.”

AIFF plans to expand its Spotlight series, to showcase movies by Caribbean filmmakers. 

The festival will once again be centred at the Paseo Herencia Entertainment Center.

The festival will continue its eco-friendly ambitions as well. Cioccarelli said: “The film industry has become increasingly aware of its responsibility to the environment. We want to continue to find ways to reduce the carbon footprint of our festival through conservation and the use of eco-friendly technologies.”