National

Rising Stars Shine At Star Film Institute Awards

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Star Film Institute held their inaugural awards ceremony after a competition which lasted for several months.

Published

10 months ago

March 5, 2024

Denielle Miller

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Star Film Institute held their inaugural awards ceremony on Sunday night. The competition which lasted for several months challenged creatives to pitch their theater, drama or comedy ideas and bring them to life on the big screen.

On Sunday evening the Balmoral Club was filled with exemplary talent from actors to directors to screenwriters.

The inaugural awards ceremony showcased the best in the country and categories were judged by international guests award-winning filmmaker Nicole Sylvester, Creative Executive Reesha Archibald, former Executive Vice President for Tyler Perry Studios Roger Marcellus Bobb and former Mayor of Atlanta Mohammed Kasim Reed.

Reed who in his term in office took Georgia’s film industry to billion-dollar status told me he can see the same economic boom happening here in The Bahamas.

As nominees and winners were announced emotions ran high as everyone in the room was ecstatic to be recognized by their own, some after years of work.

Our very own Marlena Leonard was a part of the creative team behind Fate or Fortune, which won 10 out of 12 of the awards it was nominated for including the best overall drama production.

I spoke to the show’s creator and one of their award-winning actresses.

Chairman of the Star Film Institute Kerel Pinder said that behind the success there are still some challenges. Nonetheless, the institute will continue to make Hollywood dreams come true.