Tickets are available now for the 7th annual Beaufort International Film Festival scheduled for February 13-17. Purchase tickets online at www.beaufortfilmfestival.com or at the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center, 713 Craven St., Beaufort or at the Beaufort Film Society office located at 708 Carteret St., Beaufort, SC.  The full schedule of events and screening times are also located on the film festival website. Discounts apply for all members of the Beaufort Film Society.  Find the details for membership at www.beaufortfilmsociety.org.

Ron Tucker, President of the Beaufort Film Society, said more than 7,000 people participated in last year’s festival and he expects an even greater turnout this year. “We will present more than 30 screenings to include shorts, documentaries, animated films and student productions and we look forward to hosting some exciting special guests and celebrities again this year. This may be our best festival yet.”

Mike Tollin, director of the film “Radio,” which was shot in the Lowcountry in 2003, will accept the Jean Ribaut Award for Excellence in Filmmaking. The real life “Radio,” James Robert Kennedy (played by Cuba Gooding Jr.), and Coach Harold Jones (played by Ed Harris), will also attend the festival. Tucker said an effort is under way to locate local people who worked on the set of the film as extras or technicians and invite them to the screening.  Tollin said he is excited about seeing them again.  There will be a special reunion screening of the film at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb 15 at the USCB Center for the Arts.

Chris Brinker, producer and director of the soon-to-be-released motion picture “Whisky Bay,” will conduct a Q&amp;A on the making of the film along with the film’s star Tom Berenger at 4:15 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 15. Brinker will be presented the festival’s inaugural Robert Smalls Indie Vision Award.

For the first time the Opening Night Reception will be a ticketed event and takes place on Wednesday, February 13 at Old Bay Marketplace.  The awards ceremony is Saturday, February 16 at USCB.

<strong>Saltus supports Beaufort Film Festival with wine dinner: </strong>

<strong>Saltus River Grill on Bay Street will host its Third Annual Wine Dinner benefiting The Beaufort International Film Festival on Thursday, January 24. A cocktail hour will begin at 6 p.m. with remarks from Beaufort Film Society Executive Director Ron Tucker, followed by a four-course dinner prepared by Saltus Executive Chef Brian Waters. The dinner is available for $50 per person, with $10 per paid ticket benefiting BIFF. Reservations may be made by calling (843) 379-3474. A menu is available at www.saltusrivergrill.com. This year’s signature cocktail is called “The Great Santini.”</strong>
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