Belize International Film Festival 2013

Come Share The Experience.  July 11th - 15th 2013, it's that time of the year again. Belize International Film Festival.

Nigel P. Miguel
Belize Film Commissioner

You can prevent, and even reverse, heart disease . . .

Let's wake up people.

You can prevent, and even reverse, heart disease . . .

Nigel P. Miguel
B.F.C.

Laidback Living on Belize’s REAL Caribbean Escape

Laidback Living on Belize’s REAL Caribbean Escape
By Glynna Prentice

I arrived in Caye Caulker by water taxi from Ambergris Caye, as many people do. The trip takes half an hour, costs $7.50, and is worth the money—skimming across the Caribbean’s blue waves, you can watch the island’s white-sand shores, fringed with palms, gradually grow closer. This approach also drives home a reality of life here: On Caye Caulker, you really are away from it all.

The island is only five miles long and at most a mile wide. Only the southern half is developed; most of the north half is jungle and mangrove—and it’s separated from the south by a channel called the Split (the most popular swimming spot).

At Caye Caulker Village, where the water taxis come in, the island is at its narrowest: only three streets wide. These bear the imaginative names of Front, Middle, and Back and are simple packed sand. You’ll see no cars here and only a few golf carts—most people walk or get around by bicycle.

And no one’s in a rush. Here, life is all about the water. You can swim and snorkel right off the beach, and the barrier reef is a mile away, an easy trip by motorboat. In fact, you’ll see boats in many backyards and moored on the lagoon. Walking down Front or Middle Street, about every third weather-beaten, wood-frame house you pass seems to be a tour-guide operator offering diving trips off the barrier reef or the Blue Hole, or for snorkeling in Hol Chan, all big draws in the area.

If you’re a sucker for beach living, you may soon find yourself kicking back and falling for Caye Caulker’s seductive charm.

Within an hour of arrival I was going barefoot. I snorkeled. I swam. I got a tattoo. (Okay, truth? I didn’t get the tattoo. But I did think about it... seriously...which says something about the spell this island can cast.)

Canadian expats Cindy and Barry Beer have called Caye Caulker home since 2007. "As soon as we got here, we knew this was it," says Cindy. I chatted with the two on the deck of their simple wooden house, the Caribbean just a stone’s throw away. Like many houses here, theirs sits on stilts to put it above water surges—Caye Caulker is only eight feet above sea level. The Beers’ boat rests in the sand nearby.

The two admitted that they "don’t go out a lot." There’s not a lot to do on Caye Caulker once the sun goes down, except go out to dinner or drink in bars. The Beers, though, like Caye Caulker’s tranquility. They say that it’s easy to go to San Pedro when they want city thrills—and they find they seldom do.

N.P.M.

Belize Film Commissioner

Forbes Picks Belize as Top Retirement Spot | Belize Travel Blog

Forbes Picks Belize as Top Retirement Spot | Belize Travel Blog

Nigel P. Miguel
B.F.C.

Saturday Afternoon At Water Walkers International

  

N.P.M.

Belize Film Commissioner

International Living Tips

International Living Postcards—your daily escape
Monday, Oct. 1, 2012

Dear International Living Reader,

Everyone's at IL's Fast-Track Your Retirement Overseas Conference in Las Vegas (look for your insider reports tomorrow), including Glynna. She plans to tempt readers with stories of Mexico's turquoise beaches and colonial highlands, and the charming towns of northern Spain...as well as revealing everything you need to know about international health insurance.

She runs through the basics below. If you want to get a recording of her presentation, just sign up here.

Len Galvin
Managing Editor, IL Postcards

* * *

Expat Health Insurance 101
By Glynna Prentice

Recently I was in Peru and went white-water rafting for the first time. It wasn’t particularly dangerous, but bangs, scrapes, and a dunk in the water are always a possibility. I didn’t worry, though: In the unlikely event that I sustained an injury, there was a good hospital nearby—and I have health insurance to cover it.

Health insurance—qualifying for it, paying for it, and keeping it—is one of the biggest worries we hear about from folks in the U.S. But since I moved abroad it hasn’t been a problem for me. And if you’re thinking of moving abroad, it likely doesn’t have to be a problem for you, either. As an expat, you’ll have a range of health care solutions available to you. Your choice is deciding which option (or options) makes the most sense for your situation.

My health insurance plan back in New York, for instance, wouldn’t have covered me outside the U.S. This is pretty common with U.S. health insurance. In fact, I’d have paid a healthy premium if I’d had to use medical services outside New York. Again, this isn’t unusual with U.S. plans.

That’s not the case with my health insurance in Mexico. My plan here covers me not only throughout Mexico, but abroad as well—whether I’m in Tampa, Toulouse, or Timbuktu. I travel a lot, so this is important to me.

Plus, if I pay out-of-pocket for some procedures, that’s no biggie, either. In Latin America, for instance—where I mostly travel—medical care across the board costs about a quarter to a half of what you’d pay in the States. These days I pay about $35 out-of-pocket to see a specialist in Mexico—which is possibly less than my co-pay would be if I were still in the U.S.

Even in Europe—which many people tsk-tsk as being expensive—health care costs can be affordable. Last summer I went to the doctor in Spain. He sent the bill back to my Mexican insurance company, but I saw the charge: 60 euros—about $84 at the time.

I don’t generally worry about quality of care, either. In the countries International Living covers regularly, excellent doctors and hospitals tend to be the rule, rather than the exception. Most expats find their health care abroad at least as good as what they had back home—and often more accessible.

Admittedly, if you have a rare health condition, moving abroad is not something to do on a whim. You may well be better off with your existing doctors, who know your situation.

But for most of us, the answer is simpler: Don’t let health care hold you back if you want to move abroad.

Editor's note: Health care, residency, funding your life, taxes, investment, Ecuador, Panama, Mexico, Spain, Italy, Nicaragua, Belize, Costa Rica and much, much more—we're covering everything you need to find your ideal retirement haven at the Fast Track Your Retirement Overseas Conference. And you can listen in to everything...

N.P.M.

Belize Film Commissioner

Four Season Resort Comes To Belize

http://belizean.com/belize-to-get-four-seasons-resort-1197/

What a beautiful island it is the perfect place for A Four Season Resort.

N.P.M.
Belize Film Commissioner

Rooftop Comedy Stand Up: Belize

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7OE2tvuxaE
Belize, Belize, Belize, everybody is talking about Belize. Laughter is a good thing, we all need to laugh a little bit more.

Nigel P. Miguel
B.F.C.

2012 Belize International Film Festival

Come celebrate the dawn of a new hour, the coolest place to be in 2012 is Belize enjoying the Belize International Film Festival July 13th - 17th.

http://www.belizefilmfestival.com/

Nigel P. Miguel
Belize Film Commissioner

Director Jon Knee Talks About Location Belize.m2ts

Our Beautiful Jewel, Belize, will be featured in yet another Hollywood Production. We caught up with Dragon Wasp director, Jon Knee in the charming village of Crooked Tree were he was preparing to shoot his final scene from this village location. Jon was very excited about being in Belize and look forward to coming back. He also spoke about the project and how easy it was to find so many wonderful locations here in Belize. Look out world, Belize is quickly becoming a Hot Spot for production! Please enjoy the video and Filmbelize

Nigel P. Miguel
B.F.C.

Belize Legends Group Shot.mov

Here we have over 40 years of Belizean Basketball Hoop Legends. They got together over the Independence Holiday weekend at Bird's Isle in Belize City, and talked about old times and bringing the old timers back to the courts to help with putting the fundamentals back into the game. If you look real closely you can see an import, from Panama & The Dallas Mavericks. Mr. Rolando Blackman was here in the country to celebrate our independence day, Sept. 21st and to offer his expertise to The Belize Basketball Federation. The Belize Film Commission was to capture the days event and will be involved in documenting these meeting and securing film footage for the archives.

Nigel P. Miguel
B.F.C.

Herb & Wally Gator At Altun Ha.mov

Nigel P. Miguel
B.F.C.

Belize LifeStyle Aerial Xunantunich Maya Ruin.MTS

Come celebrate the richness of Belize, where many cultures exist as one nation. Belize 2012, let's take a step back in time.

Nigel P. Miguel
B.F.C.

The Belize Film Festival Is Back

Guess who's coming to Belize on July 14th 2011 to open the 6th Annual Belize Film Festival? It's a special night for Belize, it's the return of Gary Owen and he's bringing a few of his close friends. Rodney Perry from The Monique Show, Damon Williams and my personal favorite Mr. Tony Roberts, Belize we are in for a treat. All of this is made possible through Breakthrough Star, a new partner of the Belize Film Festival. The show is being held at the Bliss Preforming Arts Center, and will be televised back in the US at a later date. So Belizeans be on the lookout for these guys as they drop down to visit the Jewel. Oh there's also another surprise, there will be a touch of the local flavor in the comedians as well. www,belizefilmfestival.com

Nigel P. Miguel
B.F.C.

Belize Film Commissioner Works With Angela Simmons

There's a bright young star in the making and she goes by the name of Angela Simmons, yes folks, Reverend Run's Daughter. I had the distinct pleasure of working with this young lady on the filming of a TV Pilot. I was quite impressed with her professionalism and her acting ability. She may come from The Royal Family of Rap, but she has quite a future in front of the camera as well. Look out Belize, rumor has it that the show may just have an episode that takes place in Belize. Who knows we may be seeing Angela & Vanessa down here in the country real soon.



Nigel P. Miguel
B.F.C.

"Portals to the Underworld."

Aug. 9th, 2010



The BELIZE FILM COMMISSION and NICH are excited to announce the premiere of GATES OF HELL on the History Channel, Tuesday, August 17, at 8 pm.



According to Courtney Engelstein, Development Producer of Red Marble Media, “ The show looks fantastic, and the segment in Belize is beautiful, compelling, and creepy. Thank you so much for your help in pulling that shoot together. History Channel has just begun airing promos, which we are very happy with as well.”



Red Marble Media filmed in Belize earlier this year for a commissioned two-hour History Channel special originally called "Portals to the Underworld." The documentary charts historical thoughts and beliefs about the afterlife from the ancient Maya to modern Christianity. Producers traveled to places that were once believed to be sacred portals to spiritual realms of which Belize was one and used interviews with experts and artistic depictions of the Underworld from throughout the ages for the project.

Nigel P. Miguel
B.F.C.

Director Tim Story Is really feeling Belize

 
Director Tim Story took some time out to let Hollywood know what he thinks of Belize.

AFCI Accepts The Belize Film Commission & The Film Commissiomer

Well it's official, The folks over at AFCI have spoken and Belize is in. We are in the final process of becoming a full member of The Association of Film Commissioners International. Look out world, here we come our Belize is on the map.


B.F.C.
Nigel P. Miguel

Chill Mitchell This Is My Belize-Take 1

Daryl Chill Mitchell returns to Belize by way of the Monique Show on BET April 2, 2010. They're doling it again, because of the huge response to the show when it aired in late February, BET is re-airing the episode of the Monique Show that highlighted Daryl Mitchell and his trip to Belize. Keep your eyes open for Chill showing up on a couple of different talk shows, showing off Belize, his home away from home. We Love You Brother.


B.F.C.
Nigel P. Miguel

I'm Ready For My Close Up

Belizean Actors have traveled a tough road to get their break in the movies. The fact that Hollywood had to come to Belize for some of them to be able to show their talent is truly a blessing from God. We taped a few actors as they went through their first Hollywood style audition, we all must enjoy the process and make the most out of each opportunity. I want Belizean hopefuls to always remember that every time you are in front of the camera you are becoming a better actor and you are improving your craft. Always believe in yourself and keep your dream alive. Dare To Dream!!


B.F.C.
Nigel P. Miguel