Top brands round out lineup of new ttff/13 partners

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As we inch closer to an exciting two weeks of films, workshops, panels and parties, we are thrilled to acknowledge the last of our new major partnerships for the ttff/13.

Heineken, a global brand that needs no introduction, has been serving discerning beer drinkers since 1864. Through its distributor, Carib Brewery Limited, Heineken joins our list of official Festival partners for 2013. Look out for this distinctive product at ttff events. Cheers!

MINI also joins us this year, providing Festival transportation for the ttff team and our guests. From its unusual design to its quirky advertising, MINI is an international brand that falls right in step with ttff/13. Welcome aboard!

All Italian Fine Wine & Foods is a new gourmet food shop located in Port of Spain. They will supply our social events with fine Italian wines.

We would also like to acknowledge the Ministry of Tourism, on board this year as a leading sponsor. Through this partnership and endorsement, the ttff can continue to grow as a platform not just for the development of the local and regional film industry, but also as a viable cultural product that contributes to the increase of tourist visits to Trinidad and Tobago.

ttff programmes Caribbean-Canadian showcase at Vancouver festival

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A number of past trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff) selections will screen at the Vancouver Latin American Film Festival (VLAFF), which kicks off its 10th annual edition tomorrow.

According to VLAFF’s mission, the festival seeks to “provide Canadian audiences with an opportunity to observe a variety of films, which closely reflect the society and people of Latin American countries.”

This mission has now been extended to include films from the Caribbean with a Canadian connection, and vice versa. These films comprise the VLAFF 2013 Caribbean-Canadian showcase, programmed by VLAFF’s director, Christian Sida-Valenzuela (a ttff/12 juror), in association with the ttff.

The Caribbean-Canadian showcase comprises eight films (two features and six shorts). Five of the films were ttff/12 selections, while three screened at the ttff/11.

The two features are the documentary Dal Puri Diaspora, directed by Trinidadian-Canadian Richard Fung, and The Bastard Sings the Sweetest Song, a Guyana-set documentary directed by Canadian filmmaker Christy Garland. Dal Puri Diaspora enjoyed its world premiere at the ttff/12, while The Bastard… won the jury prize for Best Caribbean Film by an International Filmmaker.

See the full Caribbean-Canadian showcase in the VLAFF programme.

VLAFF is the latest of a series of international film festivals at which the ttff has programmed a showcase of films. Other such festivals include the Havana Film Festival and the Zanzibar International Film Festival.

Image: A still from Dal Puri Diaspora (Richard Fung, 2012)

Announcement of Panorama films completes 2013 trinidad+tobago film festival lineup

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Twenty-six feature films from beyond the Caribbean will screen in the Panorama section of the 2013 trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff), as the Festival completed the announcement of its lineup today.

The ttff, now in its 8th year, takes place from 17 September–01 October, and screens feature-length, short and experimental films from the Caribbean and its diaspora. The Festival also screens feature-length fiction and documentary films from world cinema in its Panorama section.

This section comprises films from Latin and North America, as well as from Trinidad and Tobago’s “heritage” regions, including countries in Africa and Europe, India, and, for the first time, China. The majority of these are new or recent films that had their world premiere at some of the most prestigious film festivals in the world, including Cannes, Toronto, Sundance and Berlin.

The announcement of the 26 Panorama films brings the number of features screening at the ttff/13 to 49. The total number of films screening at the Festival, including short films and experimental film and video works in the New Media section, is 151.

“The ttff will present a programme of world cinema, alongside our Caribbean selection of films, in order to offer our audiences the opportunity to see films primarily from the global south that will enlighten and entertain,” said Emilie Upczak, Creative Director, ttff. “And we are pleased to be able, with the support of our partner diplomatic missions, to host a group of filmmakers and talent from selected Panorama section films to be present to engage with our audiences.”

For the full lineup of Panorama films, go here.

Image: a still from Gloria (Sebastián Lelio, Chile, 2013)

Thirty-six New Media works to screen at 2013 trinidad+tobago film festival

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The trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff) has today announced its ttff/13 New Media programme, which is co-curated and presented with ARC Magazine and will take place from 20–27 September at Medulla Art Gallery, a venue partner of the Festival. Now in its third year, New Media features experimental films, video art and performances. The programme opens on 20 September at 6.00pm at Medulla with a live projection event by Jamaican artist Olivia McGilchrist.

This year, New Media will adopt an exhibition-style screening format, where the majority of selected works, with a total running time of 100 minutes, will be played on a loop daily from 11.00am–4.00pm, 21–27 September. These daily screenings will be complemented by a number of special evening events, including a closing night performance by Trinidadian artist, Rodell Warner, on the evening of 27 September.

The 36 works in New Media range in length from under one minute to 84 minutes and come from 27 artists across 15 countries, the majority of which lie within the Caribbean or its diasporas.

For the second year running, New Media will screen works produced as part of films4peace—the groundbreaking initiative from PUMA.Peace. This special event takes place on the evening of 21 September, to coincide with screenings at other venues across the globe in celebration of World Peace Day. Also on that evening, there will be an artist’s talk with local and visiting participants of this year’s New Media programme.

Additionally, for the second year running there will be a special showing of New Media works at the University of the West Indies. And, for the first time this year, there will be a New Media prize of TT $5,000, which will be awarded to the most promising participant of the programme.

“The ttff is happy to be partnering with ARC Magazine to once more put forward a needed platform for the display of high-calibre experimental works that are coming out of the region,” said Melanie Archer, Art Director of the ttff and co-curator of the New Media programme.

Holly Bynoe, Editor-in-Chief of ARC and another of New Media’s curators, added, “Video, sound, performative and installation art are burgeoning frontier fields, and it is necessary to showcase how Caribbean artists are striving to identify themselves with the evolving milieu. The selection of work here is irreverent, self-motivated and bold, a clear sign that new media works are now an embedded part of our cultural and artistic terrain.”

For the full lineup of New Media works, go here.

Fifty-six Caribbean shorts announced for 2013 trinidad+tobago film festival

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The short and medium-length films that will screen at the 2013 trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff) have been announced. Fifty-six of these films will be shown in all at the ttff/13, which runs from 17 September–01 October.

The 56 films—both fiction and documentary—represent 18 countries in the Caribbean and the diaspora. Twenty-eight films (exactly half) come from from T+T. In addition, 13 of the films will be in competition, for either Best Short Film or Best Local Short Film.

“As ever, the largest section of our film lineup is our short films section,” said Jonathan Ali, Editorial Director of the ttff. “And also as ever, the selection of shorts is wonderfully diverse, in terms of content, style and countries represented. We hope audiences will enjoy the films chosen.”

The Festival, which is in its 8th year, has already announced its opening and closing night films (Half of a Yellow Sun and Tula: The Revolt, respectively), as well as its 22 Caribbean features. Still to be announced are the panorama features (films from world cinema) and the experimental films playing in the New Media section.

To see the lineup of shorts, go here.

Image: A still from Yolanda (Cristian Carretero, Dominican Republic)

Participants announced for RBC Focus: Filmmakers’ Immersion at ttff/13

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The participants for the RBC Focus: Filmmakers’ Immersion at the 2013 trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff) have been selected.

Now in its third year, RBC Focus: Filmmakers’ Immersion is an intensive development programme for ten selected emerging filmmakers from the Caribbean and its diaspora. Every year the Immersion alternates between fiction and documentary filmmaking; this year, the focus is on fiction.

The Immersion takes place from 24–27 September, during the ttff/13, which runs from 17 September–01 October. The main facilitator will be New York-based Argentinian filmmaker Julia Solomonoff.

The ten selected participants for the Immersion are:

Gabrielle Blackwood, Jamaica
Shakirah Bourne, Barbados
Ivette Davila, Puerto Rico/Cuba/USA
Pierre de Fréro, Haiti
Ivan Herrera, Dominican Republic
Ryan Khan, T&T
Faisal Lutchmedial T&T/Canada
Damian Marcano T&T/USA
Karen Martinez T&T/UK
Storm Saulter, Jamaica

The participants enter the Immersion with a concept for a feature film. At the end the top five participants as decided by Ms Solomonoff will be chosen. These participants will then pitch their project to a jury at a public event on 28 September. The participant with the best project and pitch, as determined by the jury, will win a cash prize of TT$20,000.

“The film festival is encouraged by the sheer number of applications this year and the level of the selected participating filmmakers,” said Emilie Upczak, Creative Director, ttff. “The Immersion has become a significant offering in the development of the Caribbean film industry and we are pleased to be able to continue to support the emerging filmmakers in the region through the generous support given by RBC Royal Bank.”

Image: Participants at the 2012 RBC Focus: Filmmakers’ Immersion

Danny Glover slave drama Tula: The Revolt to close 2013 trinidad+tobago film festival

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We are pleased to announce that the slave-uprising drama Tula: The Revolt, starring Danny Glover, will close this year’s trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff). The film will screen on 01 October and enjoy its T&T premiere at the Festival.

Tula: The Revolt is based on true events that took place on the island of Curaçao in 1795. It tells the story of Tula (Obi Abili), an enslaved African who, after learning of the successful revolution in Haiti, downs tools and sets out to meet with the governor, de Veer (Jeroen Krabbé), to demand his people’s freedom.

The rulers don’t look kindly upon Tula’s actions. But they resonate with his fellow slaves, including Shinishi (Glover). Inspired by Tula’s example, they unite in a passionate struggle for equality, freedom and brotherhood.

Shot entirely on Curaçao, Tula: The Revolt is an English-language, Dutch-Netherlands Antilles co-production, and features an international cast. It was written and directed by first-time feature-filmmaker Jeroen Leinders.

Leinders, who is from the Netherlands, spent a large part of his youth on Curaçao, and lives and works there regularly. He will be present at the Festival to introduce his film.

“We are very pleased to have Tula: The Revolt be the closing night film of the Festival,” said Jonathan Ali, Editorial Director of the ttff. “In particular, we note that it is based on real events, and hope that when people see the film they will be inspired to learn more about Tula, the historical figure.”

The ttff/13 begins on 17 September with the Caribbean premiere of the Nigerian film Half of a Yellow Sun, directed by Biyi Bandele and starring Thandie Newton and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

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Image: Danny Glover (Shinishi), second from left, and Obi Abili (Tula), right, in a scene from Tula: The Revolt

Twenty-two Caribbean features to screen at 2013 trinidad+tobago film festival

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The trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff) announced the first section of its programme of films for its 2013 edition, the Caribbean features section, today. Twenty-two feature-length Caribbean and diaspora films—ten fiction films and 12 documentaries—will screen at the ttff/13, which runs from 17 September–01 October.

The 22 films come from 14 Caribbean countries, and all but one will be making their local premiere at the Festival. In addition five of the films will be world premieres, nine will enjoy their Caribbean premiere, and two their international premiere

Fourteen of the films will be in official competition, for one or more of four awards: Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary Feature, Best T&T Feature and Best Caribbean Film by an International Filmmaker.

“We have a very strong Caribbean programme this year, films from right across the region, portraying us in all our diversity,” said Annabelle Alacazar, Programme Director of the ttff. “It’s very exciting to see the main section of our programme, grow.”

Still to be announced are the closing night film, the section of Caribbean short and medium-length films, the panorama section of feature-length films (films from world cinema), and the experimental films playing in the New Media section. Last week the Festival announced Half of a Yellow Sun, the Nigerian-UK drama directed by Biyi Bandele, as its opening night film.

The full lineup of Caribbean features follows. Films marked with an asterisk (*) are in competition.

Narrative selections
Abo So Juan Francisco Pardo, Aruba, 2013, T&T premiere*
Ana’s Film Daniel Díaz Torres, Cuba, 2012, T&T premiere
Chrissy! Marcia Weekes, Barbados, 2012, T&T premiere
God Loves the Fighter Damian Marcano, T&T, 2013, world premiere*
I Am a Director Javier Colón, Puerto Rico, 2012, T&T premiere*
Kingston Paradise Mary Wells, Jamaica, 2013, Caribbean premiere*
Melaza Carlos Lechuga, Cuba, 2012, T&T premiere*
Payday Selwyne Browne, Barbados, 2013, T&T premiere
The Swimming Pool Carlos Machado Quintela, Cuba, 2012, T&T premiere
Three Kids Jonas d’Adesky, Haiti/Belgium, 2012, T&T premiere*

Documentary selections
Carmita Laura Guzmán and Israel Cardenás, 2013, Dominican Republic//Mexico/Cuba, Caribbean premiere*
Fatal Assistance Raoul Peck, Haiti, 2013, T&T premiere*
Forward Ever: The Killing of a Revolution Bruce Paddington, T&T/Grenada, 2013, world premiere
No Bois Man No Fraid Christopher Laird, T&T, 2013, world premiere*
Poetry is an Island: Derek Walcott Ida Does, Aruba/The Netherlands/Suriname/Saint Lucia, 2013, world premiere*
Red, White and Black: A Sports Odyssey Robert Dumas, T&T, 2012
Silent Music Melissa Gomez, Antigua, 2012, Caribbean premiere
Songs of Redemption Miquel Galofré and Amanda Sans Pantling, Jamaica/Spain, 2013, T&T premiere*
The Stuart Hall Project John Akomfrah, UK/Jamaica, 2013, Caribbean premiere*
Ten Days of Muharram: The Cedros Hosay Che Rodriguez, T&T, 2013, world premiere*
Viva Cuba Libre: Rap is War! Jesse Acevedo, Cuba/Mexico/USA, 2013, Caribbean premiere*
The Wind that Blows Thomas Weston, St Vincent and the Grenadines/USA, 2013, T&T premiere*

All film synopses and trailers can be viewed here.

Image: A still from God Loves the Fighter (Damian Marcano, T&T)

Film festival and bpTT to award $20,000 to best local film in development

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Are you a Trinidad and Tobago filmmaker in pre-production on a feature-length film? The trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff) is interested in your project!

The Festival is announcing an open call for submissions for its annual Film in Development Award, sponsored by bpTT. The award, which is for a narrative or documentary feature film in pre-production, comes with a cash prize of $20,000.

To be eligible for the award, you must be a citizen or permanent resident of Trinidad and Tobago at work on a a feature-length film (at least 72 minutes long) being made here. You can apply as the director, writer or creative producer of the film. You must provide:

• A director’s statement
• A completed script for a narrative film
• A treatment between five and ten pages long for a documentary
• An estimated budget
• A list of key production members
• A production timeline

Your submission should be sent to hello@ttfilmfestival.com no later than 30 August. Shortlisted candidates will be notified by 15 September and the awardee will be announced at the ttff/13 awards ceremony on 29 September.

Image: A still from last year’s Film in Development Award Winner, The Cutlass (director, Darisha Beresford; writer, Teneille Newallo)