American enthusiast and documentarian of T&T culture Ray Funk will this year participate in the T&T’s Film Festival’s Carnival Film Series for the fifth out of six iterations of the event since it started in 2011. (The series, which showcases films about the personalities and art forms that contribute to Carnival, didn’t happen last year because of financial constraints caused by the recession.)
As it gears up for a year of outdoor cinema, training for filmmakers and of course the big Festival in September, the trinidad+tobago film festival’s first offering for 2017 is its Carnival Film Series—a showcase of Carnival-themed movies and other film-related events, from 05-11 February, sponsored by bpTT.
This year the focus is on classic films, with three evenings of free, outdoor film screenings beginning with Bacchanal Time at Constantine Park, Macoya, followed by Black Orpheus at Big Black Box, Woodbrook, and Horace Ove’s King Carnival at the NALIS Amphitheatre, Port of Spain. King Carnival will be followed by a panel discussion.
All screenings start at 7pm.
In a move designed to strengthen the local film industry, the trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff) has partnered with the British Council to host a participatory workshop for story (script) editors, screenwriters and producers from March 8 to 12, in Port-of-Spain.
The workshop will bring together up to 15 film professionals and will cover key issues common to script development and the role of the script editor in that process.
As it gears up for a year of outdoor cinema, training for filmmakers and of course the major festival in September, the Trinidad+Tobago Film Festival’s first offering for 2017 is its Carnival Film Series — a showcase of Carnival-themed movies and other film related events, from February 5 to 11, sponsored by bpTT.
This year the focus is on classic films, with three evenings of free, outdoor film screenings beginning with Bacchanal Time at Constantine Park, Macoya, followed by Black Orpheus at Big Black Box, Woodbrook, and Horace Ové’s King Carnival at the Nalis.
We start off our year of outdoor cinema with the Carnival Film Series – a showcase of Carnival-themed films and special presentations.
The series runs from 05 – 11 February and is sponsored by bpTT.
This year we focus on classic Carnival related films, with three evenings of free, outdoor film screenings.
The Carnival Film Series- Classic Edition programme:
Saturday 04 February, 7pm
Constantine Park, Macoya
Bacchanal Time/Comedy/ 1978/ Director Kamalo Deen
Bacchanal Time, is a hilarious comedy about an islandwide stick-fighting competition on Carnival Sunday, and two fighters who have to travel great distances through treacherous, often ridiculous circumstances to compete. Bubbling with the music of the season and Carnival weekend excitement, it stars Gregory Ballantyne (Calypsonian GB) as a stick fighter, and also features Calypso Rose, Shadow, Crazy, Trinidad Rio and Stork St. Hill among others. Written and directed by Kamalo Deen, the film treats the audience to a cinematic trip down memory lane and the joy of seeing the beauty of T&Ts 1970’s landscape on the big screen.
Seating will be provided. Feel free to bring your own refreshments.
Sunday 05 February, 7pm
Big Black Box, Woodbrook
Black Orpheus/Drama/ 1959/ Director Marcel Camus
The winner of both the 1959 Cannes Film Festival’s Palme d’Or, and the 1960 Academy Award for best foreign-language film, Black Orpheus brings the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice to the twentieth-century madness of Carnival in a Rio de Janeiro favela. An epic tale of love, vengeance and passion accompanied by breathtaking cinematography; it was an international sensation that helped kick-off the bossa nova craze in 1960s America.
Refreshments will be on sale.
Saturday 11 February, 7pm
NALIS Amphitheatre, Port of Spain.
King Carnival/Documentary/ 1973/ Director Horace Ové
+Panel Discussion: Dr. Hollis Liverpool, Ray Funk, Tony Hall
Made for the BBC in 1973 by legendary Trinidadian-British director, Horace Ové, King Carnival is acclaimed as one of the best documentaries ever made about the history of Trinidad and Tobago Carnival – with its in-depth look at the pre-Lenten festival, from the cultural cornucopia which provided a platform for civil unrest and protest, to the twentieth century celebration of all things Caribbean, which has spawned over 170 T&T-styled carnivals throughout the year and across the world.
Refreshments will be on sale.
In a move designed to strengthen the local film industry, the trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff) has partnered with the British Council to host a participatory workshop for story (script) editors, screenwriters and producers from 8 -12 March 2017, in Port of Spain.
The workshop will bring together up to fifteen film professionals and will cover key issues common to script development and the role of the script editor in that process.
The five day programme is designed to introduce the concept and practice of good feature script development by focusing on the role of the script editor and how they work with writers and producers. The programme will enable participants to gain the skills necessary to enhance their own filmmaking and that of their peer community and wider industry. By the end of the workshop there will be a number of committed, confident script editors ready and able to help make a positive contribution to both local and international filmmaking.
The programme will include practical sessions using scripts from participants as well as more general film reference material, to give participants immediate experience of the process and allow scriptwriters to take advantage of feedback for their specific projects.
According to Annalee Davis, Caribbean Arts Manager, British Council: “When the British Council consulted with regional stakeholders and filmmakers in November 2016, it became clear that screenwriting was an area where focus would be welcome, with a particular emphasis on creating the context for a stronger culture of project development. The British Council is therefore delighted to be collaborating with the ttff, to run this Story Editing workshop.’
Bruce Paddington, Founder and Festival Director of the ttff commented: “Good scripts not only require excellent writers but also the involvement of perceptive script editors who can help shape and improve the script. This workshop is therefore timely as Trinidad and Tobago strives to develop its film industry. The ttff is pleased to be working with the British Council on this important initiative.
The workshop will be led by Ludo Smolski, a script development consultant, script editor and reader for a variety of organisations in the UK, including iFeatures4, Creative Scotland, Scottish Film Talent Network, Film4 and the British Film Institute (BFI) Film Fund. He previously worked for The Script Factory, running their development and script feedback service, and devising and delivering training courses and workshops for screenwriters, developers and readers, both in the UK and internationally.
Smolski is also a Tutor for the National Film and Television School’s Postgraduate Diploma in Script Development, and delivers courses in script analysis and development for Creative England, the Film Distributors’ Association and the Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union (BECTU).
A similar workshop will be held in Jamaica in a collaboration between the British Council, the Jamaica Film and Television Association (JAFTA) and the JAMPRO Film Commission (JAMPRO), from 1 – 5 March 2017.
For more information and guidelines, visit: https://caribbean.britishcouncil.org/programmes/arts/making-development-work
About the workshop partners:
The Trinidad and Tobago, the trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff) celebrates films from and about the Caribbean and its diaspora, as well as from world cinema, through an annual festival and year-round screenings. In addition, the ttff seeks to facilitate the growth of Caribbean cinema by offering a wide-ranging industry programme and networking opportunities.
The British Council creates international opportunities for the people of the UK and other countries and builds trust between them worldwide. We are a Royal Charter charity, established as the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations.