A recognition for a crisis in the Caribbean.

The Trinidadian and Tobago Film Festival came to a close last week and the Amnesty International Human Rights Prize went to “Cargo,” a Bahamian film about the Haitian migration crisis. Its filmmaker Kareem Mortimer was thrilled at the honor and said his project speaks to a larger story to tell.

“It feels incredible and not even for me, but for the film — because it’s important for films to raise awareness about things that are important for us and our community,” he said.

Although he was not one of the deciding judges for his award, he has an idea as to why his film stoodout among others and the type of message it brought to the light.

“I think all over the world there’s a sort of a migration crisis happening and a type of language we use for migrants and sources, and this is happening all over the Caribbean, Africa, Europe — and it’s a global topic,” said Mortimer.

A descendant of the original inhabitants of this country, Tracy Assing can be considered a “princess” of a proud people, the Caribs.

Originally from Arima, Assing—the great niece of a Carib Queen—has continued to keep traditions and memories of the first people alive.

She’s a complete media practitioner, having worked in print, radio and television. Assing is currently pursuing a degree in Mass Communications, doing film and considers herself primarily a “storyteller.”

Proudly speaking about her roots as a child of the First People, Assing said: “On both my mother’s and father’s sides of the family we have indigenous heritage. My mother’s family are from St Vincent and from Tamana and Arena, and my dad’s from Venezuela and Caura.

In celebration of First People’s Day on October 13, the T&T Film Festival will host Indigenous Voices—an afternoon of films that present a diverse spectrum of indigenous storytelling and powerful narratives on the disappearing indigenous cultures of T&T and the Americas.

In celebration of First People’s Day on October 13, the T&T Film Festival will host Indigenous Voices—an afternoon of films that present a diverse spectrum of indigenous storytelling and powerful narratives on the disappearing indigenous cultures of T&T and the Americas.

A release said the event will be held on October 14 from noon to 5 pm, at the Arima Town Hall, in association with the Santa Rosa First Peoples Community, and with sponsorship from the Ministry of Community Development Culture and the Arts. The screenings are free.

TT Film Festival to screen films in celebration of First People’s Day.

Caribbean film that focuses on the issue of human trafficking – but from the point of view of reluctant trafficker, has won the Amnesty International Human Rights Prize.

Cargo by Bahamian film director Kareem Mortimer, won the top Prize at the recently concluded trinidad+tobago film festival, (ttff).

The Amnesty International Human Rights Prize is awarded to a Caribbean filmmaker whose film best highlights a human rights issue. The Award recognizes the importance of film as a vehicle for raising awareness about human rights issues and advancing inclusion and social justice.

In celebration of First People’s Day on October 13, the trinidad+tobago film festival will host Indigenous Voices, an afternoon of films that present a diverse spectrum of indigenous storytelling and powerful narratives on the disappearing indigenous cultures of Trinidad and Tobago and the Americas.

The event will be held on Saturday, October 14 from 12.00pm – 5.00pm, at the Arima Town Hall, in association with the Santa Rosa First Peoples Community, and with sponsorship from the Ministry of Community Development Culture and the Arts.

The screenings are free.

The winners of the award for Best T&T Film in Development at the 2017 T&T Film Festival (ttff), writers Karen Martinez and Georgia Popplewell and producer Lesley-Ann Macfarlane, say the prize is a sign of progress. It showed that bpTT and ttff are acknowledging that the process of making a film can be a long and arduous one.

The project, a feature-length narrative script called Scattered, has already won several prizes, including the Best Caribbean Film Mart Project award at ttff 2016, and has been shortlisted for the Sundance International Screenwriters’ Lab and CineMart Rotterdam.

Tobago’s senior school teachers have been lauded for allowing their students to experience the recent 12th annual trinidad + tobago film festival in person.

Bishop’s High School, always a major supporter of the festival, along with Roxborough, Speyside and Pentecostal Light and Life High Schools packed out the theatre at MovieTowne, Lowlands, to see The Tempest.

Signal Hill Senior Comprehensive also filled the theatre as Garnet Lawrence took 156 students with teachers to see Centerstitch, directed by Celoi Carr, a student. Filmed at the school, it told of a young boy obsessed with his shoes. The film explored the link between fashion, media and school behaviour and looked at some of the issues plaguing the local school system—bullying, unprotected sex, drug use and gambling.

The Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival (ttff) held its formal opening night gala at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) on September 19.

After the cocktail reception, guests were ushered into the Aldwyn Roberts, Lord Kitchener Auditorium, for the world premier of the film, Green Days by the River, based on the book written by Michael Anthony in 1952. Anthony who made a cameo appearance in the film interacted with guests at the event.

The entire cast along with director Michael Mooleedhar and producer Christian James also strutted on the red carpet.

Green Days won the best TT feature and people’s choice for best feature film narrative at the ttff awards on Tuesday. The film opened to the public on Tuesday.