As the trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff) celebrates its tenth anniversary this year, among the many things we have to be excited about is the opportunity to share the ttff’s repository of knowledge and skills as mentors in the Ministry of the Arts and Multiculturalism’s Mentoring by the Masters programme. It’s a responsibility we are taking seriously, as we join an esteemed list of masters for 2015. They are:
• Albert Laveau – Developmental Theatre
• Paul Keens-Douglas -Storytelling and Oratory Traditions
• Narcenio Gomez – Wire Bending and Carnival Arts
• Winsford Devine – Songwriting, Music Composition and Arrangement
• trinidad+tobago film festival – Festival Development
According to the Ministry of the Arts and Multiculturalism, the ttff was selected because of its reputation for “cutting-edge world cinema and experimental film, training opportunities for local and regional filmmakers, international outreach, and for making such an impact for Caribbean cinema, that last year the ttff was named one of the 25 coolest film festivals in the world by MovieMaker magazine.” The Ministry is also a Supporting Sponsor for the ttff for a third year.
Developed in 2013, the Mentoring by the Masters programme allows participants to be mentored by senior, accomplished artists and cultural workers over a three-month period, to facilitate the transfer of knowledge from them to emerging practitioners or apprentices in their respective fields.
The ten mentees who will work with the ttff are all cultural workers and professionals in their fields who are seeking to strengthen existing skills, develop new ones and experience the workings of the Festival from the inside out.
A huge responsibility, but a great way to celebrate turning ten.
Image: Nneka Luke, ttff External Relations Director (far right), with the mentees
