Planning Your Visit
Festival Basics
Run by the non-profit filmmakers collaborative, FILMCO, the trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff) celebrates films from and about the Caribbean and its diaspora, as well as 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.
Industry Events Venues
This year, for the first time, we are partnering with NALIS (National Library and Information System Authority) as our primary venue for all industry events and several special events including the Banyan Retrospective (screenings and exhibition), Cinema Under the Stars screenings, the FILMCO mixer, the filmmakers’ lounge, etc. Located in the heart of Port of Spain, NALIS has world class facilities, friendly and accommodating staff and an openness to collaboration and experimentation for which we are truly excited!
(NALIS) is the body corporate responsible for the administration, development and coordination of library and information services in Trinidad and Tobago. This Government entity, with some 750 dedicated staff, administers services via its flagship Heritage Library with responsibility for preserving and promoting all that is Trinidad and Tobago; 27 Public/Community Libraries; 133 School Library Media Centres; four Institutional Libraries; 48 Special Libraries and mobile library fleet. Through the provision of traditional and non-traditional targeted services as well as customer centric programmes and events, NALIS significantly impacts Trinidad and Tobago’s educational, literary, digital literacy, social, business and cultural landscape.
Film Screenings
We are delighted to be returning to MovieTowne, Port of Spain for in-person screenings—our first since 2019! As has been the case in the past, festival films will be screened across two screens from 21–27 September.
Our Shell sponsored outdoor screenings, Cinema Under the Stars will also be returning for ttff/22, with two nights of free screenings in the NALIS Amphitheatre.
With the support of Republic Bank Ltd. and the Ministry of Education, we have programmed a series of free, lunchtime screenings at NALIS AV room specifically for secondary school students.
New Media screenings will be free to the public and will take place on one night at a specially-designed venue in Woodbrook.
While the majority of our events and screenings will take place in person, we have scheduled a day of online screenings of Trinidad and Tobago films. These online screenings will only be available on 24 September, and for 24 hours from the time you start watching. You can start watching the film at any time (at your convenience) on the 24th. All online films will be available through our website, ttfilmfestival.com.
Tickets
Tickets for online screenings are available at ttfilmfestival.com, and can be paid for online via bank transfer, Paypal or credit card, or in person at our Jerningham Avenue office with cash, LINX or credit card. Tickets for MovieTowne screenings are available at the MovieTowne Port of Spain box office. Tickets for the opening night are available online at ttfilmfestival.com or from our office, and can be paid for online via bank transfer, Paypal or credit card, or in person at our Jerningham Avenue office with cash, LINX or credit card.
Ticket Prices:
Tickets for the opening night event cost TT$200
Tickets for screenings at MovieTowne cost TT$50
Tickets for online screenings cost TT$35 or US$5
In Person Screenings
MovieTowne Port of Spain; NALIS Amphitheatre; NALIS AV Room.
Online Screenings
Venues
NALIS
Corner of Hart and Abercromby Streets
Port of Spain
new media screenings
65 Carlos Street
Woodbrook
Calabash Garden
48 Tragarete Road
Newtown
Festival Office
22 Jerningham Ave
Belmont
Port of Spain
tel: (+)1.868.323.3228
(+)1.868.227.8458
web: ttfilmfestival.com
find us on social media: @ttfilmfestival
MovieTowne
Invader’s Bay
Mucurapo
The Dalai Llama
Lower Commons
One Woodbrook Place
Woodbrook
Veni Noche
67 A Ariapita Avenue
Woodbrook
Merchandise
Film festival merchandise is available at NALIS on the corner of Abercromby and Hart Streets in Port of Spain, at MovieTowne Port of Spain, online at ttfilmfestival.com and @ttfilmfestival on Facebook.
Don’t forget, you can find us at ttfilmfestival.com and @ttfilmfestival online and on our socials. We’re always here to answer your questions!
Groceries
- Massy Stores, 5 French Street, Woodbrook
- ME ASIA Supermarket, 73 Tragarete Road, Newtown
- Organic Heaven, 45 Saddle Road, Newtown
- Tru Valu, Long Circular Road, St. James
- Fitt Street Market, 27 Fitt Street, Woodbrook
- Sakura Arts Marketplace, 2 Taylor Street, Woodbrook
Restaurants
$$$
- Veni Noche
Caribbean food in a gorgeous ambiance - The Meena House
A broad selection of authentic yet modern Indian cuisine - Salt N’ Pepper
Where one can find authentic classical Indian cuisine - Town Restaurant & Bar
Family-style restaurant with a continental menu and a specialisation in Asian dishes - Jenny’s on the Boulevard
A fusion of Asian food in a comfortable atmosphere - Samurai Restaurant
Authentic Japanese cuisine with an array of choices - Buzo Osteria Italiana
A cozy restaurant to enjoy Italian cuisine - Aioli
A welcoming Mediterranean restaurant where one can dine as well as shop
$$
- The Breakfast Shed
Caribbean style breakfast and lunch in an open-air setting - Creole Kitchen
Caribbean as well as Cajun dishes—Perfect for lunch and dinner - Shiann’s Food Palace
Creole foods with delicious roti and curry - El Pecos
Casual dining for creole and fast food - Pappy’s—Home of Brian’s Fricken Chicken
Fast and flavourful fried chicken, fries and shrimp - Taryn’s—The Panyol Place
A latin american, family oriented restaurant specialising in Venezuelan cuisine - GoldenBell Express
Authentic Korean dishes in a comfortable environment - Lola’s Food Company
Breakfast and brunch in a relaxed atmosphere
$
Street Food & Late Night Meal Options:
- D’Original Sauce Doubles
- The Queen’s Park Savannah: snowcones, fresh coconut water & jelly, pholourie, soup, BBQ, ice cream
- Ariapita Avenue: gyros, doubles, burgers
- North Coast: bake & shark, fruit chow, fresh coconut water & jelly
Attractions / Sites to Visit
Nature, in & around PoS, museums & art galleries, gardens & parks, historical sites, cultural hubs.
- North Coast: Maracas Bay, Las Cuevas Bay, Blanchisseuse
Beautiful sandy, scenic beaches to relax, swim and have fun - Queen’s Park Savannah
A green, breezy expanse to picnic, exercise and uwind - Royal Botanical Gardens
Pathways surrounded by a variety of beautiful trees, plants and flowers. - Emperor Valley Zoo
The only zoo in the country – houses both local and foreign friendly animals - Lady Chancellor Hill
A hill that allows picturesque views of the city where one can walk, jog, run or bike - Memorial Park
A public green park with benches to sit and relax as well as an eye-catching statue at the centre. - Medulla Art Gallery
A welcoming art gallery where one can contemporary and avant-garde art - 101 Art Gallery
An art gallery showcasing and dealing beautiful pieces from various artists - The LofTT
An exciting performance and event lounge - The National Museum and Art Gallery of Trinidad and Tobago
A museum with historical significance and intricate architecture that displays enticing artwork - Horizon’s Art Gallery
An art gallery depicting works from the region in a range of mediums - The Oblique Imperative
A bohemian-style store that sells a culmination of jewelry, stones and accessories
- The Fondes Amandes Community Reforestation Project (FACRP)
A community centred NGO focused on protecting forestry from fires - Independence Square
A busy historical square near the south of Port of Spain - Fort George
The historical fort that overlooks the gorgeous Gulf of Paria - Woodford Square
A public green park of historical significance in the heart of the city - The River Estate Museum
A museum containing Trinidad’s historical artifacts and is also surrounded by lush vegetation - Farm ILEY Harvesters
Purchase natural produce and enjoy the peaceful nature at this family-owned farm - Invader’s Panyard
Enjoy the sweet sound of steelpan at the Invader’s Panyard - Phase II Panyard
Enjoy the sweet sound of steelpan at the Phase II Panyard - Bamboo Cathedral
Have a peaceful walk, run or bike through this green nature reserve - Edith Falls
Marvellous landscape -perfect for a hike - Jackson Square
Green and peaceful park in the city
Malls
- Long Circular Mall—Includes a pharmacy, bank and grocery.
- Shoppes of Maraval—Mostly restaurants and some retail shopping.
- Ellerslie Plaza—Pharmacy, health store, grocery, retail shopping.
Apps to Download
Airline
Travel Guide
Transportation / Taxi Services
- TTRS (Trinidad and Tobago Ride Share*)
The preferred transportation partner for ttff/23
* All rides to and from Festival venues receive a
25% discount. Use discount code TTFF2023 to book your ride through the TTRS app. - DeliverMeTT—Taxi & Delivery Service.
- AllRidi
- DROP RIDE
- PinkCab—Femme friendly taxi service.
Safety
Food Delivery (Food delivery stops at 10 pm)
Entertainment / Leisure
- WhereDPump—Ticket purchasing platform for events.
- Island eTickets—Ticket purchasing platform for events.
- Trinidad & Tobago Cinema—Movie listings for all cinemas.
General Travel Entry Requirements for Trinidad+Tobago
- Passport should be valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival.
- A visa is not necessary for visitors (90-day stay period).
Customs Restrictions
Certain items are prohibited or in some cases restricted unless the proper import permits are obtained. Examples are firearms, honey, toy guns that resemble real firearms, pornographic literature and other articles of pornographic nature. These items are subject to seizure, The importation of arms and/or ammunition without a Permit to Import. Currency amounting to $20,000.00 TT currency or $5,000.00 U.S. currency must (not equivalent counts) is declared on a currency declaration form.
Do not bring any item into Trinidad & Tobago that has a camouflage pattern.
Do not bring in arms or ammunition; not even a bullet that has been modified to be a piece of jewelry or ornament or a toy gun that resembles a real firearm.
Officers of the Plant Quarantine Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, work closely with Customs and Excise Officers in the Baggage Room. All items of plant materials, fruits, vegetables, meat products including prohibited as well as seizures – items e.g. honey, are referred to them for approval to import or export.
Passengers who are 17 years and over are entitled to the following:
- 1.5 litres of spirit or wine.
- Tobacco, not exceeding 250 grams; or
- Cigarettes, not exceeding 200 in number; or
- Cigars, not exceeding 50 in number.
Transportation
TTRS (Trinidad and Tobago Ride Share *)
The preferred transportation partner for ttff/23
* All rides to and from Festival venues receive a 25% discount.
Use discount code TTFF2023 to book your ride through
the TTRS app.
Trinidad’s public transportation system is efficient and easy to master. The system primarily relies on taxis, maxi taxis (mini buses) and buses, with maxi taxis and buses operating on longer routes. Generally, taxis cost TT$4 for shorter distances while travellers can personally hire taxis for longer distances at a higher price. To take the maxi taxi costs a minimum of TT$5. Additionally, they operate within specific areas and are identified by a large colour-coded stripe or band (as specified below). Buzzers are also located near each seat to signal that you’ve reached your stop. For buses, they can be taken at City Gate / PTSC (Public Transport Service Corporation) at South Quay, Port of Spain and the fare ranges from TT$50 to TT$150.
Taxi Route System
- Belmont (Charlotte Street)
- Diego Martin / Petit Valley (Abercromby Street – south of Independence Square)
- Maraval (corner of Duke and Charlotte Streets)
- Maracas / Blanchisseuse (Charlotte & Park Streets)
- Port of Spain General Hospital (corner of Charlotte Street and South Quay)
- San Juan / Barataria (Charlotte Street (south of Independence Square)
- St Ann’s / St James (Hart Street (off Frederick Street, south of Woodford Square)
- Wrightson Road / Long Circular Road (Charlotte Street (south of Independence Square)
Maxi Taxis Coloured Scheme
- Port of Spain (POS)
colour: yellow stripes
route: operates from/around Port of Spain westward to the Valley - Eastern Trinidad
colour: red stripes
route: runs from POS to Sandre Grande - South Trinidad
colour: green stripes
route: runs from POS to San Fernando including Chaguanas, Couva, Gasparillo - Princes Town – La Romaine
colour: black stripes
route: operates from San Fernando to Princes Town - South-Western Trinidad
colour: brown stripes
route: operates from San Fernando into Southwest (Erin, Penal, Point Fortin, Siparia)
PTSC Bus Route
- To the North Coast – City Gate (PTSC) (Location – South Quay, Port of Spain)
How to get around: roughguides.com/trinidad-tobago/getting-around
SIM Card / Phone Dealerships
All phone numbers in Trinidad and Tobago begin with +1(868)
All authorised BMobile dealerships.
A prepaid sim card, once available, can be purchased at the BMobile outlet at the Piarco Airport for approximately TT$45. Daily($25TTD) and Weekly($99TTD) Plans available.
All authorised Digicel dealerships
A prepaid sim card, once available, can be purchased at the Digicel outlet at the Piarco Airport for approximately TT$70. Daily($25TTD) and Weekly($99TTD) Plans available.
Foreign Currency Exchange Sites
What NOT to do When Navigating
DON’T:
- Get into cars labelled ‘P’ on the licence plate. All official taxis have registration ‘H’ on the licence plate
- Walk the streets too late at night, especially when alone
- Wear camouflage print (it’s illegal for civilians to wear camouflage, so you could get stopped by the police)
In Case of an Emergency
Hospitals (Open 24/7)
Public |
Private * |
|---|---|
Port of Spain General Hospital, |
St Clair Medical Centre, |
St. James Medical Complex, |
Westshore Medical Private Hospital, |
* You will have to pay for a Covid-19 test before seeing a doctor.
Health Centres
|
Woodbrook Health Facility, |
St. James District Health Facility, |
Local Emergency Numbers (Toll-Free)
- Emergency: 911
- Police: 999
- Fire: 990
- Ambulance: 811
- Crime Stoppers: 800-TIPS
- Anti Crime Hotline: 555
- ODPM (Office of Disaster Preparedness & Management): 800-ODPM