Director Rhonda Chan Soo on film as social intervention. 

The documentary films, Staging the Revolution and Safe Spaces, explore the impact of two arts intervention projects in Trinidad and Tobago. Both films were produced by Impact Media, a production company that amplifies and advances social change. The Girl Be Heard Program, with origins in New York, was adapted to a local context – combining theatre education, performance and activism to empower the lives of young women and inspire them to bring their stories to the stage.

Staging the Revolution follows the journeys of 15 teenaged girls, participants in the pilot program of Girl Be Heard Trinidad and Tobago in 2017. The film utilises observational footage, performance footage and interviews to explore the transformation of the girls, as well as the experiences of teaching artists with facilitating the program. With its origins as a university debating club, youth of The 2 Cents Movement adopted spoken word poetry as a tool, inspired by the appeal of spoken word artists like Muhammad Muwakil and Ivory Hayes.

The rise of social media propelled the movement’s first spoken word poetry videos into the national sphere with an increased viral attention. Young poets were speaking out on issues that affected their generation, from harassment of school girls by maxi men [“Maxi Man tracking School Gyal” by Crystal Skeete], to “a direct statement to Afro Trinbagonians to consciously decide to overcome an unfair history and navigate successfully through the modern era” (Derron Sandy on his piece “Bare Back Blacks). The day to day work of the organisation has grown since its formalisation in 2012 to include a national Secondary School Tour.

The documentary Safe Spaces gives a look inside the movement’s 2017 school tour, where poets facilitated discussions around gender based violence, using a unique spoken word and theatrical hybrid performance as a catalyst. Both films are intended for a general audience, but may be of particular interest to young persons and educators, as they give insight to arts-based youth intervention and empowerment.

Grundlos Kollektiv (founded by Johanna Nahous) is a platform for progressive minds of any field or discipline, who are passionate about introducing new ideas, concepts and perspectives – being socially or politically influential with their art form, whatever it may be.  Currently managed by Culturego Magazine, Grundlos Kollektiv is an inviting, enabling and flexible open-plan space in the center of Port of Spain. It is a home for a community of minds – different and alike – to create (Art exhibitions, film screenings, fashion shows, discussions, educational talks, yoga classes, social events) and to share their work with a diverse audience.

ttff has partnered with Grundlos Kollektiv to present:

Special events at Grundlos Kollektiv @ttff/18

Thursday 20 September, 7pm – 10pm/ART FILM curated by Culturego Magazine / free event 

Films with Art. Film as Art. Art as film. Culturego Magazine presents a selection of short films from Caribbean filmmakers and visual artists: Dean Arlen (Trinidad and Tobago), Di – Andre Caprice (Jamaica),  Ada M. Patterson (Barbados), Volney Smith (Barbados) and Rodell Warner (Trinidad and Tobago).  Dean Arlen and Di -Andre Caprice will also be present for a Q+A session with the audience. DJ L Bee will close off the evening with his Funky Lounge.Film Still from Yuh Too Sweet

ART FILMS

East Waves, by Di- Andre Caprice, Jamaica

Anima Regalias by Rodell Warner, Trinidad and Tobago

Fragmentz by Volney Smith, Barbados

Sensing Travel by Dean Arlen, Trinidad and Tobago

Yuh too Sweet by Ada M. Patterson, Barbados

Saturday 22 September, 8.30pm – 10pm/The FUTURE is FEMALE. (in partnership with Women. Everywhere.) /free event

Film still from Brown Girl Begins

Meet and Greet with Sharon Lewis, Director – Brown Girl Begins (2017). Rooted in Caribbean folklore, Brown Girl Begins is the first ever Caribbean Sci-Fi film to be made, the protagonist is female and she is of Caribbean descent. Adeline Gregoire (Director – Women. Everywhere.) talks to Sharon Lewis about Afro-futurism, empowerment and a future which represents the true diversity of women.

RSVP: info.womeneverywhere@gmail.com

Sunday 23 September, 3 – 7pm – free event/Activism Day/free event

3pm: Screening of  The Reel Human Rights films + Panel Discussion,  sponsored by the High Commission for Canada

I Choose You – directed by Siobhan Millette

Please See Attached – directed Andrei Pierre

Judgment Day – directed by Francesca Hawkins

The filmmakers and activists from the LQBTQIA community will be present for the Panel Discussion; as well as the Canadian High Commissioner,  Her Excellency Carla Hogan Rufelds.

4:30pm: Staging the Revolution 

Join us for two very special panels dedicated to the LGBTQIA community and hman rights; then, Rhonda Chan Soo takes a fresh look at social activism in Trinidad and Tobago today, led by Girl Be Heard TT and The 2 Cents Movement. From the idea of change, to the mind bomb, to the whistle blowers, to activists tirelessly doing the work: It takes a revolution – however small – to change the world.

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 ttff is given leading sponsorship by BP Trinidad and Tobago, the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts; supporting sponsorship by The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago and Republic Bank Limited; and contributing sponsorship by FilmTT and The National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB).