We’re delighted to announce the call for submissions for the 17th edition of the trinidad+tobago film festival, ttff/22! The ttff seeks to highlight excellence in filmmaking through the exhibition of fiction and documentary films and experimental works made in Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean and its diaspora. The Festival therefore accepts submissions from Caribbean filmmakers in the region and in the diaspora; and international filmmakers with films from or about the Caribbean or its diaspora. Submissions must have been completed after 01 January 2020. For full submission guidelines and categories, please visit our portal on Film Freeway.

ttff/22 will include new shorts, and features, narrative films, documentaries and experimental films, which explore the Caribbean experience. Filmmakers – whether student, emerging or established – with films that fit our criteria are welcome to apply! Our 2022 festival will be a hybrid, with a combination of online and in-person events and screenings – all in keeping with the guidelines of the Trinidad & Tobago Government.

Our training and professional development programmes will continue to be a core offering of ttff in 2022, and will include, Masterclasses (intensive workshops led by international industry professionals), filmmaker panels, introductory industry workshops and presentations, and youth-focused mentorship and training.

deadlines

• earlybird: 04.03.22
• regular: 15.04.22
• late: 20.05.22
• filmmaker notification: 17.06.22

If you have any questions or concerns, please visit our frequently asked questions or drop us a line at hello@ttfilmfestival.com. You can read our full list of rules and terms here.

Submit your film to ttff/22 via FilmFreeway.

#ttfilmfestival #ttff22 #seeyuhself

UPDATE: TICKETS  ON SALE FROM MONDAY AUGUST 27 at NAPA BOX OFFICE- 11am-6pm DAILY + AT ttff’s OFFICE-9:30am – 1:30PM MONDAY to FRIDAY

HERO:Inspired by The Extraordinary Life & Times of Mr. Ulric Cross will officially open the 13th edition of  trinidad+tobago film festival . The screening will be part of ttff/18’s  opening ceremony and gala on Tuesday 18 September at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA), Port of Spain.

Photo: Director-Producer Frances-Anne Solomon

Hero, directed by Frances-Anne Solomon was inspired by the life and times of Trinidadian Ulric Cross Cross whose distinguished international career as a soldier, jurist and diplomat spanned key events of the 20th Century when independent African and Caribbean nations came of age. Out of this, a new brand of Black leadership was born and post-colonial societies emerged to find their place today on the world’s stage.

The film expertly uses archival material and dramatic reconstruction to recite a tale of opposition and triumph in this important historic chapter in Ulric Cross’ extraordinary life. It focuses on Cross’ contribution to the Pan African movement and his relationships with Tanzania’s first president Julius Nyerere and Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first prime minister and president.

Republic Bank Limited is the Title Sponsor of Hero , which was produced by Trinidad and Tobago nationals and filmed in Ghana, United Kingdom and Trinidad and Tobago.  Nikolai Salcedo conveys a mesmerizing characterizationof Ulric Cross. The cast also includes acclaimed British actor Joseph Marcell as CLR James, noted Trinidadian actor Rudolph Walker and a number of leading Ghanaian actors.

Photo: Hero Team

Director Frances-Anne Solomon, who also produced the film, notes that “Hero explores not just the life, but also the dynamic and transformative times that Ulric Cross was born into. Ultimately, the film is about us, who we are as Caribbean people.”Photo: Executive Producer, Lisa Wickham

Lisa Wickham Executive Producer of Hero reiterates, “This film has international and diplomatic significance for Trinidad and Tobago and its relationships with Africa and the United Kingdom as it signifies the role that it has played and continues to play in international affairs.”

Hero is one of three T+T feature length films starring at this year’s festival. Dr. Bruce Paddington, Festival Founder and Director of the trinidad+tobago film festival expressed his delight in the selection of a T+T film opening the festival for a third consecutive year, “We are once again proud to screen a film from Trinidad and Tobago as our opening film and especially pleased that the film is about a true hero, Ulric Cross, at a time when a country needs heroes and role models.”

ttff/18  will also feature a stellar programme of award-winning Caribbean and Panorama films plus an unprecedented number of shorts, which will be announced shortly. According to Annabelle Alcazar, Programming Director, “ We are showing over 60 T+T new shorts and it is exciting to see that, despite funding challenges, the quality and range of subjects increases every year.”

The World Premiere of Hero at NAPA, Port of Spain, will be preceded by a Cocktail Reception, sponsored by BP Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday 18 September, at 6.00pm.The director, producers  and members of the cast and crew will be present. Further information on ticket sales and availability will be announced soon.

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).

Photos courtesy Hero Film: https://www.facebook.com/HERO4ALLTIME/

(still from Sprinter)

The ttff seeks to highlight excellence in filmmaking through the exhibition of fiction and documentary features and short films made in T&T, the Caribbean and its diaspora, as well as international filmmakers with films from or about the Caribbean or its diaspora.

The thirteenth edition of the trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff), takes place from 18 – 25 September and there will be screenings at MovieTowne Port of Spain, San Fernando and Tobago, as well as at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine. As usual, a stellar programme of Caribbean film is on offer.

In Sprinter, A Jamaican teen, burdened by an unstable father and an unruly older brother, hopes a meteoric rise in track-and-field can reunite him with his mother, who has lived illegally in the US for over a decade.

This film is one of the successful results of the ttff/15 Caribbean Film Mart. Director, Storm Saulter, called the Mart “one of the most helpful development programmes” he’s taken part in. The film received assistance at the Mart and in June 2018 won three awards at the American Black Film Festival including the Grand Jury prize for Best Narrative Feature.

 

Alberto, an evangelical gardener, returns to his hometown to attend the funeral of his father who was killed by an influential man. Cocote, a Narrative Feature in Spanish with English subtitles follows Alberto as he is forced to participate in religious celebrations that are contrary to his will and beliefs, to mourn the deceased.

In Le Reve Francais – Parts 1 + 2 (They Had a Dream by Director Christian Faure, the French Government encouraged islanders to leave the French West Indies to escape poverty that resulted from the closure of sugar mills in the 60s.Lured by the idea of a ‘dream country’, although they were citizens of France, they found that life in Europe was not what they had imagined.

The story of the notorious fugitive Winston Leroy Hall is something of almost folkloric legend in Barbados. Convicted for the murder of an elderly plantation owner, he escaped prison authorities multiple times and managed to stay on the run for nearly two decades across the Caribbean. Hall, the thrilling documentary feature by Director Rommel Hall, shows the truth behind his escapes are both elusive and bizarre.

El Chata (The Sparring Partner), follows the story of Samuel who has the potential to be a boxing champion, although he seems destined to fail. At thirty and just out of prison, he has to become a sparring partner because nobody will give him the chance at a fight. Unable to feed his family and exposed to temptation, Samuel is determined to get back in the ring and prove he has changed.

Buscando Al Zorro (Looking For Zorro), tells the story of Pablo, who raises his nine-year-old son, Rafael, without the support of his absent wife. Pablo and Rafael must go on a long journey through high mountains searching for “Zorro”, their last hope of making a living.

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).

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.

Film Festival season is here and there are exciting times ahead for film enthusiasts and industry practitioners.
The trinidad + tobago film festival (ttff) recently unveiled its itinerary for a weeklong film festival that will not only showcase and recognise the best films and the best talent in the industry,The festivities will run from September 19 to 26 and will involve activities such as training and outreach across the country to promote the production of local movies.

The line-up for this season is quite impressive with the spotlight on local and regional films, workshops and discussions. Filmgoers can look forward to just about 120 feature-length, short and experimental narrative and documentary films from the Caribbean and its diaspora and contemporary world cinema will be screened including five feature films and more than 30 short and experimental films from Trinidad and Tobago.

In recognition of National Patriotism Month which is observed in this country from August 31 to September 24, the ttff has partnered with the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts to showcase a day of screenings of local short and feature films. The screenings will be held on Republic Day, September 24, at MovieTowne Port of Spain, San Fernando and Tobago.

After several months of teasing and hints, the 12th edition of the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival Festival officially kicked off on Tuesday at the Hyatt Regency with the promise to get the nation ‘high on film’.

From September 19 -26, film enthusiasts can expect a fully loaded schedule of films from Trinidad and Tobago, the wider Caribbean and the world. However, they can also expect to see and take part in several other activities aimed at developing filmmakers and fostering patriotism and generating discussions on social issues.

To ensure that as many people as possible have access to the Festival, MovieTowne San Fernando has been added to the list of screening venues.

The Festival will open on September 19 with Green Days by the River, the highly anticipated film based on the novel of the same name. The film was one of 15 films in development that participated in the Caribbean Film Mart in 2015. “It is such a joy to see the film come to fruition. It will no doubt play to sold-out audiences across the country. It is, of course, just one of the 100+ films we will be screening at five venues across Trinidad and Tobago,” according to a statement from tt/ff.

It’s that time of year again when film makers and lovers alike gear up for the much anticipated Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival.

The Film Programme at The University of the West Indies (UWI), will once again host the screening of internationally acclaimed and student made films, as part of the trinidad+tobago film festival, which runs from 19 – 26 September.

The UWI programme will take place at 12 Carmody Street, St Augustine, with a day of documentaries on Friday 22, and a showcase of student films, with Q+As, on Saturday 23 September.

Among the selection of films is La Matamoros, by Panamanian director Delfina Vidal, which won Best Picture at the International Film Festival Panama, in the Central America and Caribbean category.

A strong line-up of critically acclaimed, award-winning Caribbean films will screen at this year’s Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival (TTFF), to be held from September 19 to 26, at MovieTowne Port-of-Spain, San Fernando and Tobago, as well as at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine

A strong line-up of critically acclaimed, award-winning Caribbean films will screen at this year’s Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival (TTFF), to be held from September 19 to 26, at MovieTowne Port-of-Spain, San Fernando and Tobago, as well as at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine.

The films from some of the Caribbean’s finest filmmakers, include, from the Dominican Republic, Jose Maria Cabral’s Carpinteros (Woodpeckers), a high-octane, no-holds barred movie about a forbidden relationship conducted through prison bars and across the 200 yards of empty space dividing the male and female prisons in Santo Domingo. Described by critics as a raw, intriguing and energetic blend of the tough and the tender, Carpinteros played at the Sundance Film Festival, to great acclaim, a release said.

Bahamian filmmaker, Kareem Mortimer’s moving and topical film, Cargo, tells the tragic story of human trafficking from the point of view of reluctant trafficker, Kevin. An American exile with a gambling addiction, living in the Bahamas, he begins smuggling Haitians to Florida in an act of desperation, to keep his secrets buried and get out of a financial bind.