announcing the programmers for ttff/23

We’re delighted to announce the esteemed panel of programmers selecting films for the 18th edition of the trinidad+tobago film festival. The ttff/23 programming team is composed of film curators, producers, historians, writers and directors from Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom and Cuba. They will select all the films for the 2023 film programme, as well as choose the films shortlisted for competition.

Ivonne Cotorruelo is a Cuban film curator and former producer based in New York, who has been empowering storytellers for over a decade. She is a features programmer at Cleveland International Film Festival CIFF, Miami International Film Festival MIFF, Outfest LA, trinidad+tobago film festival. She has served as juror for film festivals around the globe, and as reviewer for The Chicken and Egg fund, Warner Media New Voices Initiatives, Black and Latino Inclusion Fellowship in LA, and Disney. A Berlinale Talent Campus alumnus, she is always seeking out stories for underrepresented voices. and working on a plan of strategic diversity, equity and inclusion.

Danielle Dieffenthaller has over 20 years of experience in the television and film industry. She is the owner/producer/director of Dieffenthaller Style Films Ltd, which produced the popular programmes “Iere Vibe” and “The Reef”.  She was the main force behind the television production company Earth TV Ltd, and producer/director and co-writer of the acclaimed “Ecowatch” series and the long-running “Westwood Park” (100 episodes). Dieffenthaller’s resumé includes work with TTT, UK-production company Bandung Productions and the groundbreaking production house Banyan Productions, where she and one other crew member were the only local crew to capture the events of the 1990 attempted coup. She is a co-founder of FILMCO and the 2019 Arts and Letters Laureate of the Anthony N. Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence.

Jim Kolmar is an independent programmer who curated films for South by Southwest Film Festival (SXSW) from 2009-2020, where he continues to consult on international and feature films. He is also currently programming for trinidad+tobago film festival, and was a founding committee member at Festival Internacional de Cine Tulum (FICTU). Jim was also a guest curator for Portland International Film Festival 2021. Jim is a contributing writer for Ambulante Film Festival in Mexico, and has served on juries, panels and committees for organisations including Austin Film Society, BAFICI, Berlinale, Bogotá Audiovisual Market (BAM), CONNeXT, CPH:DOX, IDFA, IFFPanama, IN-EDIT Barcelona, San Sebastián, and Ventana Sur.

Dr Bruce Paddington
Bruce Paddington (PhD) is a filmmaker, academic and film festival curator. He was a senior lecturer in film at the University of the West Indies, Trinidad and the co-founder of the Bachelor of Arts Film Programme. He is the founder of Banyan Productions, the New World Film Centre and the trinidad+tobago film festival and was the festival director from 2006–19. He is a programmer for trinidad+tobago film festival.

BC Pires was called to the bar of Trinidad and Tobago in 1984 and enrolled as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales in 1989 but, since January 1988, has done nothing but write for a living. His satirical column, “Thank God It’s Friday”, published more or less every Friday of the last 32 years, has been published in the Express, the Guardian and Newsday. He has tried to write sensibly about film from an informed lay perspective since 1988. He sat on the first jury of the trinidad+tobago film festival and wrote the Judges’ Report. He has also written about West Indies cricket for publications all over the world, notably, the UK Guardian and Observer newspapers. He has lived in Port of Spain, London, Georgetown and, since 2008, Barbados. 

Patrice Robinson is a film programmer and writer based in London. She has volunteered at Leeds International Film Festival, Leytonstone Loves Film, Norwich International Film Festival and our very own trinidad+tobago film festival. She is currently a member of the cinema team at the Barbican Centre in London. Entering the film industry as a graduate of the Independent Cinema Office’s FEDs Scheme, Patrice is committed to programming films that speak to under served communities. Most recently, Patrice curated the season – Snapshots: Caribbean Cinema Up Close which explores Caribbean self-representation in film.  

and the ttff/22 winners are…!

The trinidad+tobago film festival is delighted to announce the ttff/22 award-winning films! Don’t forget, you can watch the many of these films tonight at MovieTowne (POS) at 8.00pm in screens nine and ten!

  • Best Student Film: Take Care, directed by Shun Tachizono
    • ✔️Honorable MentionsHide!, directed by Shaochen Wang AND Cracked, directed by Lin Que Ayoung.
  • Best Film as Decided by a Youth Jury: Lo que se hereda (It runs in the family), directed by Victoria Linares Villegas.
  • Winner of ‘Love in the 21st Century’ smartphone competition, Love natural, directed by Kristof West
  • Best Documentary Short Film: Strictly 2 Wheel, directed by Ania Freer
  • Best Narrative Short Film: Twa Fèy (Three leaves), directed by “Eleonore Coyette + Sephora Monteau
  • Best Documentary Feature Film: Paroles de Nègres (The words of negroes), directed by Sylvaine Dampierre
    • ✔️Honorable Mention: Mafifa, directed by Daniela Muñoz Barroso
  • Best Narrative Feature Film: Cette Maison (This House), directed by Miryam Charles
  • Best Trinidad + Tobago Film: King David, directed by Walt Lovelace


CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!

Films in juried competitions are rigorously discussed and dissected before being selected by the programming team, and must be unanimously agreed by the five programmers. They are then watched, scored and debated by the relevant jury, with the winning films ultimately being those which receive the highest aggregate scores. We extend heartfelt thanks to all our esteemed jury members!

#seeyuhself #ttfilmfestival #ttff22

Chee$e to show at NALIS Amphitheatre!

Thanks to the folks at MOVA Productions, we’re delighted to be able to put on another screening of Damian Marcano’s award-winning film, ‘Chee$e’. Here are the deets:

  • where: NALIS Amphitheatre
  • when: 23 September, 7.00pm
  • tickets: free of charge (but we need you to sign up here!)

#seeyuhself #ttff22 #seeitlive

Damian Marcano helmed ‘Chee$e’ to open ttff/22

Keenly anticipated by filmmakers and film enthusiasts, this year’s trinidad+tobago film festival is set to captivate audiences with its powerful stories, and striking visuals. Film programmers have already hinted that the diverse slate of talent from the Caribbean and beyond is sure to resonate with local audiences and it is therefore fitting that the opening night film, ‘Chee$e’ [16+] is directed by Trinidadian filmmaker, Damian Marcano. 

Marcano is excited to have the Caribbean premier of his film at ttff/22 and shares, “I couldn’t have predicted that ‘Chee$e’ would have had the type of reception that it has had thus far – and now I can’t wait to take it in at home. I hope people can take away that they should just be themselves because that is what we did when we made the film…  we stayed true to who we are. ‘Chee$e’ is a vibe; let’s keep the vibes going.” 

Seven years in the making, ‘Chee$e’ [16+] tells the story of Skimma (Akil Williams), a young man who has to come up with a plan when he gets a girl pregnant. Set in a town referred to as “Behind God’s Back” presumably in Trinidad and Tobago, Skimma is desperate to escape his situation. With dreams that are larger than island life, he takes the lessons learned from working with the local cheesemaker to his new enterprise – baking weed into blocks of cheese and selling it. ‘Chee$e’ takes us on a ride with Skimma as he schemes to achieve wealth, becoming the island’s most prolific supplier as demand for his product grows. We experience all the highs, lows and increasing risk of danger right along with him. 

A twisted rags-to-riches tale, the authentic portrayal of island life and one man’s struggle to create his own niche, ‘Chee$e’ is the first instalment of a planned trilogy and its remarkable performances, score and visuals do not disappoint. 

Described as “a model of what independent filmmaking should be” by Richard Brody, The New Yorker, the film has been praised for its “exuberance and scrutiny, craft and sincerity, hands-on artistry and incisive observation.”

Interestingly, Marcano also served as the film’s cinematographer, screenwriter, and composer – his unique way of seeing is apparent throughout. No doubt enriched by his background, Marcano’s career began shooting shorts in the region: ‘The little boy and the ball’, ‘Giants’, and ‘Heart of a monster’. His feature, award-winning film, ‘God loves the fighter’ racked up numerous prizes worldwide, setting him on a path to direct Hollywood titles, including HBO’s ‘Winning Time: The Rise of The Lakers Dynasty’, and FX’s ‘Snowfall’.

The Opening Night screening takes place at IMAX on 21 September with a pre-screening cocktail reception at IMAX. The afterparty will be held at the Dalai Llama (Lower Commons, One Woodbrook Place). Tickets cost $200 and there are discounts for  FILMCO members. Tickets will be available online at https://ttfilmfestival.com/product/opening-night-gala-ticket-cheee and from the festival office from 23 August. 

ttff/22 films: “Heartfelt and restlessly inventive”

Premiere regional film festival returns for its 17th edition

Port of Spain, Tuesday 16 August 2022 – The region’s premier film festival, trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff) is back with a full calendar of events. This year’s festival will see a return to in-person screenings and events after two years online due to pandemic restrictions.  

With an impressive panel of film programmers comprising three Caribbean and two international industry specialists, more than 250 films were considered for the festival programme. This year’s film programmers are Bruce Paddington (ttff founder), Danielle Dieffenthaller, BC Pires, Ivonne Cotorruelo and Jim Kolmar. Together, they have shortlisted just over 25 films to compete for prizes and awards recognition.

Kolmar, also a writer who has been curating features for the renowned South by Southwest Film Festival (SXSW), shares, “It’s been a real thrill to work with the programming team on this year’s lineup. It represents the diversity, creativity and the sheer breadth of talent emerging from the Caribbean and beyond. Heartfelt and restlessly inventive, these films exemplify the bold visions and unique voices long celebrated by the festival.”

He continues, “The most exciting part of all this is the opportunity to watch these films with enthusiastic audiences. It’s the kind of community experience that we need more than ever, and it’s a great pleasure to play a part in that. I can’t wait for people to watch these remarkable films.”

Apart from the opening night (which will be at IMAX), screenings will be held at MovieTowne, Port of Spain and NALIS (AV Room and Amphitheatre). Screenings at NALIS are free to the public and tickets for MovieTowne will be available at their box office from 15 September.

The trinidad+tobago film festival wishes to acknowledge the generous support of our sponsors – our signature sponsor:The National Gas Company (NGC); our leading sponsors: Shell Trinidad and Tobago and Republic Bank; our contributing sponsor: the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts; our supporting sponsors:  the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and Trinidad and Tobago Film Company Limited (FilmTT). 

We also acknowledge the contributions of our programming partners:  the National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS), the Embassy of the United States, Port of Spain, the Embassy of the Dominican Republic, Festival International du Film Documentaire Amazonie-Caraibes (FIFAC) and FILMCO; our event partners: the Dalai Llama, Calabash Garden, the Naughty Grape, MovieTowne and C15 Studios Limited; our media and promotion partners:  TTT Limited and Scrip-J.

featured image: production still from ‘Cette maison’

announcing the ttff/22 industry line-up

Creating a sustainable film industry requires years of work, training and support. This is why the trinidad+tobago film festival has remained committed to providing our community with access to industry leaders and professionals. Now in its seventeenth year, ttff/22 is excited to once again host a variety of workshops and capacity-building programmes – and (can we get an amen!) they will all be held in person! 

Our line up includes presentations, panels and talks which will all be offered free of charge. Our masterclasses and workshops, intended for emerging and established filmmakers, will take place at NALIS and registration and payment are required in advance. While all the workshops will be ticketed, one of our masterclasses will be offered free of charge, thanks to the support of the US Embassy, Port of Spain. 

This year, with the support of Shell, we are also offering a series of introductory workshops intended for young and/or beginner filmmakers called movie-making 101.

Advance tickets are available at ttfilmfestival.com and can also be purchased via bank transfer or in person (cash, credit card or linx) at our FILMCO office, located at 22 Jerningham Ave. 
*FILMCO members, filmmakers with a film in the Festival and students with a valid photo ID, can receive a 50% discount on workshops and masterclasses! Please email Nyola at festival@filmco.org for information on payment options and to receive your discount code.

ASK THE VETERAN

We’re mixing it up this year, with a new format for our popular ‘Ask the veterans’ offering – we’ll be combining access to a variety of veteran film professionals with a speed-dating format, so attendees can learn directly from folks who work in different areas of the film industry pipeline! This is an open, all-access pass to drill experienced film industry professionals on all aspects of their work. 

ask the veteran, speed dating edition!
Fri 23 Sept, 3.00–5.00pm
location: NALIS (Old Fire Station)
tickets: free of charge; pre-registration required
click here for more information

industry veterans
SXSW programmer Jim Kolmar; TTT programme manager Diane Robertson; FilmTT general manager Leslie-Ann Caton; Firelight Media CEO Marcia Smith; film industry publicist Marcin J. Sobczak and others.

MASTERCLASSES

telling our stories: directing the caribbean narrative feature
Thurs 22 + Fri 23 Sept, 12.30–2.00pm
location: NALIS (Seminar Room 2)
tickets: TT$300
facilitator: José María Cabral
Presented with the support of FilmTT
click here for more information
*Pre-registration and payment in advance are required.

film producing 101
Fri 23 Sept, 10.30am–12.00pm + 2.30–4.00pm
location: NALIS (Seminar Room 1)
tickets: free
facilitator: Stanley Nelson Jr
Presented in partnership with the US Embassy, Port of Spain
click here for more information
*Pre-registration is required.

the role of the sales agent
Sun 25 Sept, 10.30am–12.00pm
location: NALIS (AV Room)
tickets: TT$150
facilitator: Michaelangelo Masangkay
click here for more information
*Pre-registration and payment in advance are required.

bringing historical figures of colour to life through documentary
Tues 27 Sept, 10.30am–12.00pm + 12.30–2.00pm
location: NALIS (Seminar Room 2)
tickets: TT$300
facilitator: Shola Lynch
Presented with the support of FilmTT
click here for more information
*Pre-registration and payment in advance are required.

WORKSHOPS

strategies for succeeding on the festival circuit
Fri 23 Sept, 10.30am–12.00pm
location: NALIS (Seminar Room 2)
tickets: $150
facilitators: Themba Bhebhe, Jim Kolmar, Michaelangelo Masangkay + Marcin J. Sobczak 
click here for more information
*Pre-payment for selected participants is required.

movie-making 101: introduction to cinematography
Sat 24 Sept, 10.30am–12.00pm, 12.30–2.00pm 
location: NALIS (Seminar Room 1)
tickets: TT$300
facilitator: Oliver Milne
Presented with the support of Shell
click here for more information
*Pre-registration and payment in advance are required.

working with a composer 
Sat 24 Sept, 12.30–2.00pm 
location: NALIS (Seminar Room 2)
tickets: TT$150
facilitator: Navíd Lancaster
click here for more information
*Pre-registration and payment in advance are required.

movie-making 101: drone videography 
Sun 25 Sept, 2.30–4.00pm 
location: TBC
tickets: $150
facilitator: Michaelangelo Masangkay
Presented with the support of Shell
click here for more information
*Pre-registration and payment in advance are required.

PRESENTATIONS

planning an impact campaign for your film 
Thurs 22 Sept, 12.30pm–2.00pm 
location: NALIS (Seminar Room 1)
tickets: free
facilitator: Marcia Smith
Presented with the support of the US Embassy, Port of Spain
click here for more information

tt production rebate
Fri 23 Sept, 10.30am–12.00pm 
location: NALIS (AV Room)
tickets: free
facilitator: Leslie Ann Wills-Caton
Presented with the support of FilmTT
click here for more information

crowdfunding and direct-to-audience strategies 
Fri 23 Sept, 12.30–2.00pm
location: NALIS (Seminar Room 1)
tickets: free
facilitator: Marcin J. Sobczak
click here for more information

contracts, copyright and clearances
Sat 24 Sept, 10.30am–12.00pm 
location: NALIS (AV Room)
tickets: free
facilitator: Justin Koo
click here for more information

movie-making 101: building your first filmmaking kit
Sat 24 Sept, 2.30–4.00pm
location: NALIS (Seminar Room 1)
tickets: free
facilitator: Robert Macfarlane
Presented with the support of Shell
click here for more information

researching historical stories at the heritage library
Sat 24 Sept, 1.00–2.30pm
location: NALIS (Heritage Library)
tickets: free
facilitator: Jasmin P. Simmons
Presented in collaboration with NALIS
click here for more information

ABCs of why and how: having a career as a filmmaker
Sat 24 Sept, 2.30pm–4.00pm
location: NALIS (Seminar Room 2)
tickets: free
facilitators: Mariel Brown + Marcin J. Sobczak
click here for more information

PANELS

route to audience
Thurs 22 Sept, 2.30–4.00 pm
location: NALIS (AV Room)
tickets: free
moderator: Mariel Brown
click here for more information

spotlight on the Dominican Republic film industry
Thurs 22 Sept, 4.30–5.45pm
location: NALIS (AV Room)
tickets: free
moderator: Mariel Brown
Presented with the support of the Embassy of the Dominican Republic
click here for more information

lgbtqia+ storytelling in the caribbean space
Fri 23 Sept, 2.30–4.00pm
location: NALIS (AV Room)
tickets: free
moderator: Franka Philip
click here for more information

the tricky question of ‘truth’ in documentary
Sat 24 Sept, 12.30–2.00pm 
location: NALIS (AV Room)
tickets: free
moderator: Stanley Nelson Jr
click here for more information

what are film festivals looking for?
Sat 24 Sept, 2.30–4.00pm 
location: NALIS (AV Room)
tickets: free
moderator: Asha Lovelace
click here for more information

film archives as repositories of history 
Sun 25 Sept, 2.30–4.00pm 
location: NALIS (AV Room)
tickets: free
moderator: Mariel Brown
click here for more information

see yuhself: our stories as a conduit to change
Sun 25 Sept, 4.30–5.45pm
location: NALIS (AV Room)
tickets: free
moderator: Franka Philip
click here for more information

making the indie film 
Mon 26 Sept, 2.30–4.00pm 
location: NALIS (AV Room)
tickets: free
moderator: Marcin J. Sobczak
click here for more information

the brave new world of NFTs
Tues 27 Sept, 2.30–4.00pm
location: NALIS (AV Room)
tickets: free
moderator: Anya Ayoung-Chee
Presented with the support of IDB
click here for more information

ttff talks

ttff talks are in depth and insightful conversations with creative masters on their creative journeys, inspiration, challenges and personal philosophies. ttff talks are presented with the support of The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago.

ttff talk with Christopher Laird + Dr Bruce Paddington 
Fri 23 Sept, ​​4.30–5.45pm
location: NALIS (AV Room)
tickets: free
moderator: Maria Nunes
click here for more information

ttff talk with Stanley Nelson Jr and Marcia Smith
Sat 24 Sept, ​4.30–5.45pm
location: NALIS (AV Room)
tickets: free
moderator: Mariel Brown
click here for more information



ttff/22 in competition: documentary features and shorts

We are pleased to announce the short and feature length documentary films in competition at ttff/22Films in juried competitions are rigorously discussed and dissected before being selected by the programming team, and must be unanimously agreed by the five programmers. They are then watched, scored and debated by the relevant jury, with the winning films ultimately being those which receive the highest aggregate scores. All the winners will be announced at the ttff/22 awards, 27 September, with cash prizes and trophies furnished by our sponsors.

For film synopses, screening details and director bios, please click the links (indicated as blue underlines) below.

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM

Featured images: production stills from Studio 17: the lost reggae tapes and King David .

announcing the ttff/22 documentary jury

We are honoured to introduce the jury members who will be judging the documentary films in competition at ttff/22: filmmaker and film curator, Shola Lynch; filmmaker, artist and author, Michèle Stephenson; journalist and filmmaker, Annick Laurent.

Films in juried competitions are rigorously discussed and dissected before being selected by the programming team, and must be unanimously agreed by the five programmers. The shortlisted films then move to the juries which are given a list of criteria on which they must score each film. Films are watched, scored and debated by the relevant jury, with the winning films ultimately being those which receive the highest aggregate scores. All the winners will be announced at the ttff/22 awards, 27 September.

Annick Laurent
Annick Laurent is a documentary filmmaker and multimedia journalist from New York, USA. Her interests include race and gender relations, culture, and the environment. Laurent is drawn to stories concerning identity, equity and access. Her first film, To the Plate, is about the way xenophobia affected Asian American elders and business owners during the pandemic. Before graduating from Columbia Journalism School, Laurent earned a BS in Biology from Spelman College. Laurent was also featured in Sisters Song: Awaken/Chroma: Red for Elevate, an exhibit hosted by the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs; her photography explored gentrification in Atlanta from a feminist perspective.

Shola Lynch
Shola Lynch is an award-winning American filmmaker best known for the feature documentary ‘Free Angela and all political prisoners’ and the Peabody Award winning documentary, ‘Chisholm ’72: Unbought & Unbossed’. Her independent film body of work and her other collaborative projects feed her passion to bring history alive with captivating stories of people, places, and events. Since 2013 she has also served as the curator of the Moving Image & Recorded Sound division of the New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. In 2016, Shola became a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Shola is currently finishing a documentary about the American sprinter, cultural icon and still World Record holder, Flo Jo. She will also helm the Apple Original film, ‘Number One on the Call Sheet’, which will celebrate Black achievement in the film industry, and explore what it takes for Black actresses to find success in Hollywood. Shola believes deeply in the value of preserving history and its power in storytelling. 

Michèle Stephenson
Filmmaker, artist and author, Michèle Stephenson, pulls from her Haitian and Panamanian roots to think radically about storytelling and disrupt the imaginary in non-fiction spaces. She tells emotionally driven personal stories of resistance and identity that are created by, for and about communities of colour and the Black diaspora. Her stories intentionally reimagine and provoke thought about how we engage with and dismantle the internalized impact of systems of oppression. Her feature documentary, ‘American Promise’, was nominated for three Emmys and won the Jury Prize at Sundance. Her documentary, ‘Stateless’, was nominated for a Canadian Academy Award for Best Feature Documentary. Most recently, Stephenson collaborated as co-director on the magical realist virtual reality trilogy series on racial terror, ‘The Changing Same’, which premiered at Sundance Film Festival and won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Immersive Narrative at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival. She is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science, a Guggenheim Artist Fellow and a Creative Capital Artist.

ttff/22 in competition: narrative features and shorts

We are pleased to announce the short and feature length narrative films in competition at ttff/22Films in juried competitions are rigorously discussed and dissected before being selected by the programming team, and must be unanimously agreed by the five programmers. They are then watched, scored and debated by the relevant jury, with the winning films ultimately being those which receive the highest aggregate scores. All the winners will be announced at the ttff/22 awards, 27 September.

For film synopses, screening details and director bios, please click the links (indicated as blue underlines) below.

BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE FILM

BEST NARRATIVE SHORT FILM

Featured images: production stills from Perejil and Ici s’achève le monde connu

t+t and barbados filmmakers for efm toolbox

We’re delighted to announce the selected filmmakers for the EFM Doc and Fiction Toolbox programmes: Vonley Smith (Barbados) with his film ‘Voice of the Ocean’ and Teneille Newallo (Trinidad and Tobago) with her film, ‘La Diablesse’. Both filmmakers will participate online in a series of development and mentorship sessions in preparation for the 2022 European Film Market. At FILMCO we hope that their participation in the market will bolster and help advance their film projects as well as grow their capacity towards operating within the international industry.

With close links to the Berlinale, the European Film Market is one of the top three meeting places of the international film and media industries. Over a period of eight days, around 10,000 representatives of the international film and media industries – primarily producers, buyers and sales agents, distributors and financiers – come together to network, exchange, inform themselves and do business.

FILMCO convened a small committee of Board members to review the applications and select the projects based a series of criteria. Marks were added to a score sheet, with the projects (which met the criteria) with the highest scores selected for participaton.

About La Diablesse
narrative feature in development

An American woman, Crystal awakes with no memory and finds herself trapped in a deserted colonial estate – an old slave plantation – in Trinidad. She bumps into others, suffering the same fate as her and as she searches for a way out, finds herself hounded by flashes of tormenting memories of these strangers, and terrifying coincidences that prevent her escape. It eventually becomes apparent that an insidious witch is feeding on their fears and that the only way out is for each of them to face the terrifying truth and confront their twisted past.

About Voice of the Ocean
documentary feature in development
Voice of The Ocean is a multi-faceted cinematic documentary centered around the inseparable connection between the ocean and our consciousness. Vonley Smith and experienced storytellers come together to have conversations on their thoughts about the ocean, and its impact on them living on an island heavily affected by climate change. Voice of The Ocean documentary film will be told through the personal story of Vonley Smith, a storyteller who embarks on an inner and outer journey to rediscover his voice as a filmmaker by diving into his intrinsic connection to water.