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.

Three documentaries about steelbands will make their debut at this year’s Trinidad + Tobago Film Festival, which takes place from 19 – 26 September, at MovieTowne Port of Spain, San Fernando and Tobago, as well as the University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine.

A strong lineup of critically acclaimed, award-winning films will screen at this year’s trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff), to be held from 19 – 26 September, at MovieTowne Port of Spain, San Fernando and Tobago, as well as at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine.

Feminist cinema, james baldwin, the orange economy, human trafficking are just some of the issues that will be highlighted at this year’s Festival. The 12th annual trinidad+tobago film festival, and will screen nearly 120 feature-length, short and experimental narrative and documentary films from the Caribbean, its diaspora and contemporary world cinema.

Tickets will be available at the box office, and at the time of screenings. Tickets at MovieTowne are $30. For Schools Screenings at 10:30am, only school children in uniform and teachers pay $20. Screenings at Hyatt Regency Trinidad and the University of the West Indies, St Augustine are free.

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.

James O’Connor’s film To Be A Renegade, captures the story of the BP Renegades through an examination of the violent beginnings of pan, the era of change, and its present state as a positive influence on communities, with steelbands now travelling abroad as international ambassadors. Featuring players, founding members and supporters, the documentary funded by BP Trinidad and Tobago, seeks to show what it really means to be a Renegade.  As part of its support for the film, BPTT is sponsoring a free screening of To Be A Renegade on Friday 22 September, 8:30pm, at MovieTowne Port Of Spain. Tickets will be available from the box office on a first-come-first-served basis, at the start of the Festival.

UN Women, TT Film Festival + UWI highlight the power of women in film.

The T&T Film Festival is partnering with UN Women and the Institute for Gender and Development Studies (IGDS), UWI to present The Power of Women in Film on September 22 from 9 am at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad.

The day of panels and presentations will include speakers from across the region who explore depictions of women and girls and how film can be used to address issues of violence against women, objectification, gender inequality and female empowerment. Short films will be incorporated into the programme to help illustrate some of the issues being discussed. The Power of Women in Film initiative is free, and individuals and organisations interested in the issues are invited to attend.

A release said the Power of Women in Film will be followed by three days of feminist cinema, from September 22-24, also at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad.

The three days of screenings of films by or about women will present stories from a female point of view, highlighting political, economic or cultural discourse about women’s lives and critiquing the power structures holding gender inequality in place. The free screenings will be followed by facilitated discussions on some of the issues raised.

Highlights from “The Power Of Women In Film at 2017 trinidad+tobago film festival hosted by Jillia Cato. www.gtcaribbeannetwork.tv

Three documentaries about steelbands will make their debut at this year’s Trinidad + Tobago Film Festival, which takes place from 19 – 26 September, at MovieTowne Port of Spain, San Fernando and Tobago, as well as the University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine.

James O’Connor’s film To Be A Renegade, captures the story of the BP Renegades through an examination of the violent beginnings of pan, the era of change, and its present state as a positive influence on communities, with steelbands now travelling abroad as international ambassadors. Featuring players, founding members and supporters, the documentary funded by BP Trinidad and Tobago, seeks to show what it really means to be a Renegade. As part of its support for the film, BPTT is sponsoring a free screening of To Be A Renegade on Friday 22 September, 8:30pm, at MovieTowne Port Of Spain. Tickets will be available from the box office on a first-come-first-served basis, at the start of the Festival.

Filmmakers wishing to apply for a TT$10,000 Award for the best TT film in development, have until 30 August to do so.  The Award sponsored by BP Trinidad and Tobago as part of the trinidad+tobago film festival, seeks to make a contribution towards the completion of a local narrative or documentary feature film currently in pre-production, which is being made by a TT resident or national and is to be made in this country.

In response to written questions about the impact of winning the BPTT Best TT Film in Development Award in 2014, filmmaker Christian James had this to say:

What were your immediate feelings on winning?

I remember being surprised actually! I had just returned to Trinidad with an MFA in Creative Producing and had a slate of projects/ ideas I was working on. The plan was to figure out which one of these ideas was exciting, culturally relevant, and had a vision for International development. I ended up applying with Rajah (working title), which is based on the life of the infamous Boysie Singh, even though I had ‘Green Days by the River’ in development as well. I knew Green Days… could have been produced with local money, due to the strong Caribbean property of the book by Michael Anthony, but Rajah would need bigger scale budgets and international funders to get off the ground.

Three documentaries about steelbands will make their debut at this year’s trinidad+tobago film festival, which takes place from September 19 – 26 at MovieTowne Port of Spain, San Fernando, and Tobago, as well as the University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine.

James O’Connor’s film To Be A Renegade, captures the story of the BP Renegades through an examination of the violent beginnings of pan, the era of change, and its present state as a positive influence on communities, with steelbands now travelling abroad as international ambassadors.

Featuring players, founding members and supporters, the documentary funded by BP Trinidad and Tobago, seeks to show what it really means to be a Renegade.  As part of its support for the film, BPTT is sponsoring a free screening of To Be A Renegade on Friday, September 22 at 8:30pm, at MovieTowne Port of Spain. Tickets will be available from the box office on a first-come-first-served basis, at the start of the 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.

La Matamoros tells the story of Marta Matamoros, a phenomenal figure in Panamanian history who rose from being a factory dressmaker to becoming an international trade union leader, playing a key role in asserting Panamanian independence against U.S. domination. Dedicated to the defense of the rights of Panamanian women and workers, her struggle brought her persecution and imprisonment, yet she remained fearless in the face of oppression, refusing to be bribed or intimidated. It is through her struggles that Panamanians gained a minimum wage and paid maternity leave.