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.

The trinidad+tobago film festival, with the support of FILMCO and in partnership with EFM (European Film Market), is pleased to announce a call for applications for the 2022 EFM Doc Toolbox Programme. Entry-to-mid level documentary film producers or producing filmmakers –  from Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua & Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados and St Kitts & Nevis – with a feature-length documentary film (60 mins or longer) in development and based on Caribbean issues or themes are invited to apply here. FILMCO will support the online participation of one project.

Under the guidance of a consultant and a coordinator, the Doc Toolbox Programme is intended to endow documentary creatives with market intelligence, connections and a kit of transferable business know-how. 

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.

The Doc Toolbox Programme includes:

• In the preparatory phase: online meeting between co-consultants and participants with feedback on projects and strategic planning for networking at the EFM, as well as organisational and logistical advice on the EFM from the coordinators. 
• Two weeks before the EFM (21.01. – 07.02.2022): an immersive 13-day programme of focused workshops with experienced tutors on the following topics: Pitching tools, Funding and incubators, Grant writing, Impact marketing, Sales and distribution, Press/PR. 
• During the EFM (10.02.-17.02.2022): participation in matchmaking, networking and community building events.
  

Application prerequisites:

Applicants should possess at least one feature-length doc project that is either in development (preferably with some financing and/ or funding already secured) as well as marketing materials such as a mood reel, teaser or trailer/ promo. The application deadline is 5pm AST, December 09, 2021.

presentation

Tues 28 Sept, 10.00–11.30 a.m. (est)
location:  Facebook Live, YouTube Live, ttfilmfestival.com
tickets: free

Click here to register.

Distribution is a key element of filmmaking, providing an avenue for films to be seen by an audience and to earn revenue. In today’s ever-changing industry, it’s important for filmmakers and producers alike to stay up to date with the latest opportunities. FILMCO currently distributes upwards of 150 film and television titles and has brokered deals with regional and international companies such as TTT, ShortsTV and PAVILION+, not to mention having launched their own platform, FILMCO2GO, in February 2021. In this presentation, FILMCO’s interim executive director and co-founder, Mariel Brown, will delve into the distribution workings of FILMCO, discuss distribution in the online space, deliverables and promotional materials, as well as answering questions from filmmakers about the opportunities and options in today’s film distribution landscape.

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facilitator: Mariel Brown

Mariel Brown is an award-winning filmmaker, director of the creative and production companies SAVANT and SAVANT Films and a co-founder of the filmmaker organisation, FILMCO. Brown has been working in film and television since 1997. She is committed to uncovering and documenting the Caribbean’s rich history and culture and is especially interested in exploring the lives of its often-unheralded artists and writers. Brown is currently developing a new film project, “1990”, a chronicle of the 1990 attempted coup in Trinidad and Tobago and its aftermath. Brown is a four-time trinidad+tobago film festival award winner, and both her film and television work have won awards locally and internationally.