The lads of the Youth Training Centre (YTC) will be in for a Carnival treat as the trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff) screens two movies at the YTC in Arouca, as the Festival’s Carnival Film Series (CFS) comes to its conclusion.

Sponsored by the Trinidad and Tobago Film Company Limited, the CFS is a showcase of Carnival-themed narrative and documentary films. The public screenings take place across the country from 23 January to 05 February, while the YTC screening—which is a closed event—comes off on 8 February.

The two films at the YTC screening are by local filmmakers and both are previous selections of the ttff. The first is Pashan of the Froot, written and directed by Nadissa Haynes. Pashan of the Froot is a hilarious mock documentary about a singer who believes himself to be much more talented and popular than he actually is.

The second film to be screened is No Soca, No Life. Written and directed by Kevin Adams, this is an inspirational film about a young woman, Olivia, from a deprived background. Blessed with an amazing singing voice, Olivia is determined to overcome the obstacles before her and make it as a soca star. Soca Singer Terri Lyons, who plays Olivia, won the award for best actress at the ttff/12 for her performance in the film.

Both Nadissa Haynes and Kevin Adams will be on hand at the screening to introduce their films and engage the lads in question-and-answer sessions afterwards.

This is the second time the ttff will host a screening at YTC, after a successful event there in 2012.

“The YTC screenings reinforce our commitment to using film as an instrument of social transformation,” said Melvina Hazard, the ttff’s Director of Community Development. ”Through these films and Q&A sessions, we hope to inspire the lads towards productive forms of creative expression. We also hope that sometime in the future we will be able to showcase a film made by the lads in our annual festival.”

The YTC has as its main aim the rehabilitation and training of the lads committed to its custody, which would allow them to return to and function beneficially in the society from which, by due process of law, they have been temporarily set apart. To this end the centre has an active and varied programme of activities, including academic study, arts, sports and technical-vocational training.

Image: Penelope Spencer (left) and Terri Lyons in No Soca, No Life

The trinidad+tobago film festival has been treating diverse communities throughout Trinidad and Tobago to free film screenings over the past three years. This year, the ttff delivered at least one free film screening a month to communities in Sangre Grande, Mayaro, San Fernando, Siparia, Point Fortin and Tobago among others.

Over the two week film festival, running from September 19 to October 1, the ttff will continue to treat a number of communities to a selection of thought-provoking, inspirational and eye-opening films.

On Saturday September 22 at 3pm music and film fans can look forward to the groundbreaking classic film Reggae by Horace Ove and Breaking Barriers, a touching tribute to Mungal Patasar by Ricki-Nicole Manmohan. There will also be a musical interlude entitled “The Old Yard”, a unique and engrossing concert piece written by Adam Walter specifically for the ten-piece ensemble of the faculty musicians at the Academy for the Performing Arts, with poetry by Muhammad Muwakil and photography by Maria Nunes. Horace Ove will be present for a question and answer session after Reggae.

On Sunday September 23, at 7pm, Omardeen’s School of Accounting in Chaguanas will host a special ttff/12 screening of three shorts from T&T: The award-winning Doubles with Slight Pepper by Canada-based T&T director, Ian Harnarine, along with Dal Puri Diaspora, Richard Fung’s eye-opening and richly enjoyable tribute to roti and its origins, and Juliette McCawley‘s One Good Deed, a sweet short film about a boy’s encounter with douens.

Trevor’s Edge in St. Augustine continues to be an eclectic venue and a memorable lime, and at 7pm on Republic Day (Sept 24) will host the portmanteau feature Ring Di Alarm from the Caribbean New Cinema collective of filmmakers. A number of the directors will be present to introduce the film and answer questions. Botched Up, by recent UWI film graduate Dominic Koo will also be shown.

The free community screenings move on to Mayaro on Tuesday September 24 at 7pm. Held in association with bpTT, this screening will comprise another fascinating selection of seven T&T shorts specially packaged for all ages. Films include No Soca, No Life, Kevin Adams’ story about a young woman’s challenges breaking into the soca world, and starring Penelope Spencer; and Pothound, a dog’s view of life by Christopher Guinness.

The historical drama Toussaint L’Ouverture will be shown in two parts at the Alliance Francaise on Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 September from 7pm. This film stars famed Haitian actor Jimmy Jean-Louis, who will attend the screenings and will be available for Q&A sessions on both nights.

The final community screening will take place under to the stars, on the Carlton Savannah Hotel’s rooftop at 7pm on Monday October 1. Two films challenging the premise of the novel Wuthering Heights will be shown. The short documentary A Regular Black by acclaimed British documentarian Adam Low will be paired with the new, daring adaptation of Wuthering Heights by Andrea Arnold.

North Eleven, the ttff’s official screen partner, will provide the technical facilitation for each of these screenings.

Caption: A cross-section of the audience at NALIS during the ttff’s Side by Side screening of Bim earlier this year.