If we agree that films can affect the way that we perceive ourselves, then can they also effect change? In this session, panellists who work in social-justice and -issue filmmaking discuss how seeing ourselves onscreen (whether big or small) might have a positive impact on our society’s development.

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date: Sunday 25 September, 2022
time: 4.30pm–5.45pm
location: NALIS (AV Room)
rsvp: pre-registration required. Sign up here!
tickets: free of charge
moderator: Franka Phillip

Having a red carpet premiere of your film is the dream for many filmmakers. To achieve that dream, the first question to consider is, what kinds of films qualify as festival films? There are a wide variety of film festivals, each with its own philosophical and programming focus. The first step towards improving your chances of success, is to understand which film festivals are the ones for you. 

In this 90-minute discussion, panellists with years of festival experience will share their know-how to demystify the film festival. They will delve into questions such as, how do you decide if your project is a festival film; choosing the right festivals for your films. They will also share tips on building relationships with festivals and programmers, to improve your overall festival experience.

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date: Saturday 24 September, 2022
time: 2.30pm–4.00pm 
location: NALIS (AV Room)
rsvp: pre-registration required. Sign up here!
tickets: free of charge
moderator: Asha Lovelace

What is the truth? And is there really such a thing as ‘“objective truth”? What responsibility do documentary filmmakers have to “the truth”?  As documentary filmmakers we are drawn to subjects that we have a genuine interest in and are guided by our innate beliefs and philosophies – these can often shape which aspects of the story we choose to focus on. So, in a sense, from the get-go, aren’t we moulding the truth to fit the story we’re telling? Are we directing the narrative, shaping it so it is received as we believe it to be or are we shedding light objectively? 

In this panel, documentary filmmakers with work in ttff/22 will discuss these and other thorny issues!

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date: Saturday 24 September, 2022
time: 12.30pm–2.00pm 
location: NALIS (AV Room) 
rsvp: pre-registration required. Sign up here!
tickets: free of charge
moderator: Stanley Nelson Jr

Within the Caribbean – traditionally a deeply homophobic region – the LGBTQIA+ community faces an alarming level of danger and censure. In this context, making films that openly explore LGBTQIA+ characters, themes and stories is both revolutionary and risky, so   Caribbean filmmakers have tended to tread lightly around queer experiences for fear of harassment, rejection, stigmatization and even physical violence. But determined to tell their own stories, filmmakers are increasingly pushing back against this reticence.

Join us as we hear from filmmakers as they discuss the importance and challenges of centring queer experience in their storytelling.

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date: Friday 23 September, 2022
time: 2.30pm–4.00pm
location: NALIS (AV Room)
rsvp: pre-registration required. Sign up here!
tickets: free of charge
moderator: Franka Philip

featured image: production still from ‘Judgement Day’ directed by Francesca Hawkins

There are many secret testimonies along the hallways of the Heritage Library Division. These secrets are lodged in the extensive primary resources that NALIS has acquired over the years; resources that tell a story and come in many forms including books, stamps, paintings, photographs, letters, bluebooks, ephemera pieces and objects. These true life stories about icons and issues in Trinidad and Tobago need to be told through the lens of skilled craftsmen with eyes for the dramatic. Two African Chiefs, two judges, a cricketer-lawyer, a master artist, photographer, Trinidad’s last governor, books from the Historical Society, cricket stumps from 1931, folktales and stories from Alfred Mendes to Sam Selvon. If authenticity is what you seek, come to NALIS’ Special Collections and take a peek!

Come and experience a walking tour of the Special Collections and Rare Books Room of the Heritage Library Division, delivered by the Director Jasmin Simmons. Whether it’s a musical, a fantasy, a documentary or a thriller, the resources at the Heritage Library will definitely inspire your creativity.

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date: Saturday 24 September, 2022
time: 1.00pm–2.30pm
location: NALIS (Heritage Library)
rsvp: pre-registration required. Sign up here!
tickets: free of charge
facilitator: Jasmin P. Simmons

about Jasmin P. Simmons

Jasmin P. Simmons is the director of the Heritage Library Division, NALIS. She holds a wealth of experience in libraries spanning over 25 years. She is a 2010 Salzburg Fellow and 2016 International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Fellow.  She has served on the UNESCO Memory of the World Committee where she demonstrated her passion for the preservation of documentary heritage of Trinidad and Tobago. She is also an avid puppeteer, storytelling aficionado and budding spoken word artist. She believes that it is imperative that in this present period we create a media- and information-literate citizenry. Simmons is a champion for authors, through her involvement with NALIS ‘First Time Authors Appreciation Programme’ a consistent feature of NALIS over the last twelve years.

If the words ‘contract’ and ‘clearance’ keep you up at night, you’re not alone. But knowledge is the key to allaying one’s fears, and understanding this essential and oft-overlooked part of the filmmaking process will give you peace of mind and offer protection for your film and company.

During this 90-minute presentation, lawyer Justin Koo will guide you through the main types of contracts needed for a project, help you navigate the legal processes involved in film production and touch on some critical dos and don’ts.

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date: Saturday 24 September, 2022
time: 10.30am–12.00pm 
location: NALIS (AV Room)
rsvp: pre-registration required. Sign up here!
tickets: free of charge
facilitator: Justin Koo

about Justin Koo

Dr Justin Koo is co-founder of Clover Consultancy Ltd. which provides expert information on intellectual property rights and management to a wide array of persons including artists, musicians, performers, filmmakers, event promoters, athletes and brands. Justin is also a lecturer and deputy dean for Graduate Studies and Outreach at the Faculty of Law, UWI, St Augustine. Prior to joining UWI, Justin was a visiting lecturer at King’s College London and a teaching fellow at University College London (UCL). Justin’s primary research interest is focused on copyright law and he has published books and articles in the area. Justin also has interests in trade mark law, sports law, entertainment law and legal research skills.

Filmmaking truly is a team sport! The process requires the combined efforts of both creative and technical people if it’s to work. One of the key creative inputs is the music, which means that most directors and producers will work with a composer in the process of making their films. The right music can elevate a story and capture the audience’s attention by evoking deep-seated emotions. 

In this 90-minute workshop, music composer Navid Lancaster will guide participants through the process of composing a film score and the relationship between composer and director. He will delve into the importance of serving the story and the director’s vision to translate the intended meaning into music.

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date: Saturday 24 September, 2022
time: 12.30pm–2.00pm 
location: NALIS (Seminar Room 2)
rsvp: pre-registration required. Sign up here!
tickets: TT$150. Tickets are available here.
facilitator: Navíd Lancaster

about Navíd Lancaster

Navíd Lancaster is a musician, film composer, sound designer and the owner of LANCAST, an independent company that composes the emotions for multiple award-winning films, video games, mobile apps and animation. He is also the music composer and sound designer for the ongoing Knight Series and other content created by multiple award-winning Stack designer, Anthony Phills. He, Anthony Phills and a team, created the Immersive Learning, Augmented Reality (AR) app, “Unbreakable: Documenting Black History in Augmented Reality” that won the Silver Medal at the 2020 International Design Awards and won the bronze medal at the inaugural 2022 Anthem Awards.

Are you planning to buy your first pieces of production gear but can’t figure out where to start? Then this is the presentation for you! It can be quite overwhelming trying to decide what equipment you should make your first investments in. Cameras, lights, sound recording equipment and everything else is expensive, and you want to make sure that you’re making the smartest choices, especially if you’re on a tight budget.

In this 90-minute presentation, director and cinematographer, Robert Macfarlane, will walk you through building your very own filmmaking kit. He will break down what you should prioritise, what you can put off for later, and how to get the most bang for your buck.  

logistics

date: Saturday 24 September, 2022
time: 2.30pm–4.00pm
location: NALIS (Seminar Room 1)
rsvp: pre-registration required. Sign up here!
tickets: free of charge
facilitator: Robert Macfarlane

about Robert Macfarlane

Robert has been in the film and TV industries for 18 years in both the UK and the Caribbean. In that time he has worked in a variety of roles, including as a director, editor, DoP, and DIT on films, TV series, and commercials. In the narrative space, Robert has directed several shorts and is keen to make that next step into directing long-form drama. To help hone his practice and share his experience, he also runs a YouTube channel called ‘The Director Toolbox’ that analyses the techniques used by directors to create popular films and TV shows. His most recent short film ‘Immune’, filmed in 2020, is a science fiction drama set in a world ravaged by a pandemic and has won 9 awards, including two Best Director and two Best Film awards.

For first time filmmakers, the indie route is likely the way you’ll go. Although exciting, this process of filmmaking may also seem daunting. But we think the benefits far outweigh the pitfalls. For one thing, as an indie filmmaker, you have the creative freedom to tell your story the way you want to without the hassle of answering to a big production company. From script development, to fundraising, to casting, production, post and distribution, there are A LOT of things that you’ll need to consider!

In this 90-minute discussion, panellists will explore the challenging and often exciting process of making an indie film!

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date: Monday 26 September, 2022
time: 2.30pm–4.00pm 
location: NALIS (AV Room)
rsvp: pre-registration required. Sign up here!
tickets: free of charge
moderator: Marcin J. Sobczak

In recent years, drone filming has moved from trend to a required skill used in everyday cinematography. With so many technological innovations, aerial video footage is now accessible at a fraction of the cost – we no longer need to rent a helicopter to shoot the world from above! Skilfully piloted drones can capture stunning images from a bird’s eye perspective, while saving time and money. 

In this 90-minute workshop, participants will be introduced to the wonders of drone cinematography through both theoretical and practical learning. Key topics to be explored include choosing the right drone for your project, techniques to enhance your viewer’s visual experience, and how to become a certified drone operator.

Logistics

date: Sunday 25 September, 2022
time: 2.30pm–4.00pm 
location: TBC
rsvp: pre-registration required. Sign up here!
tickets: TT$150. Tickets are available here.
facilitator: Michaelangelo Masangkay
Presented with the support of Shell

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.

about Michaelangelo Masangkay

Michaelangelo Masangkay is a respected filmmaker, producer, director (at the Toronto Film School), and gifted drone pilot, with 15 years in the independent film industry. His vast industry knowledge and extensive global network enables him to seize opportunities for clients across Canada, the US and beyond.