Ultimately, if you’re building a career as a filmmaker, you’re going to need to find a way to reach an audience for your work. Audiences could be connected via sales agents and distributors to film festivals, television, online or cable broadcasts, theatrical exhibitions, etc.

In this 90-minute discussion, panellists involved in the distribution pipeline (including Jim Kolmar, programmer for SXSW; Ingrid Jahra, CEO of CinemaOne Ltd; Diane Robertson, head of programming at TTT; Gian Franco, CEO of Pavilion Studios and Marcia Smith, President of Firelight Media) will discuss the various ways in which filmmakers can forge their own routes to audiences.

logistics

date: Thursday 22 September, 2022
time: 2.30pm–4.00pm
location: NALIS (AV Room)
rsvp: pre-registration required. Sign up here!
tickets: free of charge
moderator: Mariel Brown

Presented with the support of The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago (NGC), this year’s retrospective seeks to recognise and celebrate the pioneering work of Banyan Productions and its founders as germane to the development of our local film and television industry. The retrospective programme will include several events which will take place at NALIS on Hart and Abercromby Streets in Port of Spain. Events include screenings of some of their most important television work; a ttff talk with Dr Bruce Paddington and Christopher Laird; and an exhibition of photos, memorabilia and more at the Rotunda in NALIS.

Imagine the 1970s. Trinidad and Tobago, after the Black Power movement – which some say was not about “black” power but about an awakening of the working class or underclass, to give visibility to the invisible. Change happens slowly but there are shifts. There’s a new Trinidadian returning from away. Not just doctors and lawyers, they are returning to teach, and to teach through other media: literature, publishing, audio-visual and film, theatre and mas, the arts. Enter Suzanne and Hugh Robertson, Tony Hall, Christopher Laird, Peter Minshall, Trini wives with their husbands, Trini husbands with their wives.

Pat Ganase, “The Banyan”

(You can read Pat’s full piece on Banyan in the ttff/22 printed guide.)

We are honoured to introduce the jury members who will be judging the student films in competition at ttff/22: producer and distributor, Gian Franco; TTT programme manager, Diane Robertson; president of JAFTA, Saeed Thomas.

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.

Gian Franco
Gian worked at the Microsoft Corporation before moving to Amazon.com in 2010 to launch their digital gaming distribution platform. He then assumed responsibility for Global Content Business Development in Amazon’s TV and film distribution group, after having completed US content acquisition for the same group. As an independent advisor and consultant, Franco has worked with companies such as Comcast on its digital distribution, operations and training strategies; executing training and deployment for products like Xfinity on Roku and others. In 2015 he left Amazon to launch Pavilion Entertainment with business partner Min Lee. Pavilion Entertainment is a TV and film production and distribution company based in Los Angeles that seeks to tell universal stories from a Caribbean point of view. 

Diane Robertson
Diane is a broadcast television and multimedia professional with over 20 years of experience in the industry. She has led the Broadcast Services department, including the website and social media component, of a Washington, DC PBS station. Her role included vetting local programmes, working with producers to green light, and bringing their projects to fruition. While serving on national review panels, Diane’s contributions led to the release of popular, national PBS television series, including ‘Independent Lens’ and ‘Afropop’. She has also served as an advisor to the Caribbean Filmmakers Symposium. In 2018 she joined TTT Ltd as the television programming manager. Since then, she has been instrumental in forming partnerships with FILMCO, FilmTT, Tempo Networks, and other key organisations, to populate local and diasporic content and support local and regional creatives.

Saeed Thomas
Saeed began working in the creative arts as a stage technician, backstage assistant and audio tech. He also delved into stage management and audio for film and television. He has collaborated on projects with international companies such as Hulu, UNICEF, Concacaf, and IAAF. Saeed is the current president of the Jamaica Film and Television Association (JAFTA), co-founder and CEO of M-One, previously known as Cine-core, a Jamaica-based video production company. A recipient of the 2020 Prime Minister’s Youth Award for Arts and Culture, he has for worked on various short films such as ‘Enhanced’, ‘Kinto’, ‘Cross my heart’ and ‘Flight’ and was selected as a participant of the Clermont Ferrand 2020 Euro Connection Programme with his script, ‘Black girl in the ring’. His most recent produced work is the short drama, ‘Sugarcake’.

We are pleased to announce the films in competition for best t+t film at ttff/22. 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 their specific genre jury, with the winning t+t film ultimately being the one to receive the highest aggregate score.

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 T+T FILM

• King David, directed by Walt Lovelace
• My Maxi, directed by Andrei J Pierre
• Oya, directed by Ais Rutherford and Hira Hosein
• The inner view, directed by Eric Barry

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. 

We are pleased to announce the student films in competition at ttff/22. 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. 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 STUDENT FILM

• Cracked, directed by Lin Que Ayoung
• El río encantado (The enchanted river), directed by Marina Santana De la Torre
• Hide!, directed by Shaochen Wang
• Meet the Guptas, directed by Pranav Nayak
• Mami (Mommy), directed by Jeure Tavare
• My friend Alexander Grigorievich, directed by Pavel Zelenov
• No entry, directed by Kaleb D’Aguilar
• Oya, directed by Ais Rutherford and Hira Hosein
• Take care, directed by Shun Tachizono
• Los niños de esta casa (The kids from this house), directed by Eduardo Ceballos

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’

Thinking of becoming a filmmaker? Having the courage to take the first step into developing your first story is a milestone for every filmmaker. Filmmaking is challenging! And in the process of making your film, you’ll often ask yourself why you got into this in the first place!  

In this 90-minute presentation, filmmaker Mariel Brown and publicist Marcin J. Sobczak will share their insights into what it takes to build a sustainable career as a filmmaker.

logistics:

date: Saturday 24 September, 2022
time: 2.30pm–4.00pm
location: NALIS (Seminar Room 2)
rsvp: pre-registration required. Sign up here!
tickets: free of charge
facilitators: Mariel Brown + Marcin J. Sobczak

about Mariel Brown

Mariel Brown is an award-winning filmmaker and director of the creative and production companies SAVANT and SAVANT Films and a co-founder of the filmmaker organisation, FILMCO. Mariel has been working in film and television since 1997. She is committed to uncovering and documenting the Caribbean’s rich history and culture. Mariel’s most recent film is the feature length documentary, ‘Unfinished Sentences’, a personal exploration of her tumultuous relationship with her late father, writer Wayne Brown. Mariel is a four-time trinidad+tobago film festival award-winner, and both her film and television work have won awards locally and internationally.

about Marcin J. Sobczak

Marcin J. Sobczak, owner of This Way Publicity, has worked in the film industry for over 13 years, supporting sales and production and every step of film development, working on more than 50 films, running international campaigns, and recently handling international Academy Awards campaigns. Some of the titles he has worked on include ‘Coda’, ‘Summer of soul’, ‘Cargo’ (by Kareem Mortimer), and ‘The enforcer’.

You may already have heard the term NFT amongst creatives venturing into new income pathways, but it takes time to understand the concept. Are you curious about what NFT universe has to offer? Are you trying to find an innovative field that could bring you more recognition, where your work could possibly go up in value. How does the value chain work, and is it even possible to achieve a stable flow of income by minting NFTs?

In this 90-minute discussion, Trinidad and Tobago creatives who work in the NFT space will shed light on networks, technologies and platforms and highlight the advantages along with any associated risk you should be aware of.

logistics

date: Tuesday 27 September, 2022
time: 2.30pm–4.00pm
location: NALIS (AV Room)
rsvp: pre-registration required. Sign up here!
tickets: free of charge
panelists: Competitiveness, Technology, and Innovation Division at IDB Kayla Grant, NFT Creator Nicholas Huggins, NFT Creator Rodell Warner and  Intellectual Property Attorney and NFT Consultant Joan Webley
moderator: Creative and Fashion Designer Anya Ayoung-Chee

target audience: industry practitioners, persons interested in NFTs, creatives and tech solutions practitioners and general members of the public.

Presented with the support of IDB

History is everywhere. It surrounds us and grounds us, moulds us and motivates us. The preservation of film archives creates a visual timeline which enables us to trace our roots, setting the stage for us to understand who we are by reflecting on where we have come from. Film archives are an invaluable element of this process of understanding our heritage – they can show us not only what happened, but how it looked, how it sounded and what it felt like; they can share the words, gestures and emotions of someone long gone. So many of the great films – whether documentary or narrative – view stories through the lens of history, and access to archival film resources are often essential to these. For young societies like Trinidad and Tobago, film archives are an especially important route to shaping and visioning ourselves.

In this 90-minute discussion, panellists will explore the role of film archives and discuss preservation, restoration and access.

logistics

date: Sunday 25 September, 2022
time: 2.30pm–4.00pm 
location: NALIS (AV Room)
rsvp: pre-registration required. Sign up here!
tickets: free of charge
moderator: Mariel Brown