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Welcome to ttff/19 carifesta edition! The annual ttff, now in its fourteenth year, has become a mainstay of Trinidad and Tobago’s cultural calendar, and is well-established as the premiere film festival of the English-speaking Caribbean. ttff/19 carifesta edition is being held in August—rather than our usual September—to coincide with the largest regional celebration of culture in all its forms, CARIFESTA XIV.

The festival runs from 17-23 August, with free screenings at APA, SAPA, Naparima Bowl and Shaw Park Cultural Complex, and includes, as always, the best films from around the Caribbean, Panorama films, classics and experimental films. We’ll also have panel discussions, workshops, filmmaker Q&As and other special events.

Please download our full press kit, which includes programme highlights, film synopses, information on our locations, images and film stills.

• ttff19-press-kit.zip 10.6MB
• ttff19-poster.pdf 16.8MB
• ttff19-guide.pdf

Find Us / Follow Us

• Website: ttfilmfestival.com
• Facebook: facebook.com/ttfilmfestival
• Twitter: @ttfilmfestival
• Youtube: youtube.com/TheTTFilmFestival
• Flickr: flickr.com/ttfilmfestival
• Instagram: @ttfilmfestival

#ttff19 #ttff19carifestaedition #lookataction #ttfilmfestival

Further Press Enquiries

Lisa Williams
ttff press liaison

(+)1.868.620.8762

As part of ongoing efforts to support and develop a national film industry, The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (NGC) has partnered with the trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff) has on a three-year film development programme, ‘Shooting Stars’, for secondary school students.

The 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, ttff seeks to facilitate the growth of Caribbean cinema by offering a wide-ranging industry programme and networking opportunities.

Read full article.

This year, the trinidad+tobago film festival is partnering with CARIFESTA to put on ttff/19 carifesta edition, which takes place 17-23 August. With the Caribbean in focus, we decided to look to the region for the 2019 festival artist, and were inspired by the work of Jamaican digital artist, Di-Andre Caprice Davis. A former ttff prize winner for Best Experimental Film, Di-Andre’s work, Jellyman, forms the basis of ttff’s visual identity this year, so Dabura Muhammed spent some time chatting with Di-Andre about work and artmaking.

ttff What themes are you exploring in your work? And why do these interest you?
DACD I only have ideas of how I could make use of the images I have currently. I try to do something different, out of the ordinary, I try to go out of the box all the time. I make use of apps on my phone that let you manipulate images and I mix them all together until I come up with “yeah that’s how I want it to look” and that will work for now.  Another time I’ll switch it up in some other way. It’s just the evolving process of the technology itself because you always have something new.

ttff What was your inspiration for Jelly Man?
DACD I’m always ‘pon the road and try not to drink soda. I usually see a ‘jelly man’ when I need to, whenever I’m (p)on the road. So I just see them as someone I can depend on, especially when it’s hot, and every time I see them chopping jelly I’m always watching them. Basically, I said that I want to take that and put it in my work one day. So that’s how the idea came about, how I ended up doing the jelly man. It’s just everyday experiences interacting with a jelly man. His visual dominance commands your attention and by adding complementing colours, it creates an energetic composition. The rhythm of chopping a jelly coconut is very GIF-like.

ttff Can you explain why you chose new media as your primary medium?
DACD New media is associated with the digital era, it evolves continuously. There are so many definitions and can mean different things for different people in the same context. I enjoy experimenting with new media technologies, it’s like an adventure into another world exploring the outer limits. It’s just my way of developing thinking, I guess it would fall under cognitive psychology because I’m always trying to learn something new so it’s making use of whatever I have. I live in the Caribbean I’m always seeing trees and the sea, and all of that. I always want to see something different. It’s just an interest I always had when I was growing up, trying to learn something tech-wise. Even with music because I played drums and people use software to make beats. I enjoy it a lot, it’s a joy to be on my phone manipulating an image or researching generative software that can manipulate images. That’s what I’m always doing– researching and reading. We use technology all the time so why not take advantage of it in a positive way, it’s just taking advantage of New Media Technologies.  I never planned to be an artist, I was going to be a mathematician but that didn’t work out.

ttff  Who/ what are your biggest influences?
DACD Overall I always have several different influences but music, some of the people I grew up with, science, and technology are some of my biggest influences. Growing up with my grandparents, my aunt was a computer genius so I was always trying to learn something related to technology. Sometimes it might be music or the ocean because I live near the sea and I’m usually on the roof looking at the water. Then I’m like ‘oh that’s cool’ and I might make something or take a photo of the waves, so it’s several different things at any time. 

ttff   How has your career developed since winning ttff’s Best Experimental Film prize for Chaotic Beauty?
DACD It brought attention to my work overall and created additional interest from other people who are part of the artistic community across the region and abroad. Winning actually encouraged me to submit work to other film screenings and exhibitions and I had work shown at two other events. I never saw it as an experimental film though, I thought of it more as video art.

ttff How do you feel about being ttff’s festival artist for 2019?
DACD I have to say I’m very grateful and excited. Thank you ttff!

ttff What are your thoughts on the importance/ impact of ttff within the region?
DACD ttff is a premiere film festival not just for the Caribbean but internationally. It has been a huge support for upcoming filmmakers and it’s a great platform for promoting filmmaking within the region. Overall the Caribbean Market is booming right now and there are a lot of interesting films coming out of places like the Spanish speaking countries, also the experimental category. It’s a dream of a festival, the quality of films are top-level and as somebody from the Caribbean, if you can get to show your films there it’s like a dream come true. It pushes them/ us to think that just because I’m in the Caribbean doesn’t mean I can’t go out there in the world, the film world. If you have shown work at TTFF, trust me you’re going to feel like you need to push yourself to take the next step. I know that TTFF is the sort of Festival that can do that when it comes to your work. This year for TTFF I’m looking forward to seeing good quality films. Usually there are some really great films… when I go I try to see as many as I can.

ttff What are you currently working on?
DACD Well, I’m just making things; always making things.

ttff Is there any particular impact you would like your work to have?DACD I just want to share my work and enlighten people about different ways of art-making. When people look at my work I would like them to use their brain. People see, interpret, and translate in a different way because everybody has a different brain, that’s what I really want people to do. To not just see the surface art, but that there’s always something more behind it, the science, the music, the patterns of sound, the different colours.     

ttff What is your dream project?
DACD There are so many! Participating in an international festival of digital creativity and electronic/experimental music. My interest is in technology overall, that’s why I’m doing what I’m doing.

ttff Why are festivals like CARIFESTA important?
DACD Any festival that promotes the development of cultural industries is important. It is a way to get people of the region to be in the same space interacting and embracing each other’s culture. I’ve been to cultural festivals but never CARIFESTA, I’m looking forward to going.

You can learn more about Di-Andre’s work by visiting:
https://www.instagram.com/diandrecapricedavis/  
https://diandrecapricedavis.tumblr.com/

TTFF VACANCY: PUBLIC RELATIONS AND SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER 

CONTRACT: JULY/ AUGUST 2019 

1. BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW

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. The annual ttff, now in its fourteenth year, has become a mainstay of Trinidad and Tobago’s cultural calendar, and is well-established as the premiere film festival of the English-speaking Caribbean. This year’s iteration of the festival, ttff/19 carifesta edition, will be held in August – rather than September – to coincide with the largest regional celebration of culture in all its forms, CARIFESTA XIV. The film festival will run from 17–23 August, with free screenings at NAPA, APA, SAPA, Naparima Bowl and Shaw Park Cultural Complex.

Employment type: Contract 
Duration: 08 July 2019 to 30 August 2019

     2. SCOPE OF DUTIES
The Public Relations and Social Media Manager will be responsible for creating and implementing the promotional strategy for ttff/19 carifesta edition. The Public Relations and Social Media Manager will report to the interim Executive Director, and the job includes, but is not limited to:

• Deliberate planning, strategy, goal setting and implementation towards building public awareness and audience development for ttff/19
• Development of brand awareness and print/ online reputation
• Content management (including website)
• Reputation management
• Build and maintain press relationships

Content management duties include:

• Administrate the creation and publishing of relevant, original, high-quality content (for all social media and traditional media channels/ outlets)
• Develop relevant content topics to reach the ttff’s target audience.
• Create, curate, and manage all published content (images, video, written).
• Monitor, listen and respond to users in a “Social” way.
• Create a regular publishing schedule and promote content through social advertising.
• Leverage the right tools to manage your content. 
• Implement a content editorial calendar to manage content and plan specific, timely marketing campaigns.
• Integrate all channels of marketing (social media, SEO, email, print and digital marketing).
• Implement and manage all social advertising campaigns.
• Oversee design (ie: social media graphics for Facebook cover, profile pic, thumbnails, ads, landing pages, Twitter profile, etc.).
• Design, create and manage promotions and social ad campaigns,
• Analyze key metrics and tweak strategy as needed.
• Compile reports for management showing results (ROI).
• Become an advocate for the company in social media spaces, engaging in dialogues and answering questions where appropriate.
• Analyze campaigns and translate anecdotal or qualitative data into recommendations and plans for revising social media, content marketing, SEO and social advertising campaigns.

Public relations duties include:

• Plan (including budgeting) and implement ttff/19 press conference.
• Maintain an up-to-date press list (traditional media, bloggers, online media etc).
• Create and implement a solid PR strategy for liaising with traditional media, bloggers, online media, mailchimp etc)
• Write and distribute engaging press releases that help build brand awareness.
• Regularly update all media of ttff’s activities.
• Build partnerships that can help to promote the film festival and all its activities (such as with LoopTT, bloggers, traditional media).
• Plan and manage all press bookings for filmmakers, stars and other relevant stakeholders during the ttff/19.
• Update and keep all press clippings.
• Log all press mentions (whether favourable or not).
• Generate a full media report on ttff’s media presence once ttff/19 carifesta edition is complete.

3. SKILL SET

• Fully proficient in: G Suite and Microsoft suite (Word processing, sheets, formulae)
• Displays in-depth knowledge and understanding of social media platforms, (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Mailchimp) and how each platform can be deployed in different scenarios.
• Possesses knowledge and experience in the tenets of traditional marketing. (Marketing degree is welcomed but not required with relevant work experience.)
• Demonstrates creativity and documented immersion in social media. (Give links to profiles as examples).
• Experience sourcing and managing content development and publishing.
• Exhibits the ability to jump from the creative side of marketing to analytical side, able to demonstrate why their ideas are analytically sound.
• Maintains excellent writing and language skills.
• Enjoys a working knowledge of the blogging ecosystem relevant to ttff’s core offering.
• Displays ability to effectively communicate information and ideas in written and video format.
• Maintains a working knowledge of principles of SEO including keyword research and Google Analytics. Highly knowledgeable in the principles of “Search and Social.”
• Possesses functional knowledge and/or personal experience with WordPress CMS (self-hosted).
• Possesses great ability to identify potential negative or crisis situation and apply conflict resolution principles to mitigate issues.

4. WORK ETHIC

• Creative and independent thinker
• Able to spearhead and conduct research independently 
• Highly motivated, proactive, organised, with a keen eye for detail
• Able to multitask under tight deadlines

5. INTERPERSONAL 

• A team player with the confidence to take the lead as needed, problem solver, self-motivated, flexible, comfortable working in a hectic environment and a good sense of humour.

Applications:  Interested candidates are invited to apply by sending a cover letter with two references and CV to hello@ttfilmfestival.com  Please write TTFF VACANCY: PUBLIC RELATIONS AND SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER in subject line. Selected candidate must be own a laptop, work in the ttff office and be able to begin work by 08 July, 2019.

The call for submissions is now open for filmmakers wishing to have their films screened at the fourteenth edition of the trinidad+tobago film festival, 2019 – ttff/19 carifesta edition. The Festival takes place from 17–23 August 2019.

The ttff seeks to highlight excellence in filmmaking through the exhibition of fiction and documentary feature and short films made in Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean and its diaspora.

The Festival therefore accepts submissions from Caribbean filmmakers in the region and in the diaspora; and international filmmakers with films from or about the Caribbean or its diaspora.

Submissions must have been produced after 01 January 2017.

All submissions must be made via email to hello@ttfilmfestival.com

All submissions must include:
• Online screener link + password
• Synopsis
• Running time + Year of production (not before 2017)
• Country of origin
• Language, and if subtitled
• Genre
• Name of director, producer and cast (if appropriate)
• Short biography of director
• Festivals screened at/awards won (if any)
• Contact information

The deadline for all submissions is 29 April, 2019. This deadline will be strictly adhered to and late submissions will not be considered. Please do not submit films that do not fulfil the stated criteria. Visit our ttff/19 submission FAQs here: http://ttfilmfestival.com/call-for-submissions

The ttff seeks to make all screenings at the Festival T&T premieres. Occasionally, however, the Festival considers films that have already been shown publicly in T&T. Please contact us directly if you have a film that falls into this category, or if you have any other queries, at hello@ttfilmfestival.com

The ttff reserves the right to determine the eligibility of the submissions to be screened at the Festival, the appropriate venues and time slots for the screening of films, and to use excerpts of the films for publicity purposes. All films submitted must have applicable clearances and the Festival will not be held liable.

Please note that there are usually many more submissions than spaces available in the Festival lineup and therefore not all films can be accommodated. This does not necessarily imply that a film has not met the Festival’s criteria or is of poor quality. It may be that we have already selected a film on a similar topic, or that a film is deemed to have already received sufficient public exposure.

Port of Spain, Monday 11^th March 2019: The trinidad+tobago film festival is pleased to announce that we will be partnering with CARIFESTA XIV to hold the 2019 edition of the film festival – ttff/19 carifesta edition.

The annual ttff, now in its fourteenth year, has become a mainstay of Trinidad and Tobago’s cultural calendar, and is well-established as the premiere film festival of the English-speaking Caribbean. This year’s iteration of the festival, ttff/19 carifesta edition will be held in August – rather than September – to coincide with the largest regional celebration of culture in all its forms, CARIFESTA XIV. The film festival will run from 17–23 August, with free screenings at NAPA, APA, SAPA, Naparima Bowl and Shaw Park Cultural Complex.

Festival Director, Dr Bruce Paddington, notes, “CARIFESTA is a time when the whole country is alive with culture and creativity – visitors come from all over the region and internationally too. The ttff is very excited to be able to partner with CARIFESTA XIV to bring the best Caribbean films into this important celebration of regional culture.”

For more than four decades, the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) has been a catalyst for the strengthening of regional integration among our Caribbean countries, artisans and cultural practitioners. CARIFESTA showcases a multi-talented cultural display in the visual and literary arts, storytelling, fashion, body art, craft, theatre, dance, music, film and new media from participating countries. Trinidad & Tobago… will showcase and market the culture of our country to the Caribbean region as it hosts CARIFESTA XIV. As host nation, it is Trinidad and Tobago’s intention to create the space, avenue and hub for participating nations to flourish and “Connect, Share, Invest” in the arts and culture of the Caribbean.

Caribbean films are a dynamic and all-encompassing expression of what it is to be from this place, in this moment. Film brings together diverse cultural forms, including music, art, writing, fashion design and so much more; it is a medium that can transport viewers around the Caribbean (from the comfort of their cinema seats) as they explore, confront and celebrate key issues affecting and engaging the region.

ttff/19 carifesta edition will include new shorts, and features, narrative films and documentaries from around the region and its diaspora – which explore the Caribbean experience; the festival will include some classic films as well. The majority of the films to be exhibited will be from CARICOM countries, as well as from the wider Caribbean, the Caribbean diaspora and a few guest countries.

This year’s call for submissions will open 11 March – we look forward to reviewing submissions from filmmakers in Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean region and the wider diaspora.