The votes are in and audiences have spoken – the winners of ttff/19’s People’s Choice awards are as follows:

Spirit of the Caribbean: Charlie’s Records, directed by Tina Charles
Best Feature: Grace and Saleem, directed by Jian Hennings
Best Short: Sampson’s Heart, directed by Juliette McCawley

Warmest congratulations to the casts and crews of the winning films! Awardees receive ttff/19 carifesta edition trophies and a cash prizes sponsored by Shell and the trinidad+tobago film festival.

The thirteenth edition of the trinidad+tobago film festival culminated in a love-fest of awards and accolades for local filmmakers at the ttff/18 Awards Ceremony at Central Bank on Tuesday 25 September.

THE BEST FILM AS DECIDED BY A YOUTH JURY sponsored by BP Trinidad and Tobago.

Buscando al Zorro (Looking for Zorro) – Wigner Duarte

El Chata (The Sparring Partner) – Gustavo Ramos Perales

Las Hijas De Abril – Michel Franco

Brown Girl Begins – Sharon Lewis

Le Rêve Français: Part 1 – Christian Faure WINNER

Sprinter – Storm Saulter

ttff/18 FUTURE CRITICS PRIZE

For the third year, this initiative sought to prepare students of the Ken Gordon School of Journalism at the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad + Tobago (COSTAATT) for the rigour, best practices and industry standards of critical film analysis and festival reporting.

Ten students from the programme were selected to write critical reviews of films under the mentorship of  film critic and journalist, BC Pires, for posting on the ttff website and social media platforms during the Festival. Now, at the conclusion of the Festival, the best Future Critic has been selected on the basis of the quality of their writing and analysis, their ability to meet tight deadlines, and the number of reviews published.

Celine Dimsoy WINNER

THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD FOR A SHORT FILM Sponsored by FILMTT

Mangroves WINNER

THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD FOR A DOCUMENTARY FILM Sponsored by FILMTT

Carnival Messiah WINNER

THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD FOR A NARRATIVE FEATURE FILM Sponsored by FILMTT

Hero: Based on The Life and Times of Mr. Ulric Cross WINNER

CARIBBEAN FILM MART BEST PITCH PITCH Sponsored by BP Trinidad + Tobago

The 15 participants in the Caribbean Film Mart were invited to pitch their project at the end of the 2 day mart workshop. 3 international film professionals adjudicated this process.

The participants and their projects are:

Dance the Cocoa – Juliette McCawley

Mas Slaughter – Christopher Din Chong

The Jaguar – Ryan Khan

Virus – Michael Rochford

Steel – Glenford Adams

Paul Pryce – The Deliverer

Jamil Agard –

Igual Paraise – Shea Best

Wishing for Wings – Kim Johnson

Silk Road – Janine Mendes-Franco

Trinidad’s Missing – Reynald Seydass

Hey Handsome – Roderick Weever

Fairway – Kafi Kareem Farrell WINNER

Intersection – Khrystian Ramlogan

Right and Left – Sonja Dumas

JURY AWARDS

Every year the ttff invites regional and international filmmakers and film professionals to adjudicate a selection of films

The ttff/18 jury are:

Ida Does, Filmmaker from Suriname

Renee Robinson, Film Commissioner for Jamaica

Gustavo Graef Morino, filmmaker from Chile

THE JURY PRIZE FOR THE BEST TRINIDAD+TOBAGO SHORT FILM Sponsored by BP Trinidad + Tobago

The Deliverer – Paul Pryce

Mangroves – Teneille Newallo

Venus and Magnet – Elspeth Duncan WINNER

Black Hair – Miquel Galofre

Live Bait – Dominic Boos

THE JURY PRIZE FOR THE BEST TRINIDAD+TOBAGO FEATURE FILM Sponsored by BP Trinidad + Tobago 

Unfinished Sentences – Mariel Brown WINNER

Hero: Inspired by the Extraordinary Life and Times of Mr. Ulric Cross – Frances-Anne Solomon

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 ttff is given leading sponsorship by BP Trinidad and Tobago, the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts; supporting sponsorship by The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago and Republic Bank Limited; and contributing sponsorship byFilmTT and The National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB).

The ttff awards prizes in three categories: jury prizes, people’s choice awards and special awards. The awards ceremony took place on Tuesday 26 September, 2017 at the Central Bank Auditorium in Port of Spain.

JURY PRIZES

BEST  FEATURE FILM–NARRATIVE
TT$10,000 / Sponsored by FLOW
In competition:

• Cargo – Kareem Mortimer, The Bahamas
• El Techo (On the Roof) – Patricia Ramos, Cuba WINNER
• Santa and Andres – Carlos Lechuga, Cuba
• Ultimos Días En La Habana (Last Days In Havana) – Fernando Pérez, Cuba

BEST  FEATURE FILM–DOCUMENTARY                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TT$10,000 / Sponsored by FLOW
In competition:

• Jeffrey – Yanillys Perez, Dominican Republic WINNER
• Kingston Crossroads – Oliver Becker + Jonas Schaul, Jamaica + Germany

BEST  SHORT FILM
TT$5,000 / Sponsored by FLOW
In competition:

• Con Sana Alegria (With Wholesome Joy) – Claudia Muñoz, Cuba
• Tourments d’amour – Caroline Jules, Guadeloupe/France
• Chocolate – Fernando Peña, Dominican Republic
• Paddlin’ Spirit: A Portrait of the Artist Laura Facey – Amanda Sans, Jamaica
• Féfé Limbe – Julien Silloray, Guadeloupe WINNER

BEST TRINIDAD & TOBAGO FEATURE FILM
TT$10,00 / Sponsored by the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts                                                                                                                                                                          In competition:

• Moko Jumbie – Vashti Anderson
• Green Days by the River – Michael Mooleedhar WINNER

BEST T+T SHORT FILM
TT$5,000 / Sponsored by the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts            
In competition:

• Short Drop – Maya Cozier WINNER
• Salty Dog – Oliver Milne
• Visibly Me – Nicola Cross
• Temple in the Sea – Kevin Bhall

BEST FILM AS DECIDED BY A YOUTH JURY
TT$5,000 / Sponsored by RBC Royal Bank (Trinidad and Tobago)
In competition:

• Green Days by the River – Michael Mooleedhar, Trinidad+Tobago
• Moko Jumbie – Vashti Anderson, Trinidad+Tobago
• Reinbou – David Maler + Andrés Cubelo, Dominican Republic
• The Violin Teacher  – Sérgio Machado, Brazil
• El Techo – Patricia Ramos, Cuba WINNER
• Keyla – Viviana Gómez Echeverry, Colombia

SPECIAL  AWARDS

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS PRIZE
TT$5,000
In competition:

• Cargo – Kareem Mortimer, The Bahamas WINNER
• Between 2 Shores: From Santo Domingo To Pointe-à-Pitre – Mariette Monpierre, Guadeloupe
• Jeffrey – Yanillys Perez, Dominican Republic

BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILM PRIZE
TT$5,000/Sponsored by ttff
In competition:

• Chaotic Beauty – Di-Andre Caprice Davis, Jamaica WINNER
• Cathedral – Juliette McCawley, Trinidad+Tobago
• Reforget – Volney Smith, Barbados
• Xerox Island – Alex Kelly, Trinidad+Tobago
• A Dress to the Nation – Richard Rawlins, Trinidad+Tobago
• Uncertainty and Failure – Luis Vasquez La Roche/Joanne Helfer, Venezuela/Scotland

BEST T+T FILM IN DEVELOPMENT:  SCATTERED- KAREN MARTINEZ + GEORGIA POPPLEWEL
TT$10,000 each / Sponsored by BP Trinidad and Tobago                                                                                                                                                                                                         

FUTURE CRITICS PRIZE
TT$5,000 / Sponsored by RBC Royal Bank (Trinidad and Tobago): WINNER KIRK BHAJAN

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS

TT$5,000 each / Sponsored by Flow

BEST FEATURE FILM- NARRATIVE:   GREEN DAYS BY THE RIVER, Michael Mooleedhar,

BEST FEATURE FILM- DOCUMENTARY: SORF HAIR, Shari Petti

BEST SHORT FILM: SALTY DOG, Oliver Milne

The ttff awards prizes in three categories: jury prizes, people’s choice awards and special awards. The awards ceremony took place on Tuesday 27 September at the Central Bank Auditorium in Port of Spain.

JURY PRIZES

BEST FEATURE FILM–NARRATIVE
TT$12,500 / Sponsored by The National Gas Company
In competition:
Antes Que Cante El Gallo (Before the Rooster Crows)-Arí Manuel Cruz, Puerto Rico-WINNER
El Acompañante (The Companion) – Pavel Giroud, Cuba
Esteban-Jonal Cosculluela, Cuba
Play the Devil-Maria Govan, Trinidad+Tobago, The Bahamas, the USA
The Cutlass-Darisha Beresford, Trinidad+Tobago

BEST FEATURE FILM–DOCUMENTARY
TT$12,500 / Sponsored by The National Gas Company
In competition:
Se Bondye vie Yuli (God Willing Yuli)- Jean Jean,Haiti/Dominican Republic-WINNER
Make Mine Country-Ian Berry,St.Lucia
Diva:Enemy of the People-Tony Oldham, St.Lucia

BEST SHORT FILM–NARRATIVE
TT$7,500 / Sponsored by The National Gas Company
In competition:
Carapazón/Shell-Joa Vidal, Cuba- WINNER
SO.C13.TY-Khris Burton, Martinique
Nightmare Before Wedding-Orain-Chomaud Fabienne, Guadeloupe
Lost Boy-Aisha Porter-Christie, Jamaica
Rico-Lynda D’Alexis, Guadeloupe

BEST SHORT FILM–DOCUMENTARY
TT$7,500 / Sponsored by The National Gas Company
In competition:
Iceberg-Juliana Gómez, Cuba- WINNER
Blessed Love-Kra Kouassi, Guadeloupe
Welcoming Arms-Rosanne Ma, Bermuda
H20 -Clish Gittens, Barbados

BEST T+T FEATURE FILM
Trip to Regional Festival/Market
Sponsored by The Trinidad and Tobago Film Company (FilmTT)
In competition:
The Cutlass – Darisha Beresford + Play The Devil – Maria Govan – JOINT WINNERS
Tomb – Nicholas Attin
Sanskara – Christopher Din Chong

BEST T+T SHORT FILM – NARRATIVE
Trip to Regional Festival/Market
Sponsored by the Trinidad and Tobago Film Company
In competition:
Sweat-Josiah Persad- WINNER
Redman-Jared Prima
Dream Seller-Shane Lee Kit

BEST T+T SHORT FILM – DOCUMENTARY
Trip to Regional Festival/Market
Sponsored by the Trinidad and Tobago Film Company
In competition:
Who I say I Am- Amir Aether Valen Ali- WINNER
The Dying Swan: Ras Nijinsky in drag as Pavlova – Christopher Laird
How We Play with Fire – Desiree Sampson
Living Without You – Anna-Lisa Wickham

BEST FILM AS DECIDED BY A YOUTH JURY
TT$5,000 / Sponsored by COSTAATT
In competition:
Play The Devil-Maria Govan, Trinidad+Tobago, The Bahamas, the USA-WINNER
Battledream Chronicles-Alain Bidard, Martinique
Antes Que Cante El Gallo (Before the Rooster Crows) – Arí Manuel Cruz, Puerto Rico
Ixcanul-Jayro Bustamente, Guatemala
Mustang-Deniz Gamze-Ergüven, France
Mountains May Depart -Zia Zhange, China
Presos (Imprisoned) -Esteban Ramirez, Costa Rica

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS PRIZE
TT$5,000
In competition:
Se Bondye vie Yuli (God Willing Yuli) Jean Jean, Haiti/Dominican Republic-WINNER
Antes que Cante el Callo (Before the Rooster Crows) Arí Manuel Cruz, Puerto Rico
El Acompañante (The Companion) Pavel Giroud, Cuba

UNITED NATIONS T+T AWARD FOR BEST EMERGING DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER
TT$5,000
In competition:
Amir Aether Valen Ali-Who I Say I Am-WINNER
Desiree Sampson-How We Play With Fire
Jamie Lee Loy-Super Me
Dylan Quesnel-Small Change
Kyle Sahadeo-The Absentee

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS
TT$5,000 each / Sponsored by Flow

BEST FEATURE FILM – NARRATIVE: THE CUTLASS – Darisha Beresford
BEST FEATURE FILM–DOCUMENTARY: LANDFILL HARMONIC – Brad Allgood + Graham Townsley
BEST SHORT FILM: SWEAT-Josiah Persad

RBC FOCUS: FILMMAKERS’ IMMERSION PITCH WINNER
TT$20,000 / Sponsored by RBC Royal Bank
Juliette McCawley, Avalon

CARIBBEAN FILM MART BEST PROJECT AWARD JOINT WINNERS
6 month consultation from international film industry professional Sydney Levine of SydneysBuzz
Karen Martinez, Scattered + Sonja Dumas, Angels Living in Tunapuna

Sand Dollars, the tender story of an elderly French woman in a relationship with a much younger woman from the Dominican Republic, won the Best Fiction Feature prize last evening at the awards ceremony for the 2015 trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff/15).

Directed by Israel Cárdenas and Laura Amelia Guzmán, the film beat three other films in the official competition to nab the coveted prize.

The Best Documentary Feature went to Aleksandra Maciuszek’s Casa Blanca, the moving tale of an elderly woman and her middle-aged son who has Down syndrome, as they navigate daily life in Havana.

Casa Blanca also received a special mention for artistic merit by the Amnesty International Human Rights Prize jury.

In the Trinidad and Tobago film categories, Sean Hodgkinson’s Trafficked, about three friends on holiday who become drug mules, walked away with the Best Fiction Feature prize, while Kim Johnson’s Re-percussions: An African Odyssey, about attempts to propagate T&T’s national instrument in Nigeria, won Best Documentary Feature.

The prize for best project at the first ever Caribbean Film Mart went to Kidnapping Inc of Haiti, by Gaethan Chancy, Bruno Mourral and Gilbert Mirambeau, Jr.

Here is a full list of the awards:

Best Film Awards – sponsored by the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited
Best Fiction Feature: Sand Dollars, Israel Cárdenas and Laura Amelia Guzmán, Dominican Republic/Mexico/Argentina
Best Documentary Feature: Casa Blanca, Aleksandra Maciuszek, Cuba/Mexico/Poland
Best Short Film, Narrative: Mommy Water, Julien Silloray, Guadeloupe
Best Short Film, Documentary: Papa Machete, Jonathan David Kane, Haiti/USA/Barbados

Best Trinidad and Tobago Film Awards – sponsored by the Film Company of Trinidad and Tobago (FilmTT)
Best Trinidad and Tobago Fiction Feature: Trafficked, Sean Hodgkinson
Best Trinidad and Tobago Documentary Feature: Re-percussions: An African Odyssey, Kim Johnson
Best Trinidad and Tobago Short Film, Fiction: Fade to Black, Christopher Guinness
Best Trinidad and Tobago Short Film, Documentary: Riding Bull Cart, Rhonda Chan Soo

People’s Choice Awards – Sponsored by Flow
People’s Choice Award, Best Narrative Feature: Sally’s Way, Joanne Johnson, T&T
People’s Choice Award, Best Documentary Feature: Vanishing Sail, Alexis Andrews, Antigua
People’s Choice Award, Best Short Film: City on the Hill, Patricia Mohammed and Michael Mooleedhar, T&T

Amnesty International Human Rights Prize: My Father’s Land, Miquel Galofré and Tyler Johnston, Bahamas/Haiti/Trinidad and Tobago

Amnesty International Human Rights Prize, Special Mention for Artistic Merit: Casa Blanca, Aleksandra Maciuszek, Cuba/Mexico/Poland

RBC: Focus Filmmakers’ Immersion Pitch Prize: Kojo McPherson, Guyana

Caribbean Film Mart Best Project Award: Kidnapping Inc, Gaethan Chancy, Bruno Mourral, Gilbert Mirambeau, Jr

Best Emerging Trinidad and Tobago Filmmaker (prize sponsored by bpTT): Michael Rochford

BPTT Youth Jury Prize for Best Film: Girlhood, Céline Sciamma, France

BPTT Youth Jury Prize Honourable Mention: Güeros, Alonzo Ruizpalacios, Mexico

BPTT Youth Jury Prize, Special Mention for Cinematography: The Greatest House in the World, Ana V. Bojórquez and Lucía Carreras, Guatemala/Mexico

Image: A still from Sand Dollars

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Behaviour, an incisive portrait of the life of an at-risk boy in Havana, claimed the top prize at the 2014 trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff) in an awards ceremony held in Port of Spain this evening.

Directed by Cuba’s Ernesto Daranas Serrano, Behaviour beat out four other films to nab the Best Narrative Feature prize at the Festival. Behaviour was also a favourite with the Festival’s youth jury, who awarded the film a special mention.

The youth jury gave its top prize to a Brazilian film, the charming LGBT-themed coming-of-age drama The Way He Looks, directed by Daniel Ribeiro.

Best Documentary Feature was awarded to a film from the Dominican Republic, Natalia Cabral and Oriol Estrada’s You and Me, an intimate look at the complex relationship between an elderly woman and her domestic servant.

A documentary was also the winner of the Best Trinidad and Tobago Feature Film—Miquel Galofré’s Art Connect, an uplifting crowd-pleaser featuring young people from the urban community of Laventille in east Port of Spain, whose lives are transformed when they undertake an art project.

The inaugural Amnesty International Human Rights Prize went to The Abominable Crime, Micah Fink’s touching, troubling reflection of the struggle gays and lesbians in Jamaica face to achieve their rights.

Here is a full list of the awards:

Best Narrative Feature: Behaviour, Ernesto Daranas Serrano, Cuba

Best Narrative Feature, Special Mention: Sensei Redemption, German Gruber, Curaçao

Best Documentary Feature: You and Me, Natalia Cabral and Oriol Estrada, Dominican Republic

Best Documentary Feature, Special Mention: Hotel Nueva Isla, Irene Gutiérrez and Javier Labrador, Cuba

Best Short Film, Narrative: Bullock, Carlos Machado Quintela, Cuba

Best Short Film, Documentary: ABCs, Diana Montero, Cuba

Best Trinidad and Tobago Feature: Art Connect, Miquel Galofré

Best Trinidad and Tobago Short Film, Narrative: Dubois, Kaz Ové

Best Trinidad and Tobago Short Film, Narrative, Special Mention: Noka: Keeper of Worlds, Shaun Escayg

Best Trinidad and Tobago Short Film, Documentary: Field Notes, Vashti Harrison

Best New Media Film: They Say You Can Dream a Thing More Than Once: Versia Harris, Barbados

Amnesty International Human Rights Prize: The Abominable Crime, Micah Fink, Jamaica/USA

BPTT Youth Jury Prize for Best Film: The Way He Looks, Daniel Ribeiro, Brazil

BPTT Youth Jury Prize for Best Film, Special Mention: Behaviour, Ernesto Daranas Serrano, Cuba

People’s Choice Award, Best Narrative Feature: A Story About Wendy 2, Sean Hodgkinson, T&T

People’s Choice Award, Best Documentary Feature: Art Connect, Miquel Galofré, T&T

People’s Choice Award, Best Short Film: Flying the Coup, Ryan Lee, T&T

RBC: Focus Filmmakers’ Immersion Pitch Prize: Raisa Bonnet, Puerto Rico

RBC: Focus Filmmakers’ Immersion Pitch Prize, Special Mention: Davina Lee, St Lucia

Best Student at the Film Programme of the University of the West Indies: Romarlo Anderson Edghill

Best Trinidad and Tobago Film in Development: Rajah: The Story of Boysie Singh, Christian James

Image: A still from Behaviour

The gala awards ceremony of the ttff/12 took place earlier this evening at the National Academy for the Performing Arts, Port of Spain. Here is a full list of the winners.

Jury Awards: Best Films

Best Narrative Feature sponsored by NGC
Distance, directed by Sergio Ramirez

Best Documentary Feature sponsored by NGC
The Story of Lover’s Rock, directed by Menelik Shabazz

Best Short sponsored by NGC
Peace: Memories of Anton de Kom, directed by Ida Does

Best Caribbean Film by an International Filmmaker sponsored by NLCB
The Bastard Sings the Sweetest Song, directed by Christy Garland

Special mentions in the best film category:

Best Narrative Feature
Choco, directed by Jhonny Hendrix Hinestroza

Best Documentary Feature
Broken Stones, directed by Guetty Felin

Best Short
Awa Brak, directed by Juan Francisco Pardo

Jury Awards: Best Local Films

Best Local Feature sponsored by TTFC
Inward Hunger, directed by Mariel Brown

Best Local Short sponsored by TTFC
Where the Sun Sets, directed by Ryan Latchmansingh

Special mentions in the best local short film category:

Tickle Me Rich, directed by Sonja Dumas

Jury Awards: Acting

Best Actor in a Caribbean Film
Jimmy Jean-Louis, Toussaint L’Ouverture, directed by Philippe Niang

Best Actor in a Local Film
Christopher Chin Choy, Where the Sun Sets, directed by Ryan Latchmansingh

Best Actress in a Local Film
Terri Lyons, No Soca, No Life, directed by Kevin Adams

People’s Choice Awards

People’s Choice Award: Narrative Feature sponsored by Flow
Toussaint L’Ouverture, directed by Philippe Niang

People’s Choice Award: Documentary Feature sponsored by NH International
La Gaita, directed by Janine Fung

People’s Choice Award: Best Short sponsored by Agostini Brokers
Buck: The Man Spirit, directed by Steven Taylor

Other Awards

bpTT Film in Development Award
Cutlass, Deresha Beresford & Teneille Newallo

WorldView/Tribeca Film Institute Pitch Awards
Ryan Khan
Joaquin Ruano
Natalie Wei

RBC Focus: Filmmakers’ Immersion Pitch Award
Michelle Serieux

ACP Film that Best Epitomises Cultural Diversity
Stone Street, directed by Elspeth Kydd

CCN Film Criticism Award
Barbara Jenkins, “Three’s a Crowd”, review of Una Noche, directed by Lucy Mulloy

Film Criticism Special Mentions
Dainia Wright, Renelle White

bpTT Best Student, University of the West Indies Film Programme
Dinesh Maharaj

AfroPop/National Black Programming Consortium Emerging Documentary Filmmaker Award
Mandisa Pantin

Flow 50-Second Film Competition
M Jay Gonzalez

Image: A shot from Distance

The awards ceremony of the trinidad+tobago film festival 2011 was held last evening at the Little Carib Theatre in Woodbrook. Here is a list of all the winners.

Jury awards
Best narrative feature: Jean Gentil, Israel Cárdenas & Laura Guzmán
Best documentary feature: Hit Me with Music, Miquel Galofré
Best short film: 10 Ave Maria, Juan Francisco Pardo & Ryan Oduber

Special mention, best narrative feature: Boleto al paraíso, Gerardo Chijona
Special mention, best documentary feature: When the Drum is Beating, Whitney Dow
Special mention, best short film: Classical Steel, John Barry

Best local feature: ’70: Remembering a Revolution: Alex de Verteuil & Elizabeth Topp
Best local short: Sweet Fries, Renée Pollonais
Best actor in a local film: Gerry Bednob, The Rise and Fall of John Tesoro
Best actress in a local film: Dionese Sylvester, Sweet Fries

People’s choice awards
Best narrative feature: Better Mus’ Come, Storm Saulter
Best documentary feature: Hit Me with Music, Miquel Galofré
Best short: Chinee Girl, Natalie Wei

Social awareness award
Positive & Pregnant, Stacy Lela

Focus: Filmmakers’ Immersion pitch session winner
Maria Govan

Graduate Film Development Award
Francesca Hawkins

Lifetime Achievement Award
Harry Belafonte

Image: A still from Jean Gentil

Jury awards

Best film made in the Caribbean spirit: Children of God, Kareem Mortimer, the Bahamas

Best film made in the Caribbean spirit, special mention: Alamar, Pedro Gonzalez-Rubio, Mexico

Best Trinidad & Tobago film: Julia & Joyce, Sonja Dumas

Best short film: The Legend of Buchi Fil, German Gruber, Curaçao

Acting awards

Best local actor: Errol Roberts, Quiet Desperation

Best local actress: Helen Jones, Quiet Desperation

Best local actor, special mention: Arnold Goindhan, Dark Tales From Paradise

Best local actress, special mention: Ria Ali, Dark Tales From Paradise

People’s Choice Awards

Best feature film: Children of God, Kareem Mortimer, the Bahamas

Best documentary film: Waste Land, Lucy Walker, Brazil/UK

Best short film: The Blood and the Bois, Sigmond Cromwell, T&T;

First off, apologies. There I was, all set to liveblog the closing ceremony of the trinidad+tobago film festival/09. Then I get to the venue, and what do I find? No WiFi access. (Is there a worse way to break a blogger’s heart?) Anyway, there will be a fuller post later, with photos, but for now, here are your winners….

Best film

Carmen and Geoffrey, directed by Nick Doob and Linda Atkinson

Best Trinidad & Tobago film

The Solitary Alchemist, directed by Mariel Brown

People’s choice award, best feature film

The Ghost of Hing King Estate, directed by Horace Ové

People’s choice award, best documentary

Mas Man, directed by Dalton Narine

People’s choice award, best short

Coolie Pink and Green, directed by Patricia Mohammed

Congratulations to all winners. More to come soon.