The trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff) is thrilled to announce the selected jury members for the 2021 edition of the “Best Film as decided by a Youth Jury” award. The six selected jury members will have the opportunity to view the six selected films in competition and then work together to choose this year’s winner.
Applications were open to young people interested in developing a critical appreciation for independent film. Prospective jury members were asked to write an essay of no more than 450 words, saying what their favourite movie is and why. Of the many applications received the most endearing and expressive essays were narrowed down and six youths were successfully chosen as the jurors, including one alternate.
In alphabetical order, here are the selected jury members:
Angelina Ramdhan, 20, University of the West Indies Chelsea Bishop, 16, Necessary Arts Drama School Efua Hayfron-Benjamin, 16, Necessary Arts Drama School Joel Philip, 20, University of the West Indies Saidah Joseph, 17, Holy Faith Convent, Penal Victoria Koylass, 18, St. Joseph’s Convent, Port-of-Spain
These selected jury members will meet online during the ttff/21, under the guidance of experienced film critic B.C. Pires, evaluating and discussing a selection of films dealing with themes and issues affecting young people. While Pires will be guiding them, he will have no influence at all regarding their choice of the winning film.
After viewing all the films in competition, the ttff/21 Youth Jury will choose the winning film and the director of this film will receive the “Best Film as decided by a Youth Jury” award for 2021!
Under the mentorship of film critic and ttff/21 festival programmer, BC Pires, the Youth Jury allows young people to take part in reasoned, if passionate, debate about film. Many jury members have gone on to study film at university and several now work in the industry. The Youth Jury has proved to be a gateway and developmental path for young future film industry professionals. The Youth Jury views and considers for award recognition, films which focus on young protagonists dealing with coming-of-age issues, challenges and triumphs.
In Competition: Trinidad+Tobago Films and Youth Jury
Every year, ttff highlights homegrown talent and excellence by awarding prizes for Best Trinidad+Tobago Film. In competition for this year’s prize are the following films:
Get Free!, dir. Akkel Charles
I Don’t Call it Ghetto, dir. Miquel Galofré
Mightier dan de Sun, dir. Trevon C. Jugmohan
Waiting In Strange Times, dir. Kristof West
The Youth Jury views and considers for award recognition, films which focus on young protagonists dealing with coming-of-age issues, challenges and triumphs. These are the films in competition for the Best Film as Selected by the Youth Jury:
Avatara, dir. Nadav Harel
Choosing Destiny, dirs. Angelo Berkeley and Shemaiah Trotman
IslaSerena (Serene Island), dir. Leonel González
K.I.N.G, dir. Rashad Frett
Mortenol, dir. Julien Silloray
Yellow Girl and Me, dir. Isabella Issa
synopses
Best Trinidad+Tobago Film
Get Free!
Directed by Akkel Charles/ 2019/Trinidad and Tobago/ Narrative Medium/ 37 minutes
Twenty-one-year-old Iris’ life is endangered as her ex-boyfriend returns to seek unwanted closure. A series of events unfold as we see what was, and what still is, between them. A raw, realist exploration of violence against women.
I Don’t Call it Ghetto
Directed by Miquel Galofré/ 2019/ Trinidad and Tobago/ Documentary Medium/ 42 minutes
Single, divorced, mother-of-three, police officer Onika James-Turner has had a life filled with challenges, obstacles and heartache. In “I Don’t Call it Ghetto”, we see how her difficult past has only made her stronger, impelling her to reach for a different life, one in which she could help her community. We witness the great pride she takes in the work that she does, and how she is driven by the desire to be “part of the solution and not part of the problem”. Her three children are the centre of her life and a new husband gives her strength. But she still faces the challenge of raising a teenage son in an area known for crime and must work hard to build trust in her role as a police officer.
Mightier dan de Sun
Directed by Trevon C. Jugmohan/ 2020/ Trinidad and Tobago/ Narrative Medium/37 minutes
Ten years in the making and filmed in Trinidad and Tobago with a team of home-grown professionals, “Mightier dan de Sun” is the story of an Indian couple with nothing to lose. In combination with mental illness and supernatural forces, alcohol becomes a catalyst for unfortunate events.
Waiting In Strange Times
Directed by Kristof West/ 2020/ Trinidad and Tobago/ Narrative Short/4 minutes
Set in Trinidad during the lockdown imposed by the government to prevent the spread of Covid-19, “Waiting In Strange Times” explores space and time during a period of boredom, uncertainty, confusion and fear.
Best Film as Decided by the Youth Jury
Avatara
Directed by Nadav Harel/ 2020/ Israel/ Documentary Short/ 25 minutes
Set in the cultural frontier zone of the Hindu Himalaya, “Avatara” (from the Sanskrit, “descent”) explores the lived religion of goddess worship (Shaktism) in a remote pastoral valley. For her farmer and herder followers, the goddess’s presence is all too real; quick to anger and ever-thirsty for sacrifices, she haunts them in their dreams and rituals, demanding complete submission as both child-like friend and motherly-punisher. In this enchanted world of magical creativity, the encounters with the goddess are transient, intuitive events that hold the key to creation and, for those lucky enough to see her, a short-lived salvation.
Choosing Destiny
Directed by Angelo Berkeley and Shemaiah Trotman/ 2019/ Trinidad and Tobago/ Narrative Medium/ 35 minutes
Two high school students are faced with life-changing choices as they try to navigate their love and the difficult circumstances that surround them. Tackling the contemporary issues of teenage pregnancy, abortion, suicide and illegal drugs, “Choosing Destiny” follows young people at a crossroads in their lives.
Isla Sirena (Serene Island)
Directed by Leonel González/ 2019/ Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela/ Narrative Short/ 15 minutes
Vivi, a young inhabitant of a fishing village, takes a trip by road and sea with her friend Vale to get to an island where, according to the stories of her dead mother, the mermaids live.
K.I.N.G.
Directed by Rashad Frett/ 2019/ United States of America/ Narrative Short/ 12 minutes
In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria, a troubled boy is sent to Connecticut from the Virgin Islands to temporarily stay with his paternal aunt. In hopes of seeing his deadbeat father after broken promises, he ventures out into an unfamiliar city to find him.
Mortenol
Directed by Julien Silloray/ 2019/ Guadeloupe/ Narrative Short/ 28 minutes
Eleven-year-old Dwayne wants to avenge his older brother who was killed by an enemy gang.
Yellow Girl and Me
Directed by Isabella Issa/ 2019/ United States/ Narrative Short/ 9 minutes
Set in the Jamaican countryside, a young child named Nicole waits for her sister, Yellow Girl, to teach her how to swim. Like the water, Nicole does not resist; she flows, and nothing can stand in her way. Circumstances escalate when Yellow Girl breaks her promise and Nicole realizes that she is next in line for a lifestyle of sexual abuse. Nicole is forced to decide how far she will go in order to protect herself and her sister.
Images: production stills from ‘Mightier dan de Sun’, directed by Trevon C. Jugmohan and ‘K.I.N.G’, directed by Rashad Frett
Call for Youth Jury Participants!
The trinidad+tobago film festival is giving five young people an opportunity of a lifetime! If you’re between the ages of 16 and 21 (inclusive), here’s your chance to apply to be a member of the ttff/20 Youth Jury and help select the winning film for the 2020 Youth Jury Award, which will be presented during the Festival in September.
Applications are open to young people who are interested in, and wish to develop, a critical appreciation of independent film. Applicants must be TT citizens, residents, or based in Trinidad and Tobago for at least one year prior to application. Prospective jury members must apply by writing an essay of no more than 250 words, saying what their favourite movie is and why. Applicants must also provide their name, date of birth, gender, citizenship, residence and school or occupation.
Applications should be sent to: hello@ttfilmfestival.com (subject line: Youth Jury Application). Successful applicants under the age of 18 years will be required to have written consent from a parent or guardian in order to participate in this programme.
The deadline for application submission is 4pm on 15 August.
The five selected jury members will meet online during the ttff/20, under the guidance of experienced film critic B.C. Pires, to view a selection of films dealing with themes and issues affecting young people.
After viewing all the films in competition, the ttff/20 Youth Jury will choose the winning film and the director of this film will receive an award.
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The Youth Jury is In For ttff/18
In Photo ttff/15 Youth Jury
By Shiv Shaw, ttff/16 Top Future Critic.
The trinidad and tobago film festival (ttff) announces the selection of the BPTT Youth Jury for ttff//18. The ttff is once again teaming up with leading sponsor BP Trinidad and Tobago(BPTT) to give five young people the opportunity to develop a critical appreciation of independent film. Jurors are also encouraged to lend their voices and opinions to the festival, to work together, network and be part of the growing local film industry.
Applications were received during May to July from young people between the ages 16 to 21, who were requested to submit a 250 word essay about their favourite film and why they chose it. Of the many applications received the most endearing and expressive essays were narrowed down and these five youths were successfully chosen as the jurors:
Kirstin De Lorme, 19, student of the University of the West Indies.
Kela Sunshine Roberts, 19, student of St. Joseph Convent (San Fernando)
Deja Sandy, 19, student of Naparima Girls High School.
Sudai Tafari, 18, student of Mount Hope Secondary.
Kioni Wallace, 16, student of Bishops High School (Tobago).
The young jurors will have the enlightening opportunity to work directly with renowned journalist and film critic BC Pires, who has diligently mentored the Youth Jury panels since the programme began in 2014. Under the experience and guidance of Pires, the Youth Jury will decide a winning film and its director will be presented with a trophy at the ttff/18 awards ceremony on Tuesday 25 September.
The jurors will view and critically analyse six (6) feature-length fiction films dealing with themes and issues affecting young people. This year’s films up for competition are:
Brown Girl Begins: directed by Sharon Lewis /2018/Canada
El Chata: directed by Gustavo Ramon Perales/2017/Puerto Rico
Las Hijas de Abril: directed by Michel Franco/2017/Mexico
Le Rêve Francaise: directed by Christian Faure Copie/2017/France
Looking for Zorro: directed by Wigner Duarte/2017/USA
Sprinter: directed by Storm Saulter/2018/Jamaica
The experience of being part of the Youth Jury has proven to be a life changing opportunity for past jurors, for some it has even progressed from just a love of cinema, to actively working on their own film projects or within the ttff as volunteers and/or interns.
In Photo: ttff/16 Youth Jury
Christopher Lou-Hing (pictured 2nd from left) who was on the ttff/16 Youth Jury and is now a film student at University of the West Indies (UWI) expresses how working with BC Pires and the ttff helped him to advance not only his studies but also a blossoming career in the film industry. Lou-Hing says “Being on the youth jury was my first taste of film criticism. The guidance from BC (Pires) would later prove to be really helpful in my studies by sharpening my critical eye. After participating in the youth jury I felt surer of my abilities as a critic and it helped me to appreciate film as an art form. Sitting on the jury helped me realise that I wanted to pursue a career in the film industry and opened the door for my internship with ttff”.
Nick Rampersad who served on the ttff/17 Youth Jury formed such deep friendships with some of his fellow jurors that they are now working on their own film project. Rampersad says “My experience serving on the trinidad + tobago film festival Youth Jury 2017 was a life defining experience and one that further cemented my love for filmmaking.The friendships forged on the youth jury and by extension the ttff are lasting. It’s through this special bond, two of my fellow youth jurors and I are now in the pre-production stage of our own film”. Nick is also working as an intern at this year’s festival and plans to pursue a degree in filmmaking.
In Photo: ttff/17 Youth Jury in session
It is maybe the words of mentor BC Pires, whose dedication over the last four years, best sums up how the experience of being part of the Youth Jury has guided the jurors to build friendships, strengthen cooperation and create better futures. Speaking on last year’s Youth Jury, Pires says “There are not enough superlatives to describe what a pleasure it is to be working with these young people…they rose to their task amazingly well. If our Parliament could see how they spoke to one another. They were passionate and went to their task of listening to one another with, I think, a real honesty, humility and respect for the other person’s point of view.I think they might all consider a career in dispute resolution.”
Once again, BP Trinidad and Tobago (bpTT) is teaming up with the trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff) to give five (5) young people an opportunity of a lifetime, through the bpTT Youth Jury at ttff/18.
Application is open to young people between the ages of 16 to 21 years (inclusive) who are interested in, and wish to develop, a critical appreciation of independent film. Applicants must be TT citizens, residents, or based in Trinidad and Tobago for at least one year prior to application.
Prospective jury members must apply by writing an essay of no more than 250 words, saying what their favourite movie is and why. Applicants must also provide their name, date of birth, gender, citizenship, residence and school or occupation.
Applications should be sent to: submit@ttfilmfestival.com (subject line: Youth Jury Application) Successful applicants under the age of 18 years will be required to have written consent from a parent or guardian in order to participate in this programme.
The deadline for submission is 12pm on Friday 13 July. Successful jury members will be notified by Friday 24 August.
The five selected jury members will meet during the ttff/18, under the guidance of experienced film critic B.C. Pires, to view a selection of feature-length fiction films dealing with themes and issues affecting young people.
After viewing all the films in competition, the bpTT Youth Jury will choose the winning film. The director of this film will receive a trophy to be presented at the ttff/18 awards ceremony on Tuesday 25 September.
Now in its fourth year, the Youth Jury panel at the trinidad + tobago film festival (ttff) offers five young people the chance of lifetime to see great films from all over the world, as well as learn the ‘how-to’s’ of critiquing them and gain exclusive access to some of the Festival’s major film events.
According to three members of the 2016 Youth Jury – Marc Angus Skinner, Christopher Lou-Hing and Asa Reyes – the experience was both amazing and transformational.
Nineteen-year-old Skinner described it as “spectacular”. “This [was] my first time sitting on a jury and I enjoyed interacting with people my own age. It was really wonderful to see different personalities interact, watch the same movie and come up with different conclusions…”
Lou-Hing, now a film student at University of the West Indies (UWI) stated, “I really didn’t know what to expect coming into the jury but it was so much more.” The 20-year-old said, “being on the jury really helped me with developing that critical eye when watching a film, which I think was a really good stepping stone into university for me”.
“I learned not just tolerance, but appreciation for things that I cannot easily identify with”, said 22-year-old Asa Reyes. “There was a need for teamwork as I discovered each juror had their own perceptions of the different films.” After serving on the youth Jury in 2016, Reyes returned to school to finish her Bachelor’s Degree in Education.
You be the judge: apply now for ttff/17 Youth Jury
The trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff) has issued a call for all young people who love film, to apply to be a member of its youth jury and help select the winning film for the 2017 Youth Jury Award, which will be presented during the Festival in September.
Applications are open to young people between the ages of 16 to 21 years (inclusive) who are interested in and wish to develop, a critical appreciation of independent film. Applicants must be TT citizens, residents, or based in Trinidad and Tobago for at least one year prior to application.
Prospective Youth Jury members must apply by writing an essay of no more than 250 words, saying what their favourite movie is and why. Applicants must also provide their name, date of birth, gender, citizenship, residence and school or occupation.
Festival round-up: the bpTT Youth Jury and Prize
Five young people got the chance of lifetime when they sat on the bpTT youth jury at the 2015 trinidad + tobago film festival (ttff/15), which ran from September 15–29.
The initiative was conceived in 2014, as a way of stimulating interest in and a critical appreciation for independent film among Trinidad and Tobago’s youth.
Saskia Johnson, Claude Lilford, Auset McClean, Sarah Mongroo and Teneka Mohammed were the five jurors selected for this year’s jury. They were chosen by an open call. To be considered for the jury, applicants had to be from 16 to 21 years of age. Each had to submit an essay saying what their favourite film is, and why.
Under the guidance of film critic and journalist BC Pires, the jury watched eight feature-length fiction films featuring young protagonists.
The films in competition were:
Girlhood: Céline Sciamma, 2014 / France The Greatest House in the World: Ana V. Bojórquez, Lucía Carreras, 2015 / Guatemala, Mexico Güeros: Alonso Ruizpalacios, 2014 / Mexico Honeytrap: Rebecca Johnson, 2014 / United Kingdom Margarita, with a Straw: Shonali Bose, 2014 / India On the Road, Somewhere: Guillermo Zouain, 2015 / Dominican Republic Stories of Our Lives: Jim Chuchu, 2015 / Kenya, South Africa Theeb: Naji Abu Nowar, 2014 / Jordan, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom
Girlhood—the story of Mariemme, a black girl living in the suburbs of Paris who leaves her abusive home life and joins a gang—was the jury’s choice for best film. As the director of the winning film, Céline Sciamma will receive a cash award of $5000 from bpTT.
After the ttff/15 awards ceremony on September 27, the members of the jury opened up about their experience.
“I’ve been a film enthusiast for about three years,” 19-year-old Claude Lilford said. “It’s been a unique chance, not something I would get the chance to do anywhere else—maybe a few other places in the world—but this is a unique experience and something I really wanted to be a part of.”
Lilford’s colleague, 20-year-old Teneka Mohammed, who is a Film Studies major at the University of the West Indies, commented on the scope of the experience.
“I watch film[s] in school but [this] was a bigger experience and I loved it! I want to be a film critic so of course I’m so happy this is going on my résumé.”
BC Pires—who has been writing about films since 1988 and who also sat on the first jury at the ttff—commended the jury members on their diplomacy.
“There are not enough superlatives to describe what a pleasure it is to be working with these young people,” he said. “They rose to their task amazingly well. If our Parliament could see how they spoke to one another. They were passionate and went to their task of listening to one another with, I think, a real honesty, humility and respect for the other person’s point of view. I think they might all consider a career in dispute resolution.”
Pires also gave a little insight into how he sought to guide the jury.
“We had meetings before the adjudication, and I did suggest to them an approach I thought they should take: to try to award the best film, not the film they liked most, although in the adjudication process, I did suggest to them that now is the time to bring back in passion.”
“They have no idea how much I really wanted to be a part of [the youth jury],” 18-year-old Sarah Mungroo said. “ I think I am in that limbo period between being an adult and a child and the youth jury really helped me figure out what I want to do with my life. After we finished deliberating I was thinking that I could do this for the rest of my life. I was so happy. Thank you bpTT and ttff for the opportunity!”
Image: the members of the ttff/15 bpTT youth jury, from left, Claude Lilford, Teneka Mohammed, Sarah Mongroo, Saskia Johnson and Auset McClean
bpTT Youth Jury and Prize returns to film festival
Once again, bpTT is teaming up with the trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff) to give five young people an opportunity of a lifetime, through the bpTT Youth Jury and Prize at the ttff/15 (September 15–29).
The initiative was conceived as a way of stimulating interest in and a critical appreciation of independent film among the country’s youth. The prize will be awarded to the best film screening at the ttff/15 as decided by a jury of five youngsters.
Jurors were selected by an open call. To be considered for the jury, applicants had to be from 16 to 21 years of age. Each had submit an essay saying what their favourite film is, and why.
The five members of the ttff/15 bpTT Youth Jury are:
Saskia Johnson, 16, Maple Leaf International School. Favourite film: The Fall
Claude Lilford, 19, home-schooled. Favourite film: The Pirates of Penzance
Auset McClean, 16, Fatima College. Favourite film: Atonement
Sarah Mongroo, 18, St Stephen’s College. Favourite film: It’s Kind of a Funny Story
Teneka Mohammed, 21, University of the West Indies. Favourite film: In the Mood for Love
Under the guidance of film critic and journalist BC Pires, the jury will watch eight Caribbean and international feature-length fiction films featuring young protagonists. After the jurors have viewed all the films in competition, they will choose the winning film, the director of which will receive a trophy plus a cash award of $5,000.
In Photo ttff/15 Youth Jury
In Photo: ttff/16 Youth Jury
In Photo: ttff/17 Youth Jury in session