1. Art and Diseño

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trinidad+tobago film festival 2014
FINAL REPORT
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INTRODUCTION
Founded in 2006, the trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff) is an annual celebration of
films from and about Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean and its diaspora. The Festival
also screens films curated from contemporary world cinema. In addition, the ttff seeks
to facilitate the growth of the Caribbean film industry by hosting workshops, panel
discussions, seminars, conferences and networking opportunities.
in 2014 the trinidad+tobago film festival was...
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PROGRAMMING
This year, the Festival presented films in two distinct sections, as it has done since 2012. The
first was the Caribbean section, which included films from T+T, the Caribbean, the Diaspora
as well as films by international filmmakers made in and about the Caribbean. Selected
Caribbean films comprised the official competition.
Twenty feature-length films—the same number as in 2013—screened in the Caribbean
section at the ttff/14. The 20 films came from eight Caribbean countries, and all but one
made their T+T premiere at the Festival. Thirteen of the films were in official competition, for
one or more of three awards: Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary Feature and Best
T+T Feature.
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feature films from the
Caribbean and its
Diaspora
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Caribbean countries
in feature film category
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The full line-up of Caribbean features are (films marked with an asterisk (*) were in competition):
Narrative selections
• 200 Cartas Bruno Irizarry, Puerto Rico, 2013, T+T premiere
• Behaviour Ernesto Daranas Serrano, Cuba, 2014, T+T premiere*
• Cows Wearing Glasses Alex Santiago Pérez, Puerto Rico, 2014, T+T premiere*
• Giraffes Kiki Álvarez, Cuba, 2013, T+T premiere*
• Haiti Bride Robert Yao Ramesar, T+T / Haiti, 2014, world premiere*
• Keeping Up with the Joneses Rommel Hall, Barbados, 2014, T+T premiere
• Sensei Redemption German Gruber, Curaçao, 2014, international premiere*
• A Story About Wendy 2 Sean Hodgkinson, T+T, 2014, Caribbean premiere
• Two Smart Shakirah Bourne and Ricky Redman, Barbados, 2014, international premiere
• Wake José María Cabral, Dominican Republic, 2013, T+T premiere
Sensei Redemption (Curaçao)
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Documentary selections
• The Abominable Crime Micah Fink, 2013, Jamaica / USA*
• Art Connect Miquel Galofré, 2014, T+T, world premiere*
• Blanco Melvin Durán, Dominican Republic, 2014, T+T premiere*
• Hotel Nueva Isla Irene Gutiérrez Torres and Javier Labrador Deulofeu, Cuba, 2014,
Caribbean premiere*
• Legends of Ska: Cool & Copasetic Brad Klein, Jamaica / USA, 2014, T+T premiere
• Mala Mala Dan Sickles and Antonio Santini, Puerto Rico, 2014, Caribbean premiere*
• The Mountain Tabaré Blanchard and Iván Herrera, Dominican Republic, 2013, T+T
premiere*
• The Price of Memory Karen Marks Mafundikwa, Jamaica, 2014, T+T premiere*
• They Are We Emma Christopher, Cuba / Sierra Leone / Australia, 2014, Caribbean premiere
• You and Me Natalia Cabral and Oriol Estrada, Dominican Republic, 2013, Caribbean
premiere*
Mala Mala (Puerto Rico)
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The second section, Panorama, consisted of films
from heritage countries of Trinidad + Tobago, including
India, countries in Africa and Europe, and, for the
first time, China. Films from Latin America and the
USA were also included in the Panorama section.
The majority of these are new or recent films that had
their World premiere at some of the most prestigious
film festivals in the world, including Cannes, Toronto,
Sundance, Tribeca and Berlin. Thirty feature films
from beyond the Caribbean were screened in the
Panorama section, four more than in 2013.
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Belle (UK)
feature films from
around the world
The Lunchbox (India)
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Opening Night Film
The docudrama Pan! Our Music Odyssey, written by T+T’s Kim Johnson and directed by
Jérôme Guiot of Belgium, was selected as the opening film of the Festival. The film reimagines
the birth of the national instrument, and also looks at the contemporary Panorama competition.
The screening, which took place at the historic Globe Cinema, was the film’s world premiere.
The opening night gala drew an unprecedented attendance of more than 1,000 guests,
who were impressed not only by the theme, quality and emotional resonance of the film, but
also by the choice of venue: Globe Cinema has been purchased and is being renovated, and
it was widely recognised that the ttff was a part of the revival of the historic space.
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Pan! producer, Barthélémy Fougea, being interviewed
outside the Globe Cinema
The audience at the Globe Cinema
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Closing Night Film
Cristo Rey, written and directed by Leticia Tonos of the Dominican Republic, closed the
Festival. Inspired by Romeo and Juliet, the film tells the story of the illicit affair between
a Haitian-Dominican man and a Dominican woman, and had its world premiere at the
prestigious Toronto International Film Festival in 2013. Leticia Tonos was present at the
Festival to introduce her film and participated in a Q&A session afterwards. The screening,
which took place at MovieTowne, was sold out (nearly 200 people).
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Short and medium-length films
As ever, there was a section of short and mediumlength films at the Festival. This section was
comprised exclusively of films from the Caribbean
and its Diaspora. The 68 films—12 more than in
2013—represented 16 countries in the Caribbean
and the Diaspora. Twenty-four came from from T+T.
In addition, 22 of the films were in competition,
for Best Short Film (Narrative), Best Short Film
(Documentary), Best Local Short Film (Narrative) or
Best Local Short Film (Documentary).
Shan (T+T)
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University of the West Indies (UWI)
Once again, the University of the West Indies
(UWI) Film Programme partnered with the ttff to
host a series of film screenings, workshops and
other events. This year the events took place at
the Film Programme’s new building at 12 Carmody
Road, St Augustine, over seven days and nights,
spread out over the Festival. Events included a
documentary masterclass with director Stevan
Riley (Fire in Babylon), a talk on the cinema of
Haitian filmmaker Raoul Peck and film screenings,
a special screening of UWI student films and the
ttff’s New Media programme.
The Film Programme remains invaluable to the
Festival as a programming partner, providing
content from students, staff and alumni. This year
there were five short student films, plus the world
premiere of Haiti Bride, a feature-length narrative
film by lecturer Robert Yao Ramesar.
Haiti Bride (T+T, Haiti)
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New Media
Film and art are natural partners and the ttff annually screens a selection of video art and experimental films. These works are shown as part of the New Media exhibition, held in collaboration
with ARC Magazine, and supported by Medulla Art Gallery and North Eleven. The 2014 edition
of New Media saw an increase in attendance of 75% from 2013, and an expansion of these
experimental works to two new venues, which led to wider audience involvement. The 30 works
in the programme ranged in length from one minute to 52 minutes, and came from 33 artists
across 18 countries, the majority of which lie within the Caribbean or its Diaspora.
Now in its fourth year, the New Media programme opened on 19 September at Medulla Art
Gallery with the world premiere of the controversial work, Good Stock on the Dimension
Floor: An Opera, by the Yams Collective (USA). The author of the libretto, Dawn Lundy Martin,
was in attendance. (An article on the premiere of this work, written by ttff/14 international
journalist Kaleem Aftab of the UK, appeared in the British newspaper The Independent.)
At the New Media launch
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Other special New Media events included Interactive
Yard—a night of interactive works by St Martin artist
and ttff/14 guest David Gumbs at Alice Yard—a
first-time venue partner of the Festival; a screening
of a collection of experimental shorts out of the
USA called Black Radical Imagination with guests,
curators Erin Christovale and Amir George; and
the world premiere of the three-channel installation,
Otherness, by Olivia McGilchrist (Jamaica/Canada)
as part of the New Media showcase evening at the
University of the West Indies.
In addition to these special events, there was a daily,
exhibition-style looped screening of the majority
of works in the programme, which included three
works from the highly-regarded Cuban-American
artist, Ana Mendieta. This exhibition took place daily
from 20–30 September at Medulla, who was again
our main New Media partner.
Also, for the second time this year, there was a New
Media prize of TT$5,000, which was awarded by a
first-time New Media jury. The recipient of that award
was Versia Harris (Barbados) for her film They Say
You Can Dream a Thing More Than Once.
The interactive work of David Gumbs at Alice Yard
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SPECIAL PROGRAMMES / INITIATIVES
The ttff continues to contribute actively to the development of the local and regional film
industry with programmes and initiatives that create discussion and engender collaboration,
deepen knowledge and recognise how far we have come.
BPTT Youth Jury + Prize
For the first time, the ttff introduced the bpTT-sponsored Youth Jury and Prize. The objective of
the initiative was to stimulate and develop interest in film appreciation among young audiences.
The five jurors, aged 16-21, were selected via a competitive process of submitting reviews of
their favourite films (in total, we received 15 submissions from all over the country). They were:
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Gabriel Lutchman, 16, Arima Secondary School
Gregg Rampersadsingh, 20, UWI St Augustine
Kyle Sahadeo, 20, UWI St Augustine (jury chair)
Harmony Farrell, 17, Holy Faith Convent, Penal
Michaela Spencer, 19, UWI St Augustine
BPTT Youth Jury with
BC Pires (third from right)
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The jury was mentored by experienced journalist and film critic BC Pires. Pires spoke highly of
the jury members and their dedication to their task. Some of the members, having had the jury
experience, are now considering film as a career option. The jury members attended screenings
of the films together where possible, and Pires led their discussions and helped them through
the process.
The films in competition were:
Brooklyn, Pascal Tessaud, France; The Forgotten Kingdom, Andrew Mudge, Lesotho / South
Africa / USA; Five Star, Keith Miller, USA; Siddarth, Richie Mehta, India; Pelo Malo, Mariana
Rondón, Venezuela; The Way He Looks, Daniel Ribeiro, Brazil; Behaviour, Ernesto Daranas
Serrano, Cuba
The jury selected The Way He Looks as best film. Behaviour received a special mention.
The Way He Looks (Brazil)
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BPTT Best Student, UWI Film Programme
This award is given to an outstanding student at the UWI Film Programme in their second year.
The prize is a trip to the Curaçao International Film Festival Rotterdam in March 2015. The winner
was Romarlo Anderson Edghill of Antigua, a third-year student who was best overall student in
the Film Programme for two years running, with the top GPA in his class throughout.
BPTT Film in Development Award
This award, now in its third year, is given to a Caribbean filmmaker working on a narrative or documentary feature film in pre-production, and comes with a nomination to attend the prestigious Rotterdam Lab, a producers’ training forum at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in January 2015. The
winner was Christian James of Trinidad and Tobago for his film Rajah: The Story of Boysie Singh.
Christian has a Bachelor’s Degree in Film from the University of the West Indies and a Master of Fine
Arts in Creative Producing from Columbia College, Chicago. He secured an internship at the 2014
Cannes Film Festival with K5 international, a German sales, finance and distribution company, where
he got first-hand experience in the world of the international independent film industry.
Romarlo Anderson Edghill
Christian James
The Way He Looks
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Amnesty International Human Rights Prize
2014 was the inaugural year for this award, sponsored by Amnesty International, an
independent, global organisation that exposes human rights violations and campaigns for justice
around the world. The award is for a Caribbean feature-length film, narrative or documentary,
which best highlights a human-rights issue. This year, three films were in competition: The
Abominable Crime (Micah Fink, Jamaica/USA), about the LGBT community in Jamaica; Cristo
Rey (Leticia Tonos, Dominican Republic), about the treatment of Haitians and the Haitiandescended population in the Dominican Republic; and Mala Mala (Dan Sickles and Antonio
Santini, Puerto Rico), about the transgender community in Puerto Rico. The jury was comprised
of three members: Chiara Sangiorgio (Amnesty International, UK), Christopher Laird (filmmaker,
T+T) and Diana Mahabir Wyatt (Director, Coalition Against Domestic Violence, T+T), and the
winning film was The Abominable Crime. Director Micah Fink won a prize of TT$5,000.
Amnesty International Human Rights Prize jury
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RBC Focus: Filmmakers’ Immersion
2014 saw the fourth edition of the RBC Focus: Filmmakers’ Immersion, an intensive five-day
workshop for ten selected filmmakers with feature-length fiction projects. The facilitator for the
Immersion was award-winning Canadian-Jamaican filmmaker Clement Virgo.
RBC Focus was also supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Investment and
Communication’s Enabling Competitiveness fund (more details below).
The participants were:
Vashti Anderson, T+T / USA
Darisha Beresford, T+T
Raisa Bonnet, Puerto Rico
Cristian Carretero, Puerto Rico
Miquel Galofré, T+T
Carlos Lechuga, Cuba
Davina Lee, St Lucia
Teneille Newallo, T+T
Nile Saulter, Jamaica
Gabriel Valencia, Dominican Republic
Participants in the RBC Focus: Filmmakers’ Immersion programme,
with Gretchen Camacho-Mohammed, Area Vice President,
RBC Royal Bank (centre).
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At the end of the workshop, the ten participants pitched their projects to a three-member jury at
a private session.
The winner of the pitch—and a cash prize of TT$20,000 courtesy RBC Royal Bank—was
Raisa Bonnet of Puerto Rico, for her film entitled Salt Water. St Lucia’s Davina Lee was given a
special mention by the jury.
Focus facilitator, Clement Virgo
Focus winner, Raisa Bonnet
The Way He Looks
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EAVE Producers’ Lab
The ttff initiated a producers’ lab this year in collaboration with the European Audiovisual
Entrepreneurs (EAVE), with nine local and regional producers selected to participate in this
one-week intensive course. EAVE is Europe’s leading training, development and networking
organisation for producers. The network is involved in a variety of programmes worldwide. The
lab helped to develop participants’ skills in scriptwriting and script development; production
and co-production financing; budgeting and financial management; marketing and audience
awareness; sales and distribution; and communication skills and pitching.
The EAVE Producers’ Lab was also supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Investment
and Communication’s Enabling Competitiveness fund (more details below).
An EAVE session
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The participants were:
Storm Saulter, Jamaica
Christopher Din Chong, T+T
Annabelle Mullen-Pacheco, Puerto Rico
Juliette McCawley, T+T
Claudia Calviño, Cuba
Lesley Anne MacFarlane, T+T
Nina Vilus, Guadeloupe
Danielle Dieffenthaller, T+T
As a result of the producers’ participation, they are now members of the EAVE network and
can identify as EAVE-trained producers. Additionally, they have access to the EAVE members’
database and will continue to develop their projects over the next six months in conversation
with the three EAVE trainers in attendance, Diana Elbaum, Tobias Pausinger and Clare Downs.
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Caribbean Film Mart + Regional Film Database
The Caribbean Film Mart + Regional Film Database will be launched in 2015 and are
intended to strengthen the production and distribution of Caribbean films through two main
actions: the implementation of a film market through the framework of the annual ttff, and the
development of an online database of regional films and filmmakers. The project is possible
with the financial contribution of the ACPCultures+ Programme, funded by the European Union
(European Development Fund) and implemented by the ACP Group of States. The regional
partners on the project are the Fundación Global Democracia y Dessarollo from the Dominican
Republic, the Association for the Development of Art Cinema and Practice in Guadeloupe, the
Foundation of New Latin American Cinema (Cuba) and the Festival Régional et International du
Cinéma de Guadeloupe.
During the Festival, there was a presentation to provide an overview of the projects to the
audience, and to advise filmmakers on how to apply for the Caribbean Film Mart.
ttff/14 ACP presentation. From left: ttff external relations director, Nneka Luke;
creative director, Emilie Upczak and art director, Melanie Archer
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Video on Demand
Video on Demand (VoD) is a distribution service
provided by Presenting Sponsor Flow, and is
offered to filmmakers with films in the Festival to
broaden the audience for their work. Once again,
for 2014, the focus is on Caribbean short films,
both documentaries and narrative fiction. Flow
subscribers can now access eight ttff/14 films
on Channel 1000, and 100% of the income from
subscribers is paid directly to the filmmaker.
The Intervention, now available on Flow VoD
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PANELS AND PRESENTATIONS
Distribution for film and television
Sponsored and presented by the Trinidad and Tobago Film Company
Lorène Gaudet, founder and president of Cap Programmes, led the presentation. She reviewed
French-language markets and platforms suitable for T+T film and television content, and
discussed the kinds of programmes suitable for different channels and platforms, the range of
fees available, and the possibility for co-productions, among other topics.
Directing workshop
Sponsored and presented by the Trinidad and Tobago Film Company
In this workshop, Jérôme Guiot—director of the opening night film Pan! Our Music Odyssey—
covered the technical basics of filmmaking, the international production process, the main tasks of
the director, and the importance of a good team to the process of making a good film.
Producing workshop
Sponsored and presented by the Trinidad and Tobago Film Company
This workshop was led by Barthélémy Fougea, producer of Pan! Our Music Odyssey. Some of
the topics he covered include the job of the producer, the different kinds of documentary films,
budgeting and distribution.
The National Registry of Artists and Cultural Workers: Let’s talk taxes
Hosted by the Ministry of the Arts and Multiculturalism, this workshop focused on film production
companies and clarifying how claims can be made for their productions by accessing the Art
and Culture Allowance of the Corporation Tax Act.
Filmmakers’ Panels
Every year, the Festival provides a public platform for local and visiting filmmakers to discuss their
craft, from the creative idea to production to the business of financing, marketing and, ultimately,
distribution of films. The two filmmakers’ panels—held on the first and second Fridays of the
Festival—provided an opportunity for a dozen local, regional and international filmmakers to
come together to discuss the shared experience of making films within an independent industry
context.
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industry training at the ttff/14
The ttff Film Industry Training Programme
The ttff received grant funding from the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Investment and
Communication’s Enabling Competitive Business fund to host a series of activities encompassing
the ttff Film Industry Training Programme. This fund allowed the ttff to expand its industry training
to prepare the Caribbean’s filmmakers for the opportunities to come at ttff/15 with the launch of
the ACP Cultures +/EU funded Caribbean Film Mart.
The ttff Film Industry Training Programme aimed to improve the position and competitiveness of
the T&T film industry by evolving the network and skill sets of T&T writers, directors, actors and
producers. In the medium to long term, the training should support the establishment of viable
revenue streams through the production of local and international films in T&T, and the financing,
sales and distribution of those same creative audio-visual products. More details on the Training
Programme follows.
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Film appreciation
Film appreciation workshop
Also sponsored by Flow
This workshop, led by British film journalist and writer Kaleem Aftab, targeted film enthusiasts—
people who may not be interested in making films, but are fascinated by questions of cinema,
and image-making and meaning in general. The workshop encouraged a culture of appreciating
film by equipping participants to think and talk about themes, motifs, styles, psychological and
historical references, and more.
Documentary masterclass
The documentary masterclass addressed topics such as how to develop a documentary
treatment; the differences between creative, traditional and reportage documentaries and
deciding what form the project should take; and how documentary sales differ from narrative film
distribution, among other topics. It was led by British filmmaker Stevan Riley, director of Fire in
Babylon (ttff/11), about the all-conquering West Indies cricket team of the 1970s and ‘80s.
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Acting workshop
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Acting workshop
This workshop sought to give actors a strong understanding of how writing can be a valuable tool
when looking to reveal a character’s truth with clarity and conviction. Participants had their work
heard, developed and brought to life in a safe, collaborative environment, and they gained a better
grasp on how to communicate in order to work effectively. The workshop was led by American
actor and acting coach Kirk Baltz.
EAVE script session
Clare Downs (script consultant, UK) introduced the main script development tools to strengthen
the participants’ understanding of narrative principles, in order to enable them to assist their
writers in the process from the “white-hot first draft” to the final version of the script. In the
workshop, principles of the script analysis were applied through the study of a selected film.
Presentation: Raoul Peck’s cinema from below
This presentation, by US-based academic Dr Toni Pressley-Sanon, was on the films of Raoul
Peck, a renowned filmmaker of Haitian origin. The focus was on how Peck’s consciousness of
being from the “third world” while coming of age in a largely first-world environment gave him
insight into the nature of power, and the effect that had on his subsequent career.
How the global film industry works
This presentation addressed the evolution of film festivals, the diversification of the market, the
role of sales agents, the variety of distribution models, crowdfunding, new patterns of content
consumption and emerging opportunities in digital distribution. The facilitator was New Yorkbased international film publicist Lucius Barre.
EAVE pitch training
This presentation addressed the tools of script development and pitching, presented by EAVE
(European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs), the continent’s leading training, development and
networking organisation for producers. The facilitator was Tobias Pausinger, a German producer.
Group speed dating
This year for the first time, the ttff implemented group speed dating sessions, where filmmaker
were given the opportunity to sit with industry experts, in small groups to discuss their projects,
ask burning questions and find out more about how to access funding and resources to realise
their film projects.
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Group speed dating
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World Cinema Fund
The World Cinema Fund (WCF)—an initiative of the Berlin International Film Festival, the German
Federal Cultural Foundation and the Goethe Institute—supports films from developing countries
that could not be made without additional funding. This presentation gave an overview of the
WCF as well as address co-productions, and how they have impacted the global filmmaking
landscape. The facilitator was Marjorie Bendeck Regalado, who is on the Project Evaluation
Committee for the WCF.
Tribeca Film Institute presentation
To cultivate exceptional and under-the-radar talent, Tribeca Film Institute (TFI) has established
a strong presence in film festivals and industry markets throughout Latin America. Through over
US$2.2 million in annual grants and professional development programmes, TFI supports a
diverse, exceptional group of filmmakers and media artists, providing them with resources to fully
realise their stories and connect with audiences. John Lee, Manager, Feature Programming at TFI,
was the facilitator.
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Film collectives
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Presenters of the session on web series, Terence Nance and Chanelle Aponte
Pearson (centre back) with a cross section of the appreciative audience.
Presentation on film collectives
American filmmaker Keith Miller, a member of the Brooklyn Filmmakers’ Collective, discussed
participating in an association of filmmakers and the various forms this might take. Topics included
forming a collective, keeping it together, workshopping scripts, rough cuts and fine cuts, as well
as how best to think about outreach and sharing information and production resources.
Web series, music videos and short-form content
This presentation explored creative approaches to the writing, directing, producing and
positioning of short-form web content. The facilitators, US filmmakers Terence Nance and
Chanelle Aponte Pearson, addressed viable options for monetising web content and how to
parlay the web space into television and feature films.
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Members of the ttff/14
short and medium-length films jury
This year, the jury was divided into three sections:
Feature-length films – Jurors:
• Marjorie Bendeck Regalado, Project Evaluator, World Cinema Fund, Germany
• Zita Morriña, Programme Director, International Festival of New Latin American Cinema, Cuba
• Steve Zebina: Film Programmer, Les Recontres au Cinema de la Martinique
Short and medium-length films – Jurors:
• Priscilla Delannay: General Delegate, Guadeloupe International Film Festival (FEMI)
• Ian Harnarine: Filmmaker, Canada / T+T
• Iván Trujillo: General Director, Guadalajara International Film Festival
Best New Media film – Jurors:
• Christopher Cozier, Artist, T+T
• Terence Nance, Filmmaker, USA
• Marsha Pearce, Scholar and writer, T+T
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Best overall films, sponsored by The National Gas Company of T+T
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, Narrative, Special Mention: Old Moon, Raisa Bonnet, Puerto Rico
Best Short Film, Documentary: ABCs, Diana Montero, Cuba
Bullock (Cuba)
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Best local films, sponsored by the Trinidad and Tobago Film Company
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
Field Notes (T+T)
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People’s Choice Awards, sponsored by Flow
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
A Story About Wendy 2 (T+T)
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ttff/14 guests’ beach lime
Guests
Every year, the ttff invites filmmakers and industry experts to participate in the Festival, to
interact with audiences and one another, sparking conversations and forging connections. This
year the ttff hosted 186 guests, the highest number of guests ever. There is also a growing
trend of guests flying themselves to the Festival, interested in seeing what is happening in the
emerging Caribbean film scene, and acknowledging as well the ttff’s central role as a hub for
this development. At least eight guests brought themselves to the Festival this year, more than
ever before.
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This year select participating feature-film guests were:
Alex Santiago Pérez, Cows Wearing Glasses Antonio Santini, Daniel Sickles, Adam Uhl, Mala Mala Brad Klein, Legends of Ska: Cool & Copasetic Bruno Irizarry, 200 Cartas David Gumbs, Interactive Yard, New Media
Dawn Lundy Martin, Yams Collective Erin Christovale, Amir George, Black Radical Imagination German Gruber, Ewoud Bon, Sensei Redemption Irene Javier Gutiérrez, Hotel Nueva Isla Jean Michel Gibert, Jérôme Guiot, Barthélémy Fougea,
Kim Johnson, Pan! Our Music Odyssey Karen Mafundikwa, The Price of Memory Kaz Ové, Dubois Keith Miller, Five Star Kiki Alvarez, Giraffes Lacey Schwartz, Little White Lie Leticia Tonos, Cristo Rey Melvin Duran, Blanco Miquel Galofré, Art Connect
Natalia Cabral, Oriol Estrada, You and Me Neto Villalobos, All About the Feathers Sean Escayg, Noka Wheel Sean Hodgkinson, A Story About Wendy 2 Shakirah Bourne, Two Smart Stevan Riley, Everything or Nothing
Tabaré Blanchard, Iván Herrera, The Mountain Terence Nance, An Oversimplification of Her Beauty Praheme, Troop 491: The Adventures of the Muddy Lions Yao Ramesar, Haiti Bride Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico, USA
Jamaica, USA
Puerto Rico
Martinique, St Martin
USA
USA
Curaçao, the Netherlands
Cuba, Spain
T+T, France
Jamaica
T+T, UK
USA
Cuba
USA
Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
T+T
Dominican Republic
Costa Rica
T+T, USA
T+T
Barbados
UK
Dominican Republic
USA
USA
T+T, Haiti
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Our select industry guests were:
Anne Pampin, International publicist BC Pires, Journalist Casey Cipriani, Indiewire magazine Clare Downs, EAVE Chanelle Aponte Pearson, Media MVMT Clement Virgo, Filmmaker Diana Elbaum, EAVE Eamonn Walker, Actor Emiel Martens, Caribbean Creativity Ivan Trujillo, Guadalajara International Film Festival John Lee, Tribeca Film Institute Kaleem Aftab, Journalist Karine Zaïre, Madigwane Association Kirk Baltz, Actors’ Intensive Lauren Holowesko, Art House Cinema Lucius Barre, Public Relations Consultant Marjorie Bendeck, World Cinema Fund Pascale Grenier Halley, FEMI Patricia Monpierre, APCAG Paula Williams Madison, Television Executive Percy Pinedo, Curaçao International Film Festival Rotterdam
Priscilla Delannay, FEMI Omar de la Cruz, Global Dominican Republic Film Festival Sandra Louisin, Madigwane Association Steve Zabina, Rencontres au Cinema de la Martinique Sydney Levine, Indiewire Tobias Pausinger, EAVE Zita Morriña, Havana Film Festival France
Barbados, T+T
USA
UK
USA
Canada
Brussels
USA
the Netherlands
Mexico
USA
UK
France
USA
Bahamas
USA
Germany
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe
USA
Curaçao
Guadeloupe
Dominican Republic
France
Martinique
USA
Germany
Cuba
48
49
NETWORKING EVENTS AND RECEPTIONS
This year, there were fewer external formal receptions, reflecting the contraction in budgets
for such activities. There were however a few activities that we were able to utilise to expose
guests to a slightly wider slice of T&T life.
The Embassy of the French Republic hosted a special screening and reception in honour of
the T&T-French production Pan! Our Music Odyssey, the opening night film, which targeted
the Festival’s industry guests with a view to possibly broadening the audiences for the film
worldwide.
The French-Caribbean contingent at the
French Ambassador’s reception
50
at the Hyatt reception
The ttff’s official partner hotel, the Hyatt Regency Trinidad, hosted a reception for Festival
guests, allowing some of the Hyatt team to meet and mingle with them.
There were four fringe events with which the ttff was associated (events where the planning,
execution and promotion were handled by an external group, and the ttff brought Festival
guests). The first was a TEDx Salon with a film-themed discussion at the Little Carib Theatre;
the second was a concert, hosted by promotion group New Fire, featuring top local alternative
music acts, exposing guests to the underground music scene; the third was a reception hosted
by one of the ttff’s official partners, BOSS, at Verandah Restaurant; and the fourth was an
informal reception hosted by designer Anya Ayoung Chee.
51
Anya’s reception at home
52
SPONSORSHIP
Our presenting sponsor is Flow, who have held that position for the past seven years. Flow has
a multi-year commitment for the period 2014-2016. Flow’s commitment to the vision, brand and
sustainable growth of the Festival has in part helped to shape the culture of film in T+T today.
Apart from general year-round sponsorship of the Festival, Flow offers the option of visibility
and sales for shorts filmmakers on the VoD platform. This year they also supported a film
appreciation workshop facilitated by British journalist Kaleem Aftab, and co-hosted a booth with
HBO at MovieTowne POS to talk to customers about their products and services.
ttff/14 opening night
53
Leading sponsor bpTT has been involved for the last five years. Between 2011-2013, bpTT
supported the recognition of the visionaries of the local audio-visual industry through the
Pioneer in Film series. They also fund two key developmental awards: The Best UWI Student
and the Best Feature Film in Development. And, this year, they supported the inaugural bpTT
Youth Jury and Prize, challenging five young jurors, aged 16-21, to review a selection of films
and decide on a winner.
Leading sponsor, the Trinidad and Tobago Film Company, has been a steadfast supporter
of the Festival from its inception. As the organisation responsible for policy and building
capacity in the local film industry, they have been a natural partner in our drive to push the
industry forward. Apart from the Film Nights series of community screenings, they supported
our filmmakers’ lounge, and hosted workshops on producing, directing, and funding and
distribution.
at the ttff/14 filmmakers’ lounge
54
RBC Royal Bank has been involved with the ttff for five years, this year as a supporting
sponsor. For the last four years, the RBC Focus: Filmmakers’ Immersion has brought together
the brightest emerging film talent in the region for quality discussion and learning, leading to
collaboration and new opportunities. It has become a highly anticipated programme for the
region’s emerging filmmakers.
The Ministry of the Arts and Multiculturalism returned for a second year as a supporting
sponsor, leveraging the opportunity to share information with filmmakers and other creatives
about the Art and Culture Allowance of the Corporation Tax Act, through a well-received
presentation at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad.
55
The National Gas Company continues its longstanding commitment to the ttff as a supporting
sponsor, facilitating awards and community screenings, as well as a special screening and
panel discussion this year on the theme of slavery reparations.
This year we welcomed a new supporting sponsor, the Embassy of the United States in
Port of Spain, which facilitated the hosting of a number of guests from the USA (including a
representative from the Tribeca Film Institute). In the future, we will be collaborating to deepen
our partnership with the Embassy.
For ttff/14, we received grant funding from the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Investment and
Communication’s Enabling Competitive Business fund to host a series of labs, workshops, panels
and presentations encompassing the ttff Film Industry Training Programme. This fund allowed the ttff
to expand its industry training to prepare the Caribbean’s filmmakers for the opportunities to come at
ttff/15 with the launch of the ACP Cultures +/EU funded Caribbean Film Mart.
The Way He Looks
56
This year, our official partners category contained a diverse mix of companies, providing valuable
in-kind support to the ttff.
North Eleven were once again our projection partners, bringing to the table cutting-edge
technology and fresh ideas and providing their expertise to opening night, the awards ceremony,
and several activities in-between. They were also the chief collaborators for technical support of
the New Media exhibition.
SCRIP-J and BOSS have been our official printers and stationery providers, helping to bring
the Festival’s brand to life through our beautiful guides, posters, banners and more. Their
commitment went one step further this year by the generous provision of Knoll furniture for the
press conference and Festival area at MovieTowne POS, and by the hosting of a reception at
The Verandah for ttff guests.
57
58
For the second year, The Hyatt Regency Trinidad was our official hotel, providing excellent
service and comfort to our Festival guests and to the hardworking ttff team. The Hyatt was also
the location for most of the industry programme, and the ttff’s secretariat and press room. We
also continued our partnership with Drink Lounge and Bistro. They served up healthy daily
meals at Drink and at Humzinger for our staff, and hosted our nightly Filmmakers’ Lounge. Drink
was also the location for the ttff wrap party.
We partnered for a second year with Guardian Media Limited and MINI, and forged three new
partnerships with Caribbean Airlines, Brydens Trinidad and Tobago and Digimedia Photo +
Cinema. Caribbean Airlines provided return airfare tickets, Brydens provided Hardys wines and
bar service to ttff’s events, while Digimedia covered the Festival through top-quality photography
and video services.
59
In 2014, The Caribbean Export Development Agency (Carib Export) supported the ttff’s
training initiative to include project readiness, developing viable scripts for an international
audience, co-productions, and how to pitch projects, all in preparation for regional filmmakers
to actively participate in the 2015 Caribbean Film Mart. The emphasis of the Carib Export
support was the engagement and hosting of 30 regional filmmakers and 10 international industry
professionals. All of these participants were present for the Caribbean Film Mart and Regional
Database launch presentation, which took place at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad on Saturday 27
September, 2014.
Carib Export works to optimise the Caribbean region’s export potential through facilitating
innovation and the creation of world-class brands capable of successfully competing globally.
They work to increase the competitiveness of Caribbean countries by providing export
development and investment promotion services through effective programme execution and
strategic partnerships.
Participants at the Caribbean Film Mart and
Regional Database launch presentation
60
ACP Cultures+ and the European Union
The trinidad+tobago film festival is set to create a Caribbean Film Mart + Regional Film Database.
The project is possible with the financial contribution of the ACPCultures+ Programme, funded
by the European Union (European Development Fund) and implemented by the ACP Group of
States. Both projects will be launched in 2015 at the ttff/15.
ACP Cultures+ aims to contribute to the fight against poverty through the development and
consolidation of viable and sustainable cultural industries in ACP countries by reinforcing their
contribution to social and economic development, as well as the preservation of cultural diversity.
The specific objectives of the Programme are:
• Reinforcing the creation and production of cultural goods and services in the ACP States
through an approach integrated with distribution networks
• Supporting an increased access to local, regional, intra-ACP, European and international
markets for the cultural goods and services of the ACP States
• Building the capacities of culture sector professionals in ACP States
• Improving the regulatory environment of the culture sector in ACP States
Recipients of ACP/EU funding during a 2014 meeting at the
ACP House in Brussels, Belgium. Highlighted:
Dr Bruce Paddington, Founder and Festival Director, ttff
61
EDITORIAL + MARKETING
Editorial materials consisted largely of content created for the ttff/14 guide, the ttff website, blog
and the media (mass and social). Most of the guide content comprised synopses of the nearly
120 films being screened in the Festival’s main programme. These synopses also appeared on
the website, along with biographies of each film’s director. Content for the guide also comprised
information on the ttff’s programming partners, industry events and workshops, juries and prizes,
and general Festival information (venues, ticket prices etc).
62
Working with a schedule created in association with the brands and communications team, the
editorial department—together with the public relations department and, during the Festival,
international PR consultant Anne Pampin—generated a series of press releases and articles
disseminating information to the press (local, regional and international) on various aspects of the
Festival, including the film programme, industry events, special guests and the opening night gala.
Much of this information also appeared on the Festival website. Examples of the coverage can be
seen in the Public Relations section on pages 85–88.
Apart from the print and online channels listed above, we continued to rely on posters, postcards,
pull-up banners and standees to promote and to improve brand visibility, leading up to and during
the Festival. In 2014 the sale of ttff-branded merchandise—T-shirts, mugs and tote bags with the
ttff/14 buzz phrase “looking good”—once again proved successful, with all the special-edition
T-shirts (designed by Elena Molchanova and Nick Salloum of SAYSM) sold.
local press coverage
63
64
Primary Marketing Materials
Posters
18” x 24” – 500 printed and displayed at establishments
nationwide and at Festival venues and events before and
during the Festival
6’ x 4’ – 2 printed and displayed in the exterior windows of
Drink Lounge and Bistro
27” x 40” displayed in exterior, illuminated case at
MovieTowne, Port of Spain and MovieTowne, Tobago
Postcards
10,000 printed and distributed nationally in the lead-up to
and during the ttff/14.
Ads
today’s screenings THU 25 SEPT
Check website for synopses
16-30 september
films / workshops / panels / parties
ttfilmfestival.com / 621.0709
MovieTowne, Port of Spain Screenings $30 each / $15 for students in uniform
14+ | THE GERMAN DOCTOR Lucía Puenzo, 2013,
Argentina / 94’ / 14+
10.30am
SSSFF WINNER 2014, TT / 5’ / GA | IN-BETWEEN
Ramaz Melashvilli, 2014, Netherlands / 11’ / GA |
WALKING WITH THE ANCESTORS Alysha Higgins,
2014, T+T, USA / 33’ / GA | A WRITER IN HIS PLACE:
EARL LOVELACE Funso Aiyejina, 2014, T+T / 55’ / GA /
Q+A session
The Little Carib Theatre, Woodbrook
Screenings $30 each
1.00pm
SONS OF THE OLD WHITE AND BLUE
Mariel Brown, 2013, T+T / 55’ / GA / Q+A session
10.00am
SECONDARY SCHOOLS SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
SELECTIONS / T+T / 90’ / GA
5.30pm
PILLOWMAN Nile Saulter, 2013, Jamaica / 5’ / GA
TWO SMART Shakirah Bourne, Ricky Redman, 2014,
Barbados / 90’ / 16+ / Q+A session
3.30pm
BLACK NIGHT Francisco Rojas, 2013, Dominican
Republic / 5’ / GA | OSLO Luis Ernesto Doñas, 2012,
Cuba / 13’ / GA | RED LIGHT Lucas Estrella, 2013,
Dominican Republic / 10’ / PG | THE SAINTS Coraly
Santaliz, 2013, Puerto Rico / 10’ / PG | OBSIDIAN
TEARS Edward Andres, 2014, Puerto Rico / 14’ / PG13
| ON THE OTHER SIDE Yanillys Pérez, 2011, Dominican
Republic / 14’ / PG | CHULA Victoria Soberal, 2014,
Puerto Rico, USA / 17’ / GA / Q+A session
8.00pm
OLD MOON Raisa Bonnet, 2013, Puerto Rico / 11’ /
PG13 | PELO MALO Mariana Rondón, 2013, Venezuela
/ 93’ / 16+
6.00pm
BULLOCK Carlos Machado Quintela, 2014, Cuba / 18’
/ 14+ | HAITI BRIDE Robert Yao Ramesar, 2014, T+T,
Haiti / 65’ / PG / Q+A session
3:00pm
SECONDARY SCHOOLS SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
SELECTIONS / T+T / 90’ / GA
8.30pm
THE FIRE BEHIND Leo Aguirre, 2014, USA / 16’ /
MovieTowne Tobago Screenings $30 each / $15 for students in uniform
11.00am
200 CARTAS Bruno Irizarry, 2013, Puerto Rico / 98’ / GA
5.30pm VIEQUES, HANDS UP
Nadjah Rios-Villarini, 2014, Puerto Rico / 14’ / GA |
LEGENDS OF SKA:
COOL & COPASETIC
Brad Klein, 2014, Jamaica / 102’ / GA
8:00pm
THE INTERVENTION Kimberly Huie, 2013, Canada /
5’ / GA | MAY IN THE SUMMER Cherien Dabis, 2013,
USA, Jordan, Qatar / 100’ / 14+
Film Programme building, University of the West Indies FREE
6.30pm
NEW MEDIA PRESENTATION
Medulla Art Gallery
37 Fitt Street, Woodbrook FREE
12.00pm–6.00pm
NEW MEDIA REGULAR PROGRAMME
ALLIANCE FRANCAISE
17 Alcazar Street, St Clair FREE
7.00pm
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE APPRENTICE Amiral
Gaspard, 2013, Haiti / 19’ / 14+ | PROJECT 40 Nadia
Charlery, Maharaki, Teddy Albert, Khris Burton,Christian
Foret, Olivier Ozier Lafontaine, Patrice Le Namouric, Vianney
Sotès, 2014, Martinique / 10’ / PG13 | CREOLE SOUP
Karine Gama, 2013, Guadeloupe / 15’ / GA | BROOKLYN
Pascal Tessaud, 2014, USA / 83’ / 16+
Daily strip ads (left) ran 16–30 September in dedicated spots
in both the Express and Guardian. Other ads promoting
the Festival in general as well as specific programmes and
workshops ran in the Express.
Combined daily circulation of
Express and Guardian = 160,000
Guide
7,500 printed and distributed before and during the Festival
estimated viewership of 10,200 based on pass-along rate.
For the third year, the guide was also placed on an online PDF
reader service and has received approximately 77,472 views to
date.
65
Website (01 Jan–31 Oct 2014)
9,927 unique visitors from 134 countries
21,289 visits
57,409 page views
# VISITS
TOP 10 COUNTRIES
15,543 Trinidad + Tobago
1,871 United States
612 United Kingdom
420 Canada
227 Jamaica
194 France
161 Brazil
157 Germany
145 Barbados
141 India
Digital Mailers
2,484 subscribers (43% growth from 2013)
For the fourth year running, the Festival used the online opt-in email newsletter service,
MailChimp, to promote various activities leading up to and during the festival. Eleven
campaigns were sent in 2014.
66
Social Media
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
11,085 fans
3,154 followers
835 followers
(29% growth from 2013)
(17% growth from 2013)
(118% growth from 2013)
145,000+ (+150%)
362,710
Weekly reach during the ttff/14
Followers of followers / potential
reach
App
620 downloads in 2 weeks of the festival
In 2014, the ttff introduced an app, which was available
for free download on both Apple and Android platforms.
The app had a full schedule of films and industry
events of the ttff/14, and also included comprehensive
information on each film, including trailers.
67
ATTENDANCE
19,004
2014 total ttff attendance
ACTIVITY (ALL 2014)
NUMBERS
Alice Yard
92
Awards ceremony
286
EAVE Producers Lab
13
Filmmakers’ Lounge
1164
Guest bus tour
63
Immersion
11
Little Carib Theatre
1800
Medulla Art Gallery
650
MovieTowne Port of Spain
5571
MovieTowne Tobago
371
Opening night gala
1100
Pre-Festival lime at Drink
450
Press conference
74
Receptions
1150
UWI
1520
Visiting filmmakers / industry
186
Workshops / presentations / panels
803
Year round community screenings
3700
TOTAL
19,004
68
PUBLIC RELATIONS
With the overall aim of promoting support for and the development of Caribbean film and filmmakers,
as well as positioning the ttff as the market leader for festivals in the region and a must-attend,
important event on the national calendar, the Festival’s public relations effort had five strategic goals:
1 To increase coverage of the Festival, the films and filmmakers in local and regional media
2 To develop and expand local audience for Caribbean films
3 To support the development of local filmmakers by publicising ttff/14 training and development opportunities and those sponsors involved in supporting these opportunities
4 To raise awareness of sponsors’ support—with sponsors mentioned in all local and regional
press releases and interviews, and at all press conferences and special events (based on
level of commitment)
5 To raise the profile of ttff internationally by securing media coverage in at least three industry
publications
at the ttff/14 press conference
69
Raising general awareness
To meet some of these objectives, the Festival focused on negotiating agreements and strong
partnerships with the main media houses, fully engaging with the Guardian editorial and
advertising team, through a media partnership, to highlight films and filmmakers and promote
all events that were open to the public or were linked to sponsors (including bpTT’s Film
in Development Award and Youth Jury, the RBC Focus: Filmmakers’ Immersion, the TTFC
workshops and Flow’s Video On Demand service).
ttff/14 blogger, Aurora Herrera
70
In addition, Guardian columnist BC Pires continued the daily review of ttff films that he began in
2011; the Guardian’s Metro Magazine featured stories on local filmmakers, the Festival and key
sponsors in the lead-up to and during the Festival; the Guardian’s WOW (women’s) magazine
carried a four-week series on female filmmakers provided by the ttff team; and Tobago Hotspots
and Tobago News also carried a weekly series of features on the films screening in Tobago. A
series of breakfast TV and radio interviews were set up in advance and TV6, CNC3, CNMG,
Channel 5 (Tobago), SLAM radio, 91.1 Talk FM, and Radio Tambrin provided regular coverage
and interview slots, allowing opportunities to mention key sponsors. GISL covered the gala
opening, and the THA’s Government Unit produced and aired a feature on the ttff/14 in Tobago.
Overall, a steady flow of features and interviews appeared on a daily basis over the two weeks
of the Festival, with several articles also appearing in the lead up to and post-Festival. All press
releases mentioned the Festival’s main sponsors and ttff staff mentioned sponsors in all TV
and radio interviews and at ttff/14 events. Press kits were developed for the press conference
to launch the overall Festival, the New Media launch, the opening night gala and the awards
ceremony, each listing sponsors and their support.
at the ttff/14 press conference
71
Niche Marketing and Distribution
Niche marketing and the distribution of print materials (guides, postcards and posters) were also
used strategically to develop and expand the ttff/14 audience and highlight sponsors’ support.
The distribution strategy targeted specific groups along the East-West corridor, NALIS libraries
and other institutions with networks in Port of Spain and the West, in South and Central Trinidad
and in Tobago. Print materials were also distributed through sponsor outlets (eg: Flow payment
centres, bpTT and TTFC offices, RBC Royal Bank branches) as well as at locations that target
key ttff audiences, including: Rituals coffee shops, Nigel R Khan booksellers, Superpharm
outlets, UWI and other tertiary institutions, and at Piarco and ANR Robinson International
airports. The ttff e-mail list of special interest groups was strengthened to include all local
filmmakers in the country, more foreign-language groups, NGOs, gender, human rights and
other special interest groups; communities in San Fernando, Chaguanas, Tobago, St Augustine,
St James, Paramin and the North Coast, and over 200 secondary schools. All received regular
updates on films, workshops, special events and relevant sponsor information (workshops
presented by TTFC, RBC Focus: Filmmakers Immersion, the ttff presented by Flow).
In total 7,500 guides, 10,000 postcards and 500 posters carrying key sponsors’ logos were
distributed and displayed at over 70 venues in strategic locations, supported by a ttff street team
that distributed postcards on Ariapita Avenue, at UWI and at Shopping in Malls in Central and
South Trinidad.
72
International Public Relations
Increased effort was put into strengthening the international presence for ttff/14 and beyond by
hosting two international journalists who wrote pieces for Indiewire (five articles) and Filmmaker
(one article) magazines and the Independent newspaper (one news item) in the UK, while a
story on the Amnesty International prize appreared in Screen Daily and World News.Com
(described by the UK’s Guardian newspaper as ‘One of the most powerful search tools for news
junkies on the internet’). The Festival also engaged an international PR specialist, Anne Pampin,
who has worked for the Cannes, Berlin and Toronto film festivals, leveraging her expertise in
promoting film festivals worldwide. Using her international media contacts, Pampin was also able
to negotiate interviews and stories on ttff/15’s Caribbean Film Mart + Regional Database and
the film Pan! Our Music Odyssey, with work continuing on promoting other films in the French,
Canadian and UK media, and in the diaspora press.
This investment is expected to generate a larger percentage of positive international coverage,
both for Trinidad and Tobago as a destination site and for the Festival, assisting in the the longterm process of establishing ttff’s international profile as the premiere festival for Caribbean films.
ttff/14 guest journalist, Kaleem Aftab
73
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
The Festival’s community development programme is a key factor in promoting ttff’s objectives and
maintaining public awareness throughout the year. Through the support of various ttff sponsors, we
screen local and regional films at community centres, schools, prisons, public squares and other
key gathering spaces to bring these films to audiences that would not usually have the opportunity
to see them. We work closely with various community partners and special interest organisations.
For 2014, we presented a total of 25 community screenings, the majority facilitated by North
Eleven, projection partner of the ttff since 2010. Screenings were custom-programmed, and in
most instances the screening venues offered food, drink and local crafts for sale.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
arnival Film Series x 6 screenings (sponsored by NCC and TTFC): 08–23 February: Paramin,
C
St. Augustine, San Fernando, Tobago, Chaguanas, NALIS Port of Spain
Outback Screenings, at ttff office x 4: 18 February, 12 March, 17 June, 31 October
Community Cinergy x 5 (sponsored by bpTT): 21-30 March: Chaguanas, UWI, San Fernando,
YTC, St. James
WeBeat St. James: 07 June
TTCSI Street Arts Festival: 21 June
Emancipation screening, Queen’s Park Savannah: 30 July
Films for Independence x 3 (sponsored by NGC):
28–31 Aug: San Fernando, Tobago, NALIS Port of Spain
ttff/14: 18 Sept: POS Men’s Prison, Youth Training Centre (YTC)
Heritage Films : November, venues TBA x 3
74
THE EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL
Founded in 1996, the European Film Festival (EFF) is an annual showcase of films from the
European Union, and is organised by the European Member States with diplomatic missions
in T&T (France, Spain, the Netherlands, the UK and Germany), as well as the EU Delegation.
In 2014, the ttff team partnered for the third year with the European Member States and the
EU Delegation to facilitate planning, programming, promotion, design, branding and technical
implementation of the festival. A diverse schedule of films was screened at MovieTowne POS
and in Tobago, from 14–27 May, and an increase in audience attendance figures of 12% was
achieved through a combination of of strong programming, niche marketing films to schools and
other key interest groups, social media, a media launch, press releases and feature articles and
radio and TV interviews. There was no budget for paid advertising.
A comparison of audience figures between 2013 and 2014 is shown below:
EFF Edition
Year
Dates
Price
Wk 1
Wk 2
Total
Attendance
Difference
17th
2013
15–28 May
$30
2274
3058
5332
-17%
18th
2014
14–27 May
$30
2791
3165
5956
12%
75
TTFF @ INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVALS
Members of the ttff team continued to visit other international film festivals in 2014—presenting
Caribbean films, promoting brand ttff, looking for content to screen at our Festival, and seeking
new opportunities for regional filmmakers. Here are the Festivals we have attended in 2014 so far:
The ttff is a partner festival of the Regional and International Film
Festival of Guadeloupe (FEMI). This year the ttff presented three
films at FEMI: Melaza (Carlos Lechuga, Cuba, 2012), Forward Ever:
The Killing of a Revolution (Bruce Paddington, T+T, 2013) and After
Mas (Karen Martinez, T+T, UK, 2013).
International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) offers a high quality lineup of fiction and documentary feature films, short films and media
art. IFFR actively supports new and adventurous filmmaking talent
through its co-production market CineMart, its Hubert Bals Fund,
the Rotterdam Lab and other industry activities.
The first co-production market of its kind, CineMart offers
filmmakers the opportunity to launch their ideas to the international
film industry and to find the right connections to get their projects
financed. The CineMart staff also organises the Rotterdam Lab,
a five-day training workshop for young and emerging producers
designed to build up their international network and their experience
at an international festival and market. The trinidad+tobago film
festival is one of the newest partners for the Rotterdam Lab.
76
ttff at Clermont-Ferrand
The 36th International Short Film Festival and Market,
Clermont-Ferrand, France, is the world’s leading film festival
dedicated to short films. It is the second largest film festival in
France, after Cannes, in terms of audience and professional
attendance, boasting over 100,000 attendees annually. The ttff was
invited to send a representative and eight films to the festival to be
showcased at a Caribbean film booth in the marketplace with our
partner APCAG, the Association for the Development of Cinema
and Art, from Guadeloupe. The marketplace hosted international film
and media-promotion bodies, short-film agencies, production and
distribution companies and networks, associations and technical
industries to promote business, present catalogues and form
working relationships whilst preparing new projects.
The short-films showcase comprised the following previous ttff
selections:
• After Mas (Karen Martinez, T+T , UK, 2013)
• Auntie (Lisa Harewood, Barbados, 2013)
• The Earthquake (Danielle Lessovitz, Haiti, USA, 2012)
• Fish (Shawn Escayg, T+T, 2012)
• The Gardener (Jo Henriquez, Aruba, 2013)
• Passage (Kareem Mortimer, the Bahamas, 2013)
• Smallman: The World My Father Made (Mariel Brown, T+T, 2013)
• Yolanda (Cristian Carretero, Dominican Republic, 2013)
77
The Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) is one of the
largest and most prestigious film festivals in the world. The festival
attracts more than 300,000 visitors a year to the city of Berlin, and
screens up to 400 films from all over the world, across all genres.
The Berlinale also has valuable programmes that can serve as
models for the development of the ttff as well as opportunities for
regional filmmakers, such as the Berlinale Talents programme, where
over 300 emerging filmmakers are immersed in developing their
craft; the Co-Production Market, where experienced international
producers, film financiers, film distributors, funding bodies, sales
agents and TV channels come together to initiate international
co-productions; and the World Cinema Fund, a federally funded
programme that works to develop and support cinema in regions
with a weak film infrastructure, while fostering cultural diversity in
German cinema.
This year, for the first time, the ttff participated in the Guadalajara
International Film Festival (FICG), as it seeks to strengthen ties
with the Latin American film industry and create opportunities for
Caribbean filmmakers in this lucrative market. FICG is considered
the premier film festival in Latin America, and serves as a rich forum
for the creative exchange between professionals, filmmakers, critics,
students, and audiences of Latin America. As the most important
film market in Latin America, the Guadalajara Film Market is where
sales agents, producers, distributors and leading film programmers
come together each year seeking to negotiate and fund projects,
and looking for partners and strategic alliances to increase
filmmaking and film distribution. The Guadalajara Film Market and
Producers’ Network, meanwhile, which is presented in partnership
with the Producers Network – Marché du Film, Cannes Film
Festival, seeks to strengthen ties between producers from different
countries and encourage production and co-production.
78
Once again the ttff was represented at the Curaçao International
Film Festival Rotterdam, one of the newer film festival offerings
in the Caribbean. Curaçao IFFR is an initiative of Fundashon Bon
Intenshon and is produced in cooperation with International Film
Festival Rotterdam. One of the main components of Curaçao IFFR
is the Yellow Robin Award. This annual award is given to a film by an
emerging filmmaker from the Caribbean or Latin America. It comes
with a US$10,000 prize, as well as a guaranteed screening at IFFR,
and access for the filmmaker to IFFR’s various industry offerings.
This year’s award went to Damian Marcano’s God Loves the Fighter
(T+T), a ttff/13 world premiere.
Muestra Joven is an annual event sponsored by the Cuban Institute
of Cinematographic Art and Industry to stimulate awareness and
reflection about the audiovisual work of young people. This year, for
the first time, the ttff participated in Muestra Joven by presenting a
showcase of ten Caribbean films, all previous Festival selections.
10 Ave Maria (Juan Francisco Pardo, Curaçao, 2011)
Doubles with Slight Pepper (Ian Harnarine, T+T, 2011)
Fish (Shaun Escayg, T+T, 2012)
Grave Digger (Gabrielle Blackwood, Jamaica, 2012)
The Legend of Buchi Fil (German Gruber, Aruba, 2010)
Passage (Kareem J. Mortimer, Bahamas, 2013)
Auntie (Lisa Harewood, Barbados, 2013)
One Good Deed (Juliette McCawley, T+T, 2012)
Vivre (Maharaki, Martinique, Guadeloupe, 2013)
The Gardener (Jo Henriquez, Aruba, 2013)
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The Tribeca Film Festival was founded in 2002 by Jane Rosenthal,
Robert De Niro and Craig Hatkoff to provide artists with unique
platforms to expand the audience for their works and to broaden
the access point for consumers to experience independent film
and media. The trinidad+tobago film festival attended Tribeca with
an eye to viewing films for possible inclusion in the ttff/14 lineup; to
check out Storyscapes, Tribeca’s showcase of transmedia artists;
and to represent the ttff at at Tribeca industry events. While at the
festival, we also met up with representatives from the Tribeca Film
Institute, who champion storytellers to be catalysts for change in
their communities and around the world. The ttff partnered with TFI
during the ttff/14 to offer unique training opportunities to Caribbean
filmmakers.
Founded in 1946, Cannes, in the south of France, is the world’s
most prestigious film festival. In addition to hosting the annual
premiere of the latest works by some of the greatest filmmakers, it
is also home to the world’s largest film marketplace, the Marché du
Film. In the International Village, meanwhile, dozens of countries host
pavilions, where they showcase their respective film industries and
promote themselves as the ideal location for shooting productions.
The ttff was in attendance at Cannes this year, participating in
the Marché du Film. We met with sales agents and various other
industry entities, scouting films to programme at the Festival as well
as highlighting the emerging Caribbean film industry. In particular
we sought to promote the ACP/EU-funded Caribbean Film Mart
and Regional Database, which will take place at ttff/15 and will bring
together Caribbean filmmakers and film financiers (among others)
with the purpose of establishing international co-productions.
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This year, for the first time, the ttff was represented at the
Rencontres du Cinema de la Martinique, which held its ninth
edition recently in Fort-de-France. Rencontres invited the ttff to
present a feature and a short film during the weeklong festival, which
this year focused on Cuban cinema. There were two successful
screenings each of the short After Mas (Karen Martinez, 2013,
T+T), and the feature-length documentary No Bois Man No Fraid
(Christopher Laird, 2013, T+T). We also made a presentation on our
Festival and the Caribbean Film Mart and Regional Database to a
group of young film students and filmmakers.
The Toronto International Film Festival is the largest public film
festival in the world, screening over 300 films from around the globe
annually. The ttff was in attendance to view the world premiere
of several major Caribbean films, with a view to programming
them at ttff/15, and also met with the makers of those films. We
also continued to promote the Caribbean Film Mart and Regional
Database to potential participants.
The remaining festivals we will attend for the year are the
Dominican Republic Global Film Festival and the Havana
Film Festival, at which we will once again present a showcase of
Caribbean films.
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WHAT PEOPLE
ARE SAYING
Thanks again for the invitation and
this beautiful festival. We had a
great time and also opened our
vision, references and contacts in
the Caribbean and international
movie industry.
LUIS ERNESTO DOÑAS
Filmmaker, Cuba
The Festival was a huge success because
people felt comfortable, at home, happy, and
excited about being there. All those positive
feelings are the result of your amazing job.
Congratulations for putting together a really
nice and necessary space for us Caribbean
filmmakers to meet each other and learn from
each other.
NATALIA CABRAL + ORIOL ESTRADA
Filmmakers, Dominican Republic
It’s a pleasure for me to be part of
the ttff family. This year was full of
good vibes, good networking and I
thank you all for the work you’re doing,
enabling us to build a real Caribbean
film industry. Can’t wait for the tenth
edition next year.
NINA VILUS
Producer, Martinique
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What a pleasure it was to meet you all,
and thanks for the warm welcome for me
and The Price of Memory at ttff. Thanks for
all your hard work in helping the film find
an audience. It’s been invited all over the
region since ttff and I was just invited to
two New York festivals.
KAREN MARKS MAFUNDIKWA
Filmmaker, Jamaica
“Let me take this opportunity on behalf of the
Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)
delegation to thank you and the rest of the team for your
support and assistance in participating at the recently
held trinidad+tobago film festival. We would like to
compliment you for a well run and managed event
and extend congratulations to you for a most positive
and successful outcome. We would like to pledge
our continued support of the ttff and look forward to
working with you on similar projects in the future.
SOBERS ESPRIT
Business Development Officer - Creative
Industries, OECS Export Development Unit
84
It was an eye-opener to participate in
the Festival and be part of the family!
We could be a family because all the
ttff staff made us feel so comfortable
and at home!
Thank you for inviting me to
your incredible festival! I had
a fantastic time and the staff
all around were so friendly
and organized!
JOHN LEE
Tribeca Film Institute, USA
DIANA ELBAUM
European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs, Belgium
Thanks for a wonderful experience!
What a fantastic Festival! I have so
many memorable moments engraved
in my head, and have made friends and
cultivated relationships with colleagues
that could not have happened without
the Festival. Keep up the amazing work!
You guys are the bomb!
MICHÈLE STEPHENSON
Filmmaker, USA
85
On 17 November 2014, the trinidad+tobago film festival was named
One of the Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World for 2014, by
MovieMaker Magazine
Trinidad & Tobago Film Festival // Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago //
September 2015 // ttfilmfestival.com
“A hip and trendy place” with a laid-back vibe, our panelist enjoyed “liming [i.e. hanging
out] with industry and locals at the bars in Port of Spain after an afternoon and evening
of screenings.” Sounds like paradise. The festival “supports the Caribbean filmmaking
scene as a whole, as well as individual filmmakers, extending its coolness beyond
borders.” Extracurriculars include a workshop on film appreciation, and an industry
networking event billed as group speed dating.
http://www.moviemaker.com/archives/festivals/25-coolest-film-festivalsworld-2014/
86
MEDIA INTERVIEWS
Date
Time
Station
Topic
Tuesday 02
September
7.30am
CNC3 Morning Brew
launch of ttff, sponsor mentions, trailer played with
sponsor logos
Tuesday 02
September
10am onwards
Pre-recorded at
press conference
TV6 News; CNC3 News;
GISL / Ch 4
launch of ttff, sponsor mentions
trailer played with sponsor logos; background of
step + repeat with sponsor logos
CNMG breakfast prog
launch of ttff, sponsor mentions
trailer played with sponsor logos
Wednesday 03
September
7.30 pm
Thursday 04
September
7.30am
TV6 Morning Edition
launch of ttff, sponsor mentions
trailer played with sponsor logos
Tuesday 16
September
Pre-recorded at
the opening
GISL / Ch 4
TV6 News
Opening Ceremony, with visuals of step + repeat
banner with sponsors logos
Thursday 18
September
7.15am
CNMG breakfast prog
ttff/14 films, filmmakers + workshops with
sponsor mentions
12.20pm
SLAM Radio
ttff/14 films, filmmakers + workshops with
sponsor mentions
Tuesday 23
September
7.30am
Tobago Channel 5: Rise and
Shine; evening news; Radio
Tambrin
ttff/14 films and filmmakers at MovieTowne
Tobago + sponsors
23–30
September
prime time TV
Let’s Talk Tobago
filmmaker Kyle Walcott
Thursday 25
7.45am
CNMG breakfast prog
ttff/14 films, filmmakers + workshops with
sponsor mentions
Thursday 25
10.40am
SLAM Radio
Local filmmakers
Thursday 25
September
11.05am
i95.5 Fm:
workshops, films, upcoming events + sponsor
mentions
Thursday 25
September
7.30am
TV6: Morning Edition
workshops, films, upcoming events + sponsor
mentions
Friday 26
September
7.15am
Saturday 20
September
CNC3 Morning Brew
workshops, films, upcoming events + sponsor
mentions
87
Date
Time
Station
Topic
Monday 29
September
7.30am
CNMG breakfast prog
Award winners, Closing Night and other films
Monday 29
September
7.30am
TV6 Morning Edition
Award winners, Closing Night and other films
Monday 29
September
10am
SLAM
Award winners, Closing Night and other films
Monday 29
September
6pm
Talk City 91.1fm
Award winners, Closing Night and other films
Tuesday 30
September
7.30am
CNC3
Award winners, Closing Night and other films +
sponsor mentions
16–30
September
across the region
Caribbean Passport
ttff/14 trailer with sponsors logos
TBA October
across the region
Island Xclusive
films, filmmakers and ttff/14 events
88
MEDIA COVERAGE
GENERAL
• http://www.newsday.co.tt/features/0,200495.html
• http://www.overtimett.com/overtime-tt-news/19-trinidad-tobago-film-festival/151-tnt-film-festival-announces2014-lineup
• http://repeatingislands.com/2014/08/13/lineup-of-short-and-medium-length-films-for-2014-film-festivalrevealed/
• http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/2014-trinidad-tobago-film-festival-ttff-14-announces-worldcinema-selection-20140821
• http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/2014-trinidad-tobago-film-festival-ttff-14-announces-worldcinema-selection-20140821
• http://news.caribseek.com/index.php/caribbean-islands-news/trinidad-and-tobago-news/item/87587-lineupof-caribbean-feature-films-announced-for-trinidad-tobago-film-festival-14
• http://repeatingislands.com/2014/07/08/call-for-volunteers-for-trinidadtobago-film-festival-2014/
• http://www.ttonline.org/2014/10/01/shakirahs-interview-at-trinidad-tobago-film-festival/
• http://www.lime.tt/2014/09/trinidad-and-tobago-film-festival-awards-gala-2014/
• http://www.thetobagonews.com/news/item/1544-exciting-films-at-this-year-s-trinidad-tobago-film-festival
• http://pulitzercenter.org/blog/abominable-crime-film-interview-micah-fink-HIV/AIDS-trinidad-tobago-jamaicahomophobia
• http://www.indiewire.com/tag/trinidad-tobago-film-festival
• http://www.oecs.org/edu-press-releases/896-oecs-participates-in-the-2014-trinidad-tobago-film-festival
• http://www.cnc3.co.tt/newcnc3/aggregator/sources/4
• http://loud.boomchampionstt.com/tt-film-festival-looking-good/
YOUTH JURY
• http://www.guardian.co.tt/entertainment/2014-07-30/film-festival-seeks-applicants-first-bptt-youth-jury-prize
• https://www.facebook.com/TTGuardian/posts/10152275566053067
• http://www.newsday.co.tt/features/0,198991.html
• http://fevatv.com/trinidad-tobago-film-fest-adds-youth-jury-prize/
• http://www.thetobagonews.com/news/item/985-film-festival-seeks-tobago-jury-applicants
FILM IN DEVELOPMENT AWARD
• http://www.trinidadexpress.com/sunday-mix/Call-for-submissions-for-ttff-and--bpTT-Film-in-DevelopmentAward---269702371.html
• https://www.guardian.co.tt/entertainment/2014-08-04/submissions-ttff-and-bptt-film-award-invited
• http://blogs.indiewire.com/sydneylevine/t-tff-call-for-films-in-development-youth-jurors-wanted-fela-kuti-onscreen-20140731
• https://www.evensi.com/ttff14-presents-bptt-community-cinergy-ttsa-chaguaramas-uwi/114393851
• http://bahamas.pro/call-for-caribbean-submissions-for-ttff-and-bptt-film-in-development-award/
• http://mail.entornointeligente.com/articulo/2964771/Submissions-for-TTFF-and-bpTT-film-awardinvited-05082014
89
RBC FOCUS: FILMMAKERS’ IMMERSION
• http://overtimett.com/overtime-tt-news/207-rbc-supports-caribbean-filmmakers-through-workshop-andaward
• http://www.bugsi-designs.com/thetobagonews/news/item/330-entries-sought-for-this-year-s-rbc-focusfilmmakers-immersion
• http://www.bajanreporter.com/2014/06/trinidadtobago-film-festival-announces-call-for-applications-for-rbcfocus-filmmakers-immersion-2014/
• http://besttopics.net/link/41063_trinidad-tobago-film-festival-call-for-applications-for-rbc-focus-filmmakersimmersion-2014
• https://www.joomag.com/magazine/omg-digital-magazine-october-9th-2014-vol-3-issue127/0705776001412966707?page=22
• http://repeatingislands.com/2014/10/08/rbc-supports-caribbean-filmmakers-through-workshop-and-award/
• http://buzzcreole.com/story.php?title=film-news-from-ttff-2014
• http://focus.musicnewshq.com/news/rbc-supports-caribbean-filmmakers-through-workshop-and-awardrepeating-islands
• http://www.conqueringlionpictures.com/2014/07/29/clement-virgo-will-be-the-facilitator-for-the-rbc-focusfilmmakers-immersion/
• http://looptt.com/2014/10/07/rbc-supports-caribbean-filmmakers/
• http://www.newsday.co.tt/features/0,200497.html
• http://fevatv.com/clement-virgo-named-co-ordinator-for-tt-film-fest-emerging-directors-project/
• http://www.tthighcommission.co.uk/index.php/media-gallery/news/518-trinidad-and-tobago-news-summarythursday-12th-june-2014
• http://www.guardian.co.tt/entertainment/2014-06-11/applications-open-popular-filmmakers’-immersionprogramme
• http://discountedhotelrooms.org/applications-open-for-popular-filmmakers-immersion-programme/
• https://www.facebook.com/pages/Conquering-Lion-Pictures/118323474854078
• http://arcthemagazine.com/arc/2014/06/the-trinidadtobago-film-festival-invites-applications-for-rbc-focusfilmmakers-immersion-2014/
ttff/14 APP
• http://www.appster.org/app/trinidadtobago-film-festival-2014-the-official-app-905037762
• http://www.appannie.com/apps/ios/app/trinidad+tobago-film-festival/
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
• http://www.pressreleasepoint.com/amnesty-international-and-trinidadtobago-film-festival-establish-newhuman-rights-prize
90
GUIDE DISTRIBUTION VENUES
Film Venues: The Little Carib Theatre, MovieTowne POS + Tobago, UWI
Sponsors: FLOW payment centres; TTFC office + network; bpTT offices; RBC branches; NGC
Partners: Hyatt Regency Trinidad; Drink! Lounge and Bistro; Alliance Francaise
Filmmakers + Guests incl: all ttff/14 guests, local filmmakers, RBC Focus: Filmmakers Immersion participants
Restaurants, bars, cafes incl: Veni Mange, Ariapita Avenue; Martins, Newtown; Humzinger - Maraval Rd + Maraval;
Tablespoon, St Augustine; Trevor’s Edge, St Augustine; Panini Cafe: Ellerslie Plaza + West Mall; Adams, Maraval
ttff/14 events incl: Press Conference, Opening Ceremony, Sponsors Screening, Drink Limes (x2)
Piarco Airport and ANR Robinson Airport - Crown Point, Tobago
Bookstores: Nigel R Khan + RIK: Trincity, West, Long Circular, Gulf City Malls + POS; Paper Based - Normandie
NALIS: Port of Spain, San Fernando, Chaguanas, Diego Martin, St James, Tunapuna, Scarborough, Arima
Rituals Coffee Shops: MovieTowne POS + Chaguanas, Maraval Rd, Sweet Briar, UWI, Glencoe, Nicholas Towers POS, Price
Plaza Chaguanas, Trincity Mall, Gulf City Mall, NALIS POS, Tobago
Street Team general distribution: Gulf City Mall, Mid Centre Mall, Ariapita Ave, St Augustine
Tertiary institutions: COSTAAT; SBCS; UTT - POS, Point Lisas, San Fernando; Omardeens - Sando + Chaguanas; University
of the Southern Caribbean - St Joseph; Cipriani Labour College
Clothing stores: IOS Beach Break - West Mall; Trinity Mall + Shops of Maraval; United Colours of Benetton, Long Circular
Mall; Eve’s Closet, Newtown
Secondary Schools
SuperPharms: Valsayn, Piarco, Chaguanas, Maraval, West Mall
TTSA, Chaguaramas
Tobago: Scarborough, Buccoo, Crown Point incl: ATMS, hotels, restaurants, bars
91
LOOKING AHEAD
The trinidad+tobago film festival reached new heights in 2014. The Festival continues to prove its
commitment to the growing Caribbean film industry, to indigenous filmmakers and to educating
and entertaining local audiences. We have developed a framework that is sustainable and has the
capacity in terms of a paid, professional staff, year-round activities and office space, committed
partners and sponsors to continue to host this annual event.
2015 sees the 10th anniversary of the Festival. We will work diligently to execute the platform we
have created at the same high standard as this year, hosting participating guest filmmakers and
industry experts, showing films from T+T and the region, partnering with our sponsors to provide
filmmakers recognition for their work through development and jury prizes, and continuing to
provide training initiatives and networking opportunities for filmmakers.
In particular, we are working to ensure the successful implementation of the Caribbean Film Mart
and Regional Film Database. We expect both initiatives to be major developments in the growth
of the regional industry, with the Film Mart in particular cementing the ttff as the foremost annual
event on the film festival calendar for Caribbean filmmakers, producers and other professionals.
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click for more photos
of the ttff/14
© 2014 trinidad + tobago film festival
www.ttfilmfestival.com