Newz from "A Winter Tale" and "Lord Have Mercy"

Greetings everyone,

A Winter Tale will screen twice at the Antigua and Barbuda Literary Festival this weekend - on Friday 7th at 4pm, and on Sunday 9th November at 11am. Venue is the Jolly Beach Resort.

Actor Peter Williams and I will both be there to "Talk It Out" after the show...

The Festival has established itself, in 3 short years, as a top Caribbean literary and cultural event, and many international artists will be present, including award-winning American author Elisabeth Nunez, Indo-Trinidadian novelist and poet Ramabai Espinet, and hip hop artist Motion (to name but a few).

*****

On October 16th we had a wonderful screening and workshop in Barbados at the Errol Barrow Center for Creative Imagination.

The event was the first International Diaspora Arts Festival, hosted by Professor Gladstone Yearwood, Director of the Center.

The two other films featured were Namibia: The Struggle for Liberation by the great African-American filmmaker Charles Burnett, and Ezra a stunning film on child slavery by Nigerian Newton Aduaka, which won the top award for best film at Fespaco 2007. I had the privelege of meeting both these wonderful artists in Barbados.

And here is a review of my film by prolific blogger Ian Bourne of Bajan Reporter. Visit our website http://awintertale.ca to catch up with all the recent reviews from our Trinidad, Jamaica and Antigua releases.

****

LORD HAVE MERCY, the classic sitcom starring Sprangalang and Rachel Price, as well as Jamaican icon Leonie Forbes, poet/performer Dbi.young.anitafrika and the comic Russell Peters has been picked up by CIN in New York and will begin airing starting November 16, 2008 to February 8, 2009 on Channel 25, Sundays @ 3:00pm.

More soon, love
Frances-Anne

The Grenada Story: 25 Years After the US Invasion

MEMORY AND RENEWAL

25 years After the US Invasion: The Grenada Story
A Series of Performances, Readings, reflections
October 30 – November 1, 2008

Pan-Caribbean Futures 25 years after Grenada
DATE: October 30, 12-2 p.m.
PLACE: History Seminar room, Room 2098, Sidney Smith Building,
University of Toronto, 100 St. George Street
Brian Meeks (Department of Government, University of the West Indies, Mona)
Silvio Torres-Saillant (Comparative Literature, Syracuse University)

Operation Urgent Memory: The Grenada Revolution and the US Invasion Twenty Five Years Later.
DATE: Thursday, October 30, 6pm
PLACE: Eaton Theatre, RCC204, in the Rogers Communications Centre at Ryerson University, 80 Gould Street (at Church Street)
Speaker: Shalini Puri (English, University of Pittsburgh)

Memory and Renewal. The Grenada Story.
DATE: October 31, 7 p.m.
PLACE: William Doo Auditorium, New College, 45 Willcocks Street (1 block south of Harbord, off Spadina)
with Merle Collins, Dionne Brand, Shalini Puri, Jacob Ross, Caldwell Taylor, Roger Gibbs

Against Forgetting: Caribbean Futures 25 years after the Invasion of Grenada
DATE: November 1, 2008, 6pm
PLACE: Jamaican Canadian Association, 995 Arrow Road, Toronto,
Hosted by d’bi young. Music, dance and spoken word with Merle Collins, Jacob Ross, Brian Meeks, Mbala, ABS/Rated Inc Hip Hop and surprise performers.

SPONSORS:
University of Toronto: Caribbean Studies; New College Principal's Initiative
Fund; English; Political Science; Caribbean Continuities Series (History)
York University Community Arts Program of the Faculty of Environmental Studies; Latin American and Caribbean Studies Program of York University; Faculty of Humanities
Ryerson University: The English Department
Jamaica Canadian Association; A Different Booklist

For information contact: Alissa Trotz: da.trotz@utoronto.ca (416-978-8286)
Sandra Pierre (spierre50@hotmail.com)

African-American Artist, Wanda Ewing, Presents Talk on Satirizing Beauty

MorenaMedia and the Women & Gender Studies Institute (University of Toronto)
are proud to present

WANDA EWING
’DOs & DON’Ts
An Artist Talk on Popular Culture,
Beauty & the Black Female Image

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Women & Gender Studies Institute
University of Toronto
20 Willcocks Street, 2nd floor
7:00 p.m. / Reception to follow

Assistant Professor in Art and Art History at the University of Nebraska Omaha, Wanda Ewing is a rising mid-career artist specializing in printmaking. Recently featured in Bitch magazine and New American Painters, Ewing’s satirical and celebratory images serve as a catalyst for discussion among diverse communities.

Following in the tradition of self-portrait-based artists like Renee Cox, Ike Ude, and Cindy Sherman, Ewing's work highlights the everyday affects of media imagery on the self, which tends to focus on female insecurity rather than self-possession. She reasserts the idea of a strong, gendered identity by using humour to poke fun at the idea of recreating ourselves through style and consumption, while at the same time challenging mainstream beauty myths and their impact on black women specifically.

'DOs & DON'Ts is produced to support Wanda's exhibition with Anita Drieseberg, The Ladies Room, opening Friday, October 17 at Whipper Snapper Gallery. This is her first Toronto appearance.

Please view an excellent, three-minute interview with Wanda as posted on-line at: http://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=8tHn6beGwQc.

To download more information about the artist or a poster of this event, please visit http://MorenaMedia.com.

Wanda Ewing: 'DOs & 'DON'Ts is co-presented with the Women & Gender Studies Institute and is produced in partnership with the Centre for Media and Culture in Education (CMCE), A is for Orange: Readings by Queer Caribbean Emerging Writers, AfroToronto.com, Leda Serene Films, Toronto Women's Bookstore, and Possession: All that is sacred in contemporary art.

CONTACT
Karen Miranda Augustine
MorenaMedia
T: (416) 263-9835
E: info@morenamedia.com
MORE INFO
http://MorenaMedia.com
http://www.WandaEwing.com
http://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=8tHn6beGwQc

International Director Stephanie Black attending Canadian Premier of AFRICA UNITE at the Revue Thursday.

>>>>> Purchase Tickets Online <<<
What: Acclaimed film director Stephanie Black will be in Toronto to attend the Canadian premiere of her powerful Bob Marley documentary Africa Unite. This premiere will kick off Toronto’s 3rd Annual CaribbeanTales Film Festival. Stephanie will also attend the VIP reception preceding the screening.

Where: VIP reception at the River Restaurant (413 Roncesvalles Ave.) at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 10, followed by the Canadian premiere screening of Africa Unite at 7:30 p.m. at the Revue Cinema (400 Roncesvalles Ave.)

>>>>> Purchase Tickets Online <<<

* * *

The 3rd Annual CaribbeanTales Film Festival’s opening night screening will mark the Canadian premiere of Africa Unite as Toronto joins a long list of international cities to show the film.

This year’s festival, entitled Fokus Jamaica will commence with a VIP reception at River Restaurant at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 10, 2008. Africa Unite will be screened at 7:30 p.m. at the Revue Cinema, followed by the film festival’s Opening Night after party, hosted by the Jamaican Consulate General Anne-Marie Bonner.

“We are very excited to be bringing this film to Canada,” said Festival Founder and Curator Frances-Anne Solomon. “Bob Marley has become synonymous with Jamaican culture, and selecting Africa Unite to open our festival seemed like a natural union.”

Focus Jamaica is presented in association with Jamaica Trade & Invest (JAMPRO) and the Consulate General of Jamaica in Toronto. The 3rd Annual CaribbeanTales Film Festival will run from July 10 – 13, 2008 at The Revue Cinema, Innis Town Hall (U of T), and the High Park Library.

Directed by Black, Africa Unite commemorates the late Bob Marley’s 60th birthday. Part concert tribute, part documentary, this film follows the Marley family on their first trip to Ethiopia in 2005 to attend the annual Africa Unite concert. The film features rare footage of the world-renowned reggae icon, and includes appearances by Danny Glover, Angélique Kidjo, Lauryn Hill and many from the Marley family including his mother Cedella Booker and widow Rita Marley.

In addition to its opening night, Focus Jamaica will highlight some of the island’s most celebrated filmmakers, producers, actors and celebrities. Through blockbuster film screenings, Q&As, live interview sessions and interactive workshops CaribbeanTales will pay tribute to talents such as Ras Kassa, Clement Virgo, Franklyn “Chappie” St. Juste, Perry Henzell, Leonie Forbes and Peter Williams among others.

CaribbeanTales announces a summer screening of A Winter Tale at HARMONY NIGHT – a powerful evening of film, music and performance hosted

With the 3rd Annual Film Festival just days away, CaribbeanTales’ Artistic Director Frances-Anne Solomon announces Harmony Night hosted by Dwayne Morgan. This evening of screenings, discussions and performances will celebrate our Jamaican Canadian connections and engage youth through cinema, music videos and guest appearances. Supported by TD Financial Group, Harmony Night will take place on Friday, July 11, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. The evening kicks off with a Meet & Greet reception at the University of Toronto’s Innis Town Hall (2 Sussex Ave.)

“Dwayne has been doing positive work with young people for many years, and has established himself across Canada as a role model for today’s youth,” said Solomon. “We are extremely honoured to have Dwayne participating in Harmony Night.”

Morgan is a well-known poet, entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker. In 1994 he founded Up From The Roots Entertainment to promote the positive artistic contributions of African Canadian and urban influenced artists. Morgan is also founder and producer of the annual spoken word concert When Brothers Speak.

Harmony Night will feature powerful film, documentary and music video screenings including Man Behind the Mic – a television documentary profiling Dwayne Morgan. Following the screening, Morgan will be on hand to answer questions during an intimate talk-back session, and treat audience members to a live performance.

Harmony Night will also be the only chance to see Solomon’s award-winning movie A Winter Tale this summer! This emotional Toronto-based film opened the ReelWorld Film Festival in April 2007, and has spent the last year traveling all over the world, screening to wide acclaim in cities across North America, the Caribbean, Europe and South Africa. Following the screening A Winter Tale actors Peter Williams and Michael Miller will field audience questions and share stories during a special Talk It Out session.

The evening will also feature Mary Wells’ documentary A Winter Tale: Art for Social Change Jamaica 2008 – which gives a behind-the-scenes look at how Solomon’s film impacted audiences in Jamaica. Other screenings include Miss Lou: Then and Now, which profiles famed Jamaican writer and activist Louise Bennett-Coverley. Harmony Night will conclude with an exclusive after party hosted by Leda Serene Films.

The 2008 CaribbeanTales Film Festival, entitled Fokus Jamaica, is presented in association with Jamaica Trade & Invest (JAMPRO), and the Consulate General of Jamaica in Toronto. The festival will run from July 10 – 13, 2008 at the Revue Cinema, Innis Town Hall, and the High Park Library.

The 3rd Annual CaribbeanTales Film Festival is generously sponsored by: Jamaica National Building Society, Appleton Estate Jamaican Rum, TD Bank Financial Group, Ontario Arts Council, The Art of Catering, SUN TV, Victoria Mutual Building Society, Flow 93.5FM, Now Magazine, b-side, Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto, Big It Up, CKLN 88.1FM, CHRY 105.5FM, CIUT 89.5FM, The Caribbean Camera, We Magazine, Canadian Immigrant Magazine, Caribbean Uprising International, The Ethnic Umbrella and Ackee Tree Jamaican Cuisine.

Invitation to AFRICA UNITE - OUR OPENING NIGHT FEATURE

Legendary Jamaican talents to be honoured, remembered at the 3rd Annual CaribbeanTales Film Festival’s Night of Tribute

Toronto – July 3, 2008

A number of renowned Jamaican filmmakers and actors will be honoured at a special awards ceremony on Saturday, July 12, 2008 as part of the 3rd Annual CaribbeanTales Film Festival. Founded by award-winning filmmaker Frances-Anne Solomon, this year’s festival, entitled Fokus Jamaica, will highlight the works of Jamaican artists and celebrate the island’s internationally recognized culture. CaribbeanTales’Night of Tribute honourees and award recipients includeLeonie Forbes, Perry Henzell, Clement Virgo, Ras Kassa, Franklyn “Chappy” St. Juste and Peter Williams. The ceremony takes place at River Restaurant (413 Roncesvalles Ave.) at 5:30 p.m.

Beloved long-time Jamaican actress Leonie Forbes will be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award, which she will accept in person. Known as Jamaica’s First Lady of Theatre and Film, Forbes’ extensive film and television career have made her a cultural icon with fans all over the world. She has graced the silver screen in major Hollywood pictures, performed in dozens of theatrical productions, and worked as a radio broadcaster and programmer in Jamaica. Forbes’ film and television credits include: Shattered Image, Milk and Honey, Passion and Paradise, What My Mother Told Me,Children of Babylon and A Winter Tale.

Also receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award is famed Jamaican cinematographer and director Franklyn St. Juste. “Chappy”, as he is popularly known, is one of the most experienced cinematographers working in the Caribbeantoday. Chappy has worked alongside great filmmakers like Horace Ove and Lennie Little-White, and on a number of films including The Harder They Come, King Carnival andChildren of Babylon.

In addition to Forbes and St. Juste, CaribbeanTales will pay tribute to another trailblazer in Jamaican cinema – the late Jamaican filmmaker Perry Henzell. Made famous for directing, producing and co-authoring Jamaica’s first feature film The Harder They Come, Henzell will be remembered by his fans and peers when the festival screens his film at 9 p.m. on Saturday, July 12.

Henzell is to be honoured with a Pioneer Award during the tribute ceremony. His award will be accepted by friend and colleague St. Juste, who worked closely with the late director on The Harder They Come.

World-renowned film, television and music video director Ras Kassa will also be at the festival to receive his Innovation Award. A widely respected industry professional, Kassa earned international recognition for directing Damian Marley’sWelcome to Jamrock music video in 2005. Today, Kassa’s resume boasts nearly 100 music videos, in addition to establishing Jamaica’s cable music station Music Plus and his successful production company Guru Films.

Other award recipients will include Jamaican-Canadian film and television director Clement Virgo and Jamaican-Canadian film and television actor Peter Williams.

Virgo’s selected directorial credits include Soul Food, ReGenesis, Lie With Me, and most recently, the Genie Award nominated Poor Boy’s Game. For his work, Virgo will be awarded with the Jamaica National Building Society Award for Achievement in Cinematic Art.

Peter Williams’ acting credits include the Gemini-nominated television series Neon Rider, Catwoman, Da Vinci’s Inquest,The Chronicles of Riddick, Stargate SG-1 and Dead Like Me. He most recently starred as Gene Wright in Solomon’s award-winning feature A Winter Tale, for which the Montreal Gazette dubbed him “one of the country’s finest actors”.CaribbeanTales will acknowledge Williams’ work with anExcellence in Dramatic Performance award.

* * *
Festival Founder Frances-Anne Solomon is an award-winning filmmaker, writer, director and producer. She is the President and Artistic Director of the two companies she founded: Leda Serene Films and CaribbeanTales.

The 3rd Annual CaribbeanTales Film Festival is generously sponsored by: Jamaica National Building Society, Appleton Estate Jamaican Rum, TD Bank Financial Group, Ontario Arts Council, The Art of Catering, SUN TV, Victoria Mutual Building Society, Flow 93.5FM, Now Magazine, b-side, Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto, Big It Up, CKLN 88.1FM, CHRY 105.5FM, CIUT 89.5FM, The Caribbean Camera, We Magazine, Canadian Immigrant Magazine,Caribbean Uprising International, The Ethnic Umbrella and Ackee Tree Jamaican Cuisine.