"CARMEN AND GEOFFREY" will be the Opening Night Gala at CaribbeanTales' 4th Annual Film Festival

"CARMEN AND GEOFFREY"
CaribbeanTales 4th Annual Film Festival
Opening Night: July 9th 7pm.

We are proud to announce that our Opening Night Feature is this beautiful documentary about the work of two exceptional artists, Carmen de Lavallade and Geoffrey Holder, who stepped forward in the 1950's to play a vital part in the newly energized world of American modern dance. It is also about a forty-seven year long love affair and the creative partnership that sustained their accomplishments.

“I walk through doors,” Geoffrey Holder thunders in the documentary “Carmen & Geoffrey.” “If I’m not wanted in a place, there’s something wrong with the place, not with me.” And when this 6-foot-6-inch choreographer and painter, with a big toothy grin and the oratorical style of a Caribbean James Earl Jones, thunders, the earth moves.

Mr. Holder has been a fixture in the theater and dance worlds in New York City beginning with the 1954 musical “House of Flowers.” The Carmen of the title is Carmen de Lavallade, Mr. Holder’s wife and creative partner for more than 50 years. Now in her 70s, she is still a beauty.

As the film, directed by Linda Atkinson and Nick Doob, follows Mr. Holder, he radiates the energy of a sun king. By his side is Ms. de Lavallade, the New Orleans-born dancer and choreographer who grew up in Los Angeles and met him when they appeared together in “House of Flowers”. They married in 1955.

Ms. de Lavallade, we learn, was the best friend and dancing partner of Alvin Ailey, who was brokenhearted when she married Mr. Holder. Carmen is also a gifted choreographer and actor but her solo dance career is legendary, both with Ailey as well as John Butler, Jose Limon, Donald McKayle and others.

Geoffrey Holder came from Trinidad to debut in House of Flowers, which he also co-choreographed with Herbert Ross. Later he directed and designed the costumes for The Wiz winning two Tonys in the process. Geoffrey’s world-class talent as a painter has been recognized with a Guggenheim fellowship and he is a prize-winning author and photographer. His ballet, Dougla is a permanent part of the Dance Theatre of Harlem’s repertoire, as is his work Prodigal Prince for the Ailey Company.

Mr. Holder recalls that from early childhood he knew he wanted to dance and to paint. He was 7 when he made his performing debut with the Holder Dance Company, a troupe founded by his older brother, Boscoe. By the time he was "discovered" in 1952, Geoffrey Holder was already an accomplished painter, and the canvases shown in the movie suggest the sensibility of an extroverted Gauguin steeped in Caribbean folklore.

After “House of Flowers” he formed his own dance company and was also a principal dancer with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet. He reached a pinnacle of acclaim in the mid-1970s with Tony Awards for best director and costume design for “The Wiz.” The fantastic outfits bore his artistic signatures: a brilliant palette and wildly playful and inventive imagery. His later choreography on “Timbuktu!” (a 1978 Caribbean version of “Kismet”) and “The Prodigal Prince,” a dance biography of Haitian artist and voodoo priest Hector Hyppolite, reveal work that was even bolder.

The film’s style is spontaneous, intimate and revealing, showing Carmen and Geoffrey’s natural penchant for uncommon good humor.

Above all, it provides us with models of lives boldly lived, and offers a paradigm for survival and accomplishment in one of the toughest professions to which anyone can aspire.

From: Creatively Connected Through Dance and Life By STEPHEN HOLDEN Published: March 13, 2009
This movie has been designated a Critic's Pick by the film reviewers of The Times.

Invitation to the Launch of LOCKDOWN

Dear Friends,

Please join me for a special launch event at:

TOTA Lounge: 592 Queen Street West (at Bathurst) on Thursday, June 25th @ 7:00 pm.

Guests will be treated to a sneak preview of selected scenes from my new play LOCKDOWN, followed by a Q&A with the cast.

Come meet Leonie Forbes, Michael Miller and the rest of the wonderful cast!

Hope to see you there,
Kind Regards
Frances-Anne
___________________________________________________________________
Award-winning director Frances-Anne Solomon presents the timely stage production "Lockdown" at the 2009 Toronto Fringe Festival.

Toronto – May 26, 2009

This July, CaribbeanTales in association with Leda Serene Films will stage the world premiere of award-winning director Frances-Anne Solomon’s new theatrical production Lockdown, brought to audiences for the first time ever at the 2009 Toronto Fringe Festival (July 1st to 12th).

Lockdown’s explosive fictional story traces the fortunes of a diverse group of young people held hostage during a high school lockdown. The play’s high octane script picks apart the violence that threatens to undermine their dreams. It stars Jamaican film and theatre icon Leonie Forbes (What My Mother Told Me, Lord Have Mercy, A Winter Tale) and rising Toronto star Michael Miller (A Winter Tale, Get Rich or Die Trying), alongside a talented ensemble of young actors selected from city-wide auditions held across the GTA. The script was developed over the past year, through a collaborative improvisational process with the entire team.

Lockdown deals with the all too familiar issue of school violence, by focusing on eight students in their final year of high school. The story begins with an emergency lockdown: students trapped in their classes, while parents scared and helpless wait outside, and police officers swarm the school property.

Produced with the support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, and the Toronto Police Services Board, Lockdown's Fringe theatre performances will take place at the George Ignatieff Theatre, Trinity College, University of Toronto, 15 Devonshire Place (check Fringe schedule for times).

A special Launch event hosted by CaribbeanTales will take place at the TOTA Lounge (592 Queen Street West) on Thursday, June 25th, 2009 at 7:00 pm. Guests will be treated to a sneak preview selected scenes from the play; and will have the opportunity to personally meet and talk with the actors afterwards.

As the city's largest theatre event, the annual Toronto Fringe Festival embraces more than 100 theatre companies from Ontario, across Canada and around the world. With over 12 days of stage performances, the festival offers full accessibility to all members of the community, while enabling emerging and established artists to present their ideas regardless of content, form and style.

Lockdown follows the success of Frances-Anne Solomon’s highly acclaimed feature film A Winter Tale – an emotional story about a Black Men's Support Group that comes together in a local Toronto Caribbean take-out restaurant in the wake of gun violence that takes the life of a young child. Among many prestigious, international awards, most recently at FESPACO 2009 (Africa’s Oscars held biannually in Burkina Faso, West Africa), A Winter Tale was nominated for and won Special Mention in the Paul Robeson Diaspora Award category.

As Founder and Artistic Director of CaribbeanTales, Frances-Anne Solomon is an accomplished filmmaker, writer, director and producer whose recent projects include The CaribbeanTales Annual Film Festival (now in its fourth year), A Winter Tale (for Telefilm Canada/CHUM Television); Heart Beat - a documentary series profiling Caribbean-Canadian musical creators; Literature Alive, a many facetted multimedia project profiling Caribbean authors; and the Gemini-nominated Lord Have Mercy!, Canada's landmark multicultural sitcom, for Vision TV, Toronto1, APTN and Showcase.


CaribbeanTales is Canada's premier multimedia company that creates, markets and distributes educational films, videos, radio programs, audio books, theatre plays, web sites and events showcasing the rich heritage of Caribbean-Canadian and Caribbean-Diasporic culture worldwide. Their mandate is to foster and encourage intercultural understanding and citizen participation through the medium of film, contributing to an inclusive Canadian society.

For more information, visit www.caribbeantales.ca and www.ledaserene.ca

Show Times (@ the George Ignatieff Theatre):
Wednesday, July 1: 6:30pm to 8pm
Thursday, July 2: 8:15pm to 9:45pm
Friday, July 3: 1:15pm to 2:45pm
Monday, July 6: 10:45pm to 12:15am
Tuesday, July 7: 1pm to 2:30pm
Friday, July 10: 4pm to 5:30pm
Sunday, July 12: 8:30pm to 12pm

Announcing the CaribbeanTales Film Festival Industry Series

Committed to the development of Caribbean-themed cinema here in Canada and around the world, the 2009 CaribbeanTales Film Festival announces its new industry workshop series.

Toronto – May 28, 2009

Celebrating its fourth anniversary, the CaribbeanTales Film Festival this year presents the CaribbeanTales Industry Development Program (CTIDP), an initiative that offers industry activities such as training workshops, roundtable sessions, and panel discussions on film practice, business development and marketing, and storytelling.

Workshops include: Guerilla Filmmaking, a practical day-long session led by renowned Jamaican cinematographer Franklyn ‘Chappie’ St. Juste (The Harder They Come), exploring ways in which Caribbean heritage directors and producers can use film to tell stories close to their heart.

Other sessions include: "Working with the NFB" by National Film Board of Canada Producers Lea Marin and Anita Lee, "Navigating The Festival Circuit", by international festival programmer June Givanni, "Caribbean-themed Animation" by Camille Selvon Abrahams of Trinidad-based Animation studio Anime Caribe, and "Art for Social Change" led by veteran filmmaker and owner/general manager of Gayelle The Channel Christopher Laird.

Friday 10th July is YOUTH DAY, and there will be a special edu-tainment program tailored for the interests of young people 12-18.

The CaribbeanTales Annual Film Festival is North America's only standalone event offering the best of Caribbean cinema from around the world. It will take place over four exciting days from July 9th to 12th 2009, at the William Doo Auditorium (45 Willcocks Street), New College, University of Toronto.

With the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and in partnership with New College, University of Toronto and U of T’s Caribbean Studies Program, this year’s theme, Caribbean Film – A Tool for Education and Social Change, brings together filmmakers and producers from Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados, Antigua, the Eastern Caribbean, the UK, Africa, the U.S., and Canada.

The Festival this year honors the career of award-winning international director Euzhan Palcy from Martinique, who became the first woman of African descent to direct a Hollywood movie, with MGM’s A Dry White Season (1989), starring Donald Sutherland, Marlon Brando and Susan Sarandon.

The Caribbean Tales Film Festival is founded by award-winning director, filmmaker, and producer Frances-Anne Solomon whose last feature film A Winter Tale (for Telefilm Canada/CHUM Television) won many prestigious international awards, including most recently Special Mention in the Diaspora Category at the 2009 Fespaco Festival (Africa's Oscars, held biannually in Burkina Faso, West Africa).

She is the president and artistic director of the two companies she created: Leda Serene Films and CaribbeanTales, whose selected projects include HeartBeat – a documentary series profiling Caribbean musical creators; Literature Alive, a many facetted multimedia project profiling Caribbean authors; and the Gemini-nominated Lord Have Mercy!, Canada’s landmark multicultural sitcom, for Vision TV, Toronto1, APTN and Showcase.

CaribbeanTales is Canada’s premier multimedia company that creates, markets and distributes educational films, videos, radio programs, audio books, theatre plays, websites and events, that showcase the rich heritage of Caribbean Diaspora worldwide.

CaribbeanTales’ mandate is to foster and encourage intercultural understanding and citizen participation through the medium of film, contributing to an inclusive Canadian society.

Photo: Director Euzhan Palcy from Martinique, our Special Guest this year.

Support CaribbeanTales, place your ad in our 2009 Festival Programs!

Support our education driven mandate to foster and encourage intercultural understanding and citizen participation through the creation and distribution of multimedia projects that reflect the diversity and creativity of Caribbean-Canadian and Caribbean-diasporic culture.

How?
Targeted program advertising. Simple, cost effective advertising that makes the difference. We will advertise your products and services to over 40,000 potential customers in our programs and on our website, www.caribbeantales.ca. This is an excellent marketing method to increase traffic for your business while continuing your support of diversity and creativity of Caribbean-Canadian and Caribbean-diasporic culture.

Where & When?
This Spring/Summer 2009, CaribbeanTales presents a fantastic program of theatre and film screenings, workshops, forums and panels all celebrating the rich diversity of contemporary Caribbean and Caribbean-Canadian culture. In July, CaribbeanTales in association with Leda Serene Films will stage the world premiere of award-winning director Frances-Anne Solomon’s new theatrical production “LOCKDOWN”, brought to audiences for the first time ever at Toronto’s largest theatre festival, The Toronto Fringe Festival (July 1st to 12th).

Also in July, the CaribbeanTales 4th Annual Film Festival (July 9th to 12th 2009), will partner with New College, University of Toronto, and U of T’s Caribbean Studies Program. This year’s festival features presentations and screenings from filmmakers and producers from Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados, Antigua, the Eastern Caribbean, the UK, Africa, U.S and Canada.

You just can't beat this easy affordable way to increase consumer traffic!

To subscribe contact:
Miki Nembhard
Festival Co-ordinator
PHONE: 416 598-1410
FAX: 416-598-1354
www.caribbeantales.ca
caribbeantales2009@gmail.com

CaribbeanTales kicks off its 2009 season with a stunning line-up of film and theatrical partnerships that celebrate Caribbean-Canadian culture

Toronto – April 18, 2009

This Spring/Summer 2009, CaribbeanTales presents a fantastic program of theatre and film screenings, workshops, forums and panels all celebrating the rich diversity of contemporary Caribbean and Caribbean-Canadian culture.

“Our company is growing and naturally we are incredibly excited to be partnering with such dynamic Canadian institutions as Hot Docs, the University of Toronto, and The Fringe Festival,” said Caribbean Tales Founder and Artistic Director Frances-Anne Solomon.

In May, at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival (April 30th to May 10th), CaribbeanTales will co-present Luciano Biotta’s extraordinary film Rise-Up, screening at Innis Town Hall on Friday, May 8th, 2009 at 7:15pm; Bloor Cinema on Saturday, May 9, 2009 at 11:59pm; and the Royal Cinema on Sunday, May 10th, 2009 at 4pm. The piece dives deep into the Kingston ghetto where reggae was born, documenting real-life interviews with local established and underground musicians including Lee "Scratch" Perry, Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare.

In July, CaribbeanTales in association with Leda Serene Films will stage the world premiere of award-winning director Frances-Anne Solomon’s new theatrical production Lockdown, brought to audiences for the first time ever at Toronto’s largest theatre festival, The Toronto Fringe Festival (July 1st to 12th). Lockdown’s fictional story traces the fortunes of a group of young people held hostage during a high school lockdown. The high octane script picks apart the violence that threatens to undermine their dreams. The play stars a number of established performers including Jamaican icon Leonie Forbes (What My Mother Told Me, Lord Have Mercy, A Winter Tale), and rising Toronto actor Michael Miller (A Winter Tale, Get Rich or Die Trying) alongside a diverse ensemble of talented young performers selected through citywide auditions held across the GTA last June.

Lockdown follows the success of Solomon’s highly acclaimed feature film A Winter Tale – an emotional story about a Black Men's Support Group that comes together in a local Toronto Caribbean take-out restaurant in the wake of gun violence that takes the life of a young child. Among many prestigious international awards, most recently at FESPACO 2009 (Africa’s Oscars held biannually in Burkina Faso, West Africa), A Winter Tale was nominated for the Paul Robeson Diaspora Award and won Special Mention in this category.

Also in July, the CaribbeanTales Annual Film Festival (July 9th to 12th 2009) now in its fourth year, partners with New College, University of Toronto, and
U of T’s Caribbean Studies Program. This year’s theme, "Caribbean Film - a Tool for Education and Social Change", features presentations and screenings from filmmakers and producers from Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados, Antigua, the Eastern Caribbean, the UK, Africa, and the U.S.

This is Canada's only standalone festival offering the best of Caribbean cinema from all around the world. It will present four days of exciting film screenings, thought-provoking Talk Back sessions, industry panels, hands-on workshops, a Filmmakers’ Forum, and a Youth Day.

This year’s festival honors the award-winning career of director Euzhan Palcy, from Martinique, who became the first woman of African descent to ever direct a Hollywood Studio movie with MGM's A Dry White Season, starring Donald Sutherland, Marlon Brando and Susan Sarandon. Considered by many as one of the world's most influential filmmakers, Ms. Palcy is best known for her debut feature Sugar Cane Alley, winning over 17 international prizes including the Silver Lion and Best Lead Actress Award at the Venice Film Festival, and the Cesar Award for Best First Feature Film.

CaribbeanTales founder and curator Frances-Anne Solomon is an accomplished filmmaker, writer, director and producer, whose recent projects include A Winter Tale (for Telefilm Canada/CHUM Television); Heart Beat - a documentary series profiling Caribbean-Canadian musical creators; Literature Alive a many faceted multimedia project profiling Caribbean authors; and the Gemini-nominated hit sitcom Lord Have Mercy!, Canada's landmark multicultural sitcom, for Vision TV, Toronto1, APTN and Showcase.

CaribbeanTales is Canada's premier multimedia company that creates, markets and distributes educational films, videos, radio programs, audio books, theatre plays, web sites and events showcasing the rich heritage of Caribbean and Caribbean Diasporic heritage worldwide.

CaribbeanTales’ mandate is to foster and encourage intercultural understanding and citizen participation through the medium of film, contributing to an inclusive Canadian society.

9TH ANNUAL REELWORLD FILM FESTIVAL

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15th to SUNDAY, APRIL 19th, 2009

The ReelWorld Film Festival is Toronto’s film festival that celebrates diversity in film, video, and new media
from Canada and across the globe. Now in its
ninth year, the RWFF runs over 5 days screening an extraordinary
array of features, shorts, documentaries, music videos and
animations. Students and those in the industry can take
advantage of networking events, workshops and
programs during the festival.

Highlighting ethnic diversity, the festival offers Toronto
audiences an opportunity to see films that they may not get a chance
to experience at other festivals.
FREE Family Screening
When: Saturday, April 18th at 11am
We will shocase some shorts and an interactive with MAMA AKANBI
So come out and bring the kids!

Opening Night Gala
Wednesday, April 15th at 730pm
GOSPEL HILL by Giancarlo Esposito - in attendance
SCOTIABANK THEATRE (Formerly the Paramount), 259 Richmond St. West, (At John St, 1 Block S of Queen)
REGULAR SCREENINGS at CINEPLEX ODEON CARLTON, 20 Carlton Street, (Just E of Yonge St., on N side

For the list of films and other events with times and dates go to: http://www.reelworld.ca

For Tickets (Check reelworld.ca for box office hours):
1. Order online: reelworld.ca. Click Buy tickets.
2. Call the reelworld ticketing hotline: 1-800-595-4849
3. Visit the reelworld office: 438 Parliament Street, 2nd floor
4. Visit the Carlton cinemas Box office: April 8 -19, 20 Carlton Street

For Media inquiries,contact publicist Sasha Stoltz at: sashastoltz@bellnet.ca - 416-579-4804

CaribbeanTales Youth Film Festival - Celebrating Black History Month.

Click Here to View The Festival Trailer!

Tickets are still available for the CaribbeanTales Youth Film Festival, "Celebrating Black History Month"!


FESTIVAL SCREENINGS will take place from
February 13-27 2009 @ 10:00 a.m. Weekdays

@ the following locations:
Silvercity Yorkdale, 3401 Dufferin Street
Coliseum Scarborough, 300 Borough Drive
Silvercity Yonge-Eglinton, 2300 Yonge Street

Click here to view Festival Program and Schedule.

TICKET INFORMATION
Students: $7.00
Educators: Free admission per 10 students

Seats are still available for the following films::
THE ROSA PARKS STORY by Julie Dash -
A WINTER TALE by Frances-Anne Solomon -
JOURNEY TO JUSTICE by Milton Bryan and Roger MacTair
POOR BOY'S GAME by Clement Virgo
AFRICA UNITE by Stephanie Black
THE AGRONOMIST by Jonathan Demme
DAUGHTERS OF THE DUST by Julie Dash
SPEAKERS FOR THE DEAD by Sudz Sutherland

BOOKING YOUR CLASS
For more information please contact:

Miki Nembhard,
ctyfilmfestival@gmail.com
416-598-1410