CARIBBEANTALES FILM FESTIVAL UPDATE!

UPDATE! A host of Trinidadian celebrities and filmmakers will be descending on Toronto to attend the CaribbeanTales 2nd Annual Film Festival - among them celebrated British film pioneer Horace Ove, recently awarded a CBE for his contributions to film in the UK; acclaimed Hollywood music video director Julien "Lil X" Lutz, whose cinematic style has made him the director of choice of many A-list Hollywood artists; and Gayelle The Channel's Founder & CEO Christopher Laird whose prolific and innovative TV station, launched just 3 years ago, boasts 100% local content, and a viewership exceeding 1 million viewers internationally.

Read all about our Invited Guests here!

The Festival's line-up also includes films by film innovator Yao Ramesar, award-winning video artist Richard Fung, producer extraordinaire Claire Prieto, Frances-Anne Solomon, Janine Fung, Kaz Ove, Inge Blackman, Sharon Lewis, Michele Clarke, Roger McTair, Selwyn Jacobs, Shani Mootoo, Elspeth Duncan, Asha Lovelace, Camille Selvon Abrahams, Danielle Dieffenthaller, and many more.

Peruse our SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE here.

Click HERE for more information about the Festival
Or visit us at CaribbeanTales.ca

The CaribbeanTales Annual Film Festival, Canada's one and only forum showcasing the best of Caribbean cinema, at home and abroad, classical and creole, digital and celluloid, this year puts the spotlight on the burgeoning film & TV industry of Trinidad & Tobago.

July 13 to 15, 2007 at the NFB Mediatheque and Workman Theatre.

The CaribbeanTales 2nd Annual Film Festival is generously sponsored by: the Trinidad & Tobago Film Company, Eye Weekly, Titan Tours, NFB Mediatheque, The Canadian Immigrant, The Multicultural History Society of Ontario, FLOW 93.5 FM, CKLN 88.1 FM, CIUT 89.5 FM, CHRY 105.5 FM, CaribWorldNews.com, @Wallace Studios, MyMediaBiz.com, Steam Whistle Brewing, Harlem Restaurant, Irie Food Joint, Island Foods, Planet Crystal Sports Bar and Restaurant, S.M. Jaleel & Co. Ltd., and Tropical Treets.

OUR SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

CLICK The IMAGE TO VIEW OUR "SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE"

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILED SCHEDULE

Horace Ove and Lil X – just two of several Trinidadian icons taking part in this summer’s CaribbeanTales Film Festival

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Toronto – June 28, 2007

A host of Trinidadian celebrities and filmmakers will be in Toronto this summer to participate in the 2nd Annual CaribbeanTales Film Festival. The celebration of Caribbean film and television will feature legendary filmmaker Horace Ove, music video guru ‘Lil X” and Gayelle the Channel’s Chris Laird – just to name a few. This year’s focus is on the vibrant film, television and video productions of Trinidad and Tobago and runs from July 13 to 15, 2007 at the NFB Mediatheque and Workman Theatre.

CaribbeanTales will honour the illustrious career of legendary British-Trinidadian film director Horace Ove at the festival’s opening night presentation, with a screening of Ove’s thought-provoking feature documentary Dream to Change the World, about activist and writer John La Rose. In addition, on Sunday July 15th, there will be a special screening of his classic 1975 feature Pressure, which was banned by its own funders, the British Film Institute, because it voiced the growing frustrations of Britain’s disenfranchised Black communities at the time. Now, 30 years later, ”Britain’s first Black feature film” continues to resonate with audiences worldwide, and has a particular relevance here in Toronto, where youth violence is an ongoing concern. The screening will be followed by an intimate Q&A with the multi award-winning filmmaker, who recently received a CBE, (Commander of the British Empire - one of Britain’s highest honours), for his contribution to film in the UK.

The Festival’s Spotlight will be turned on the “phenomenon” of Trinidad’s dynamic local TV station Gayelle The Channel, and its founder & CEO Christopher Laird, who was named by leading Toronto video artist and critic Richard Fung, as "one of the most important filmmakers working in the Anglophone Caribbean." The fast-growing young station features 100% local content, and reaches a broad audience of over a million viewers internationally through conventional broadcasting, cable TV, and live Internet streaming. On Saturday 14th July the Festival will feature a screening of Laird’s brand new film A Day in the Life of De Gayelle, followed by an up close and personal Q&A session with the Channel’s prolific founder.

Critically acclaimed for his cinematic style and vivid imagination, Julien "Lil X" Lutz will be featured in a showcase of short films and music videos, on Sunday 15th July. Lutz has directed over 100 music videos and commercials, and worked with a host of A-list celebrities.

The festival also welcomes film artist Robert Yao Ramesar, whose 2006 feature Sista God opened at the Toronto International Film Festival last year, and will screen again at the CaribbeanTales Film Festival on July 14th.

Other filmmakers featured in the program include celebrated video artist Richard Fung, respected producer Claire Prieto, Janine Fung, Georgia Popplewell, Sharon Lewis, Michele Clarke, Roger McTair, Selwyn Jacobs, Shani Mootoo, Elspeth Duncan, Camille Selvon Abrahams, Danielle Dieffenthaller, and many more.


The 2nd Annual CaribbeanTales Film Festival is under the patronage of the Consulate General of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the Trinidad & Tobago Film Company, in association with the National Film Board of Canada (NFB), and the Multicultural History Society of Ontario.

The program of films will be co-curated by Bruce Paddington, Programmer of the Trinidad & Tobago Film Festival, one of the region’s most important showcases for new Caribbean cinema, and Frances-Anne Solomon, Artistic Director of CaribbeanTales.

The festival will also host the Launch of “TALK IT OUT” a new CaribbeanTales initiative that will use Frances-Anne Solomon’s award-winning feature film A Winter Tale to promote discussion and anti-violence strategies among youth across Canada.

CaribbeanTales, a non-profit organization founded by filmmaker Frances-Anne Solomon, is Canada's premier multimedia company producing educational films, videos, radio programs, audio books, theatre plays, web sites and events that showcase the rich heritage of Caribbean storytelling, traditional and contemporary, digital and analogue, at home and across the Diaspora.

The CaribbeanTales 2nd Annual Film Festival is generously sponsored by: Eye Weekly, Titan Tours, the Trinidad & Tobago Film Company, NFB Mediatheque, The Canadian Immigrant, FLOW 93.5 FM, CKLN 88.1 FM, CIUT 89.5 FM, CHRY 105.5 FM, CaribWorldNews.com, @Wallace Studios, MyMediaBiz.com, Steam Whistle Brewing, Harlem Restaurant, Irie Food Joint, Island Foods, Planet Crystal Sports Bar and Restaurant, S.M. Jaleel & Co. Ltd., and Tropical Treets.

Available for interviews:
Frances-Anne Solomon, Artistic Director

Ticket Information:
Tickets $5 per screening
Festival passes $30
For more information, please visit:
www.CaribbeanTales.ca


For media inquires, please contact:
Pennant Media Group
Kevin Pennant
kp@pennantmediagroup.com
T 416.596.2978

CaribbeanTales Film Festival puts the spotlight on Trinidad.

We all know Trinidad & Tobago has given us: the world's best Soca singers, Carnival bandleaders, novellists, poets, pan players and cricketers. It's also called "HOME" by some of the most recognised film makers working internationally today.

The CaribbeanTales Annual Film Festival, Canada's one and only forum showcasing the best of Caribbean cinema, at home and abroad, classical and creole, digital and celluloid, this year puts the spotlight on the burgeoning film & TV industry of Trinidad & Tobago.

July 13 to 15, 2007 at the NFB Mediatheque and Workman Theatre.

Read the full Press Release here.

Or visit us at www.CaribbeanTales.ca

The CaribbeanTales 2nd Annual Film Festival is generously sponsored by: Eye Weekly, Titan Tours, the Trinidad & Tobago Film Company, NFB Mediatheque, The Canadian Immigrant, FLOW 93.5 FM, CKLN 88.1 FM, CIUT 89.5 FM, CHRY 105.5 FM, @Wallace Studios, MyMediaBiz.com, Steam Whistle Brewing, Harlem Restaurant, Irie Food Joint, Island Foods, Planet Crystal Sports Bar and Restaurant, and S.M. Jaleel & Co. Ltd.

CaribbeanTales returns with its second annual film festival, and puts the spotlight on Trinidad & Tobago

Toronto – June 23, 2007

The CaribbeanTales Film Festival is set to hit Toronto again this summer! Created by Frances-Anne Solomon, the festival showcases the best films to emerge from the Caribbean region and this year's focus is on the vibrant film and television productions of Trinidad & Tobago.The festival will run from July 13 to 15, 2007 at the NFB’s Mediatheque.

The 2nd Annual CaribbeanTales Film Festival is under the patronage of the Consulate General of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and the Trinidad & Tobago Film Company, in association with the National Film Board of Canada (NFB).

This year’s lineup will highlight some of the biggest Trinidadian talents to hit North America, like Julien "Lil X" Lutz, whose cinematic style and vivid imagination, have made him the director of choice for a host of celebrities including P. Diddy, Usher, Sean Paul, Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keys, and others.

The festival will honour legendary British-Trinidadian director Horace Ove, now CBE (Commander of the British Empire - recently awarded, for his contributions to filmmaking in the UK). His groundbreaking 1975 film Pressure was banned by its own funders, the British Film Institute, because it documented the growing frustrations of Britain's black communities at the time.

Our Spotlight will be turned on the phenomenon of local TV station Gayelle the Channel, and its prolific CEO, Christopher Laird. The fast-growing upstart station features 100% local content, and reaches over a million viewers internationally through conventional broadcasting, cable TV, and live Internet streaming.

The festival will also celebrate filmmakers from across the diaspora including film innovator Yao Ramesar, award-winning video artist Richard Fung, producer extraordinaire Claire Prieto, Frances-Anne Solomon, Jeanine Fung, Sharon Lewis, Michele Clarke, Roger McTair, Selwyn Jacobs, Shani Mootoo, Elspeth Duncan, Asha Lovelace, Camille Selvon Abrahams, Danielle Dieffenthaller, and many more.

The program is co-curated by Frances-Anne Solomon, filmmaker/producer and Artistic Director of CaribbeanTales, and Bruce Paddington, Programmer of the Trinidad & Tobago Film Festival, one of the regions most important showcases for contemporary Caribbean cinema.

With a growing international awareness of the Caribbean's burgeoning media industry, the festival aims to entertain and educate through a series of industry panels, filmmakers' discussions, and up-close-and-personal one-on-one interviews with local and visiting filmmkers.

About CaribbeanTales:
CaribbeanTales, a non-profit organization, founded by award-winning filmmaker & producer Frances-Anne Solomon, is Canada's premier multimedia company, producing educational films, videos, radio programs, audio books, theatre plays, web sites and events that showcase the rich heritage of Caribbean storytelling, traditional and contemporary, at home and across the diaspora.

The CaribbeanTales 2nd Annual Film Festival is generously sponsored by: Eye Weekly, Titan Tours, the Trinidad & Tobago Film Company, NFB Mediatheque, The Canadian Immigrant, FLOW 93.5 FM, CKLN 88.1 FM, CIUT 89.5 FM, CHRY 105.5 FM, @Wallace Studios, MyMediaBiz.com, Steam Whistle Brewing, Harlem Restaurant, Irie Food Joint, Island Foods, Planet Crystal Sports Bar and Restaurant, and S.M. Jaleel & Co. Ltd.

Ticket Information:

Tickets $5 per screening
Festival passes $30

For more information, please visit:
www.CaribbeanTales.ca

For media enquiries, please contact:
Pennant Media Group
Kevin Pennant
kp@pennantmediagroup.com
T 416.596.2978

(Photos: Legendary filmmaker Horace Ove, celebrated music video director Julien "Lil X" Lutz, and prolific Trinidad-based television station Gayelle The Channel)

Drum Beat

The multimedia artist Elspeth Duncan from Trinidad recently spent time here (lucky us!), and posted this about her experiences working with us on a documentary about Master drummer Muhtadi Thomas:

The name Muhtadi means ‘rightly guided’. As he says, if each one of us looks back on our lives, we will see that we have been rightly guided to be where we are now.


I came to Canada to do a course in reflexology. Two days after my arrival, when the course was unexpectedly canceled due to low enrollment, another door opened in the form of an opportunity to work with Leda Serene Films on a documentary about the drummer/musician, Muhtadi. This documentary is the fourth in Leda Serene’s documentary series on Canadian-Caribbean Musicians and Composers for Bravo!

It felt ironic to be working on a documentary about a drummer, since prior to coming to Toronto, I kept feeling that I wanted to experience drum circles while being here. Also, a friend of mine (who did not know I had been feeling this), told me before I left that she ‘saw me‘ carrying my drum on the plane. In fact she advised me to and I told her I didn’t feel like the extra luggage (although I have since bought a drum while being here), so my heart will have to be ‘my drum’. It may sound kind of soppy to say that, but looking back, it reflects what Muhtadi said later on: that once you are alive, you are a drummer, since we all have a heart, which is a drum, beating the rhythm of life and connecting us. “The drum is love. And everybody loves to love.”

I had never met Muhtadi before and, while I must have heard his name, I was not aware of him and his work. On my first day at Leda Serene, surrounded by a welcoming staff of people and cats, I sat and scrolled through 15 tapes of previously shot ‘Muhtadi doc’ footage. There, amidst the montage of images, sounds and interviews, I encountered Muhtadi as ‘the centre’. He is at the centre of himself, as much as he is at the centre of the world of souls around him. (I say ‘souls’ because his son, Talib, in his interview, casually spoke of his father attracting ‘souls’. I found it interesting that he did not use the word ‘people’). Souls of all ages, genders, nationalities, races, creeds and professions have gathered around the drum and Muhtadi. No doubt, in ways specific to each, they have been moved and inspired by him.

Before the shoot, I decided to meet Muhtadi by physically going to one of his Saturday drum classes. That day it was being held outdoors, on Hanlan’s Point (Toronto Islands). He brought a djembe for me and we rode across together on the ferry. He is not an overly talkative person, but whenever he speaks, what he says is interesting and meaningful. That day, by being a part of his class, I realised that he does not need to speak loudly, if at all, to command love, attention and respect from those around him.

On the day that Jeff (production co-ordinator), Powys (camera), Ayol (sound) and I went to Muhtadi’s home to interview him, I asked him if he would open our filming session in the same way that he opens his drumming sessions, with his hands playing a prayer (for centering) on the drum skin. As we watched him do this, I felt drawn in … and there came a point where he and the drum merged, becoming one. It struck me in that moment that I am yet to truly connect with and know my own 'drum' as deeply. That may be so for many of us. From meeting Muhtadi, I realize there is no big secret to be discovered or revelation to be had where this is concerned. The answer is in his simple statement: “I just live my life.”

Thanks to Frances Anne, everyone at Leda Serene Films, Sniper and crew (cats), Powys, Ayol, Jay (editor) and Muhtadi for this experience.

The Muhtadi International Drumming Festival, "celebrating the drum as an international instrument,... and that nurtures a lifelong appreciation of the drum as a unifying symbol" will bring together professional drummers from all over the world - free all weekend - at Queens Park, on June 2-3rd.

Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival 2007: Call for Submissions.

A celebration of the best films from and about the Caribbean and its Diaspora, the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival (TTFF) 2007 will be held from September to October 2007.

It will open at MovieTowne, Port of Spain Trinidad, and journey to St. Augustine, San Fernando and Tobago. The Festival will end with the Animae Caribe Animation and New Media festival that will be held at the University of the West Indies from October 25-27.

TTFF 2007 seeks to highlight excellence in filmmaking from the Caribbean and its Diaspora and to expose Trinidad and Tobago audiences to films about ourselves, made by ourselves.

The Festival accepts films made by Caribbean people, by persons of Caribbean descent living in the Diaspora and by international filmmakers who have made films about the Caribbean in the Caribbean spirit.

TTFF 2006 is held in association with the Trinidad and Tobago Film Company, MovieTowne, Gayelle The Channel, Newsday, Hotel Normandie and Londsdale Saatchi and Saatchi.

The Festival has as its objectives:

- The establishment of the premiere film festival in the Caribbean, thus raising the profile of Trinidad and Tobago as it proceeds on its path to becoming the leading film country in the region.

- The screening of a variety of high quality films and videos from or about the Caribbean and its Diaspora.

- The screening of select films and videos that have received assistance from Trinidad and Tobago Film Company’s Production Assistance and Script Development Programme.

- The facilitation of public education by inviting Caribbean and international filmmakers and professionals to introduce and discuss their films and/or filmmaking practices and run workshops.

- The encouragement of young filmmakers to produce films and videos and enter the local film industry. In this respect the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival will screen the award-winning films from the 2007 MovieTowne School Filmmaking competition as well as select student films from the University of the West Indies.

- The cultivation of a regional audience for regionally produced films.

- The ongoing implementation of training and seminars to assist in the development of the Trinidad and Tobago and Caribbean film industry.

Call for Submissions:

The Festival intends to screen films in 35mm, NTSC DVD or NTSC mini DV formats. Entries of various lengths will be accepted. All initial submissions should be in NTSC DVD and must be in English or with English subtitles. The Festival will celebrate the Caribbean in all of its diversity and explore a number of sub-themes.

All the films screened at the Festival will be eligible for People’s Choice Awards in the following categories:
Best Feature Film
Best Documentary
Best Short (under 15mins)
Best Music Video
People’s Choice inany category

Work will be accepted in the following categories:

· Narrative

· Documentary

· Experimental

· Music Video

There is no submission fee. The films must be accompanied by the following information:

· A synopsis

· Length

· Year of production

· Genre

· Producer, Director and cast if appropriate

· Short biography of director

· Festivals/Awards

· Photographs and publicity materials

· Contact information.

The deadline for the submissions is JUNE 30, 2007. The Festival organizers will not return submitted materials, and only successful applicants will be notified. Enquiries can be directed to ttfilmfest@wow.net . Please submit your entries to:

Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival
The Trinidad and Tobago Film Company
Suite 015
Bretton Hall
16 Victoria Avenue
Port of Spain
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO.

TTFF 2007 reserves the right to: determine the eligibility of the submissions to be screened at the Festival; appropriate time slots; use excerpts of the films for publicity purposes.