CALYPSO DREAMS AND FIRE IN BABYLON TO SCREEN IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK

NEW YORK (May 29, 2011) - The stage is set for the first CaribbeanTales New York Film Showcase at the Spike Lee Screening Room at Long Island University's Brooklyn Campus in New York on Saturday, June 11.
 
The inaugural one-day event, which brings the Caribbean Tourism Organization's
Caribbean Week in New York to a close, gets underway at 12 noon with a Filmmakers' Brunch followed by panel discussions, networking and the screening of two riveting films.
 
Frances-Anne Solomon, founder and CEO of CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution (CTWD), announced her pleasure at securing a facility named in honor of an outstanding filmmaker. "We expect the Caribbean film showcase will become an annual event where we can celebrate the work of top Caribbean films and filmmakers," said Solomon, who added that the showcase was also designed to integrate African American filmmakers into the "Caribbean conversation."

The brunch brings together filmmakers from the US, the Caribbean and its Diaspora who will explore synergies in areas of mutual interest.

The day's activities, which run from noon to 10 p.m., also include a gala "Rum and Fishcakes" reception and the screening of the riveting documentary "Fire in Babylon", the inspiring story of how a West Indies cricket side, one of the most gifted teams in sporting history, triumphed over its colonial masters. Earlier in the day, guests will watch "Calypso Dreams," arguably the best film ever made about calypso as it explores the roots of kaiso in Trinidad & Tobago.

CTWD, a member of the BIM Ventures family of entrepreneurs, has hosted two film festivals in Barbados, another in Canada, produced training workshops for filmmakers, and now has more than 60 films in its catalog.

The New York event is FREE to the public, however, patrons will have an opportunity to make pledges, donations or to bid on a selection of exciting silent auction items.

The Showcase is supported by the Barbados Tourism Authority, Brammer's Subway of Brooklyn, Caribbean Tourism Organization, the Consulate General of Barbados in New York, Caribbean International Network (CIN TV), Cockspur Rum, Distribution Specialist Michelle Materre, The Africa Channel and ZYNC TV.

For further information, visit www.caribbeantales-worldwide.com, www.youtube.com/ctwdfilms or www.caribbeanweekny.com.

About CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution 
CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution is the first full-service film distribution company in the English-speaking Caribbean, and aims to become the go-to solution for producers and buyers of Caribbean-themed content. The company holds marketing events through the CaribbeanTales Film Festival Group, and provides co-production services to producers. CTWD was founded by award-winning filmmaker Frances-Anne Solomon, and its principals include creative industries expert Dr. Keith Nurse, economist and businessman Dr. Terrence Farrell, media personality and producer Lisa Wickham, and filmmaker and writer Mary Wells. CTWD is a member of the BIM Ventures family of entrepreneurs.
 
Source: CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution  
 
Contact: Bevan Springer + 1 201 861-2056
                bevan@marketplaceexcellence.com

Newz and Goods

Hit For Six! opens the Travelling Caribbean Film Showcase in Barbados

Alison Saunders' timeless award winning film “Hit For Six”, distributed by  CTWD, will be the opening feature of the 3rd Travelling Caribbean Film Showcase when it screens in Barbados on Monday May 30th at the Errol Barrow Center for Creative Imagination. The film is the first Barbadian film to be included in the TCFS, and premiered with Spanish subtitles in Havana, Cuba last November at a screening hosted by the TCFS and the Barbados Embassy in Havana.

CaribbeanTales CEO Frances-Anne Solomon expressed pride and satisfaction at this achievement. "TCFS is a great initiative as it provides exposure for films throughout the English, Spanish, French and Dutch speaking Caribbean and even as far as Columbia." She also noted that this followed the sale of Hit For Six! to MNET, a major South African television network which was another breakthrough for Barbadian, and for Caribbean film.

Written and directed by Alison Saunders Hit For Six! is a fictional account of a playboy West Indies cricketer who must fight the demons of his past, including a match fixing charge, in order to find  love and earn the respect of his estranged father, a former great West Indies player.

"We are really delighted to be selected to break yet another barrier for Barbadian film by being subtitled in French and Spanish and included in the Caribbean Travelling Film Showcase. We believe this is critical as we seek greater integration with other language areas in the Caribbean and Latin America." said Alison Saunders, the film maker and the Managing Director of Blue Waters Productions.

CHILDREN OF GOD in Cinemas in NYC from May 20th.

CaribbeanTales screened this beautiful film to a sold out audience at CaribbeanTales 2011 in Barbados in March 2011. Now, we are delighted to congratulate director Kareen Mortimer on  the US theatrical Release of this brave and stunning film. Showtimes are 1:00 pm, 3:00pm, 5:05pm, 7:10pm and 9:35pm.

WHAT : CHILDREN OF GOD  by Kareen Mortimer
WHERE: The Quad Cinema @ 34 West 13th Street, New York, NY 10011
WHEN: From Friday May 20th, 2011 for one week.
Showtimes: 1:00, 3:00, 5:05, 7:10, 9:35 

Tickets can be purchased in-person at the Quad, or online at www.quadcinema.com. The Opening Weekend will be filled with parties, Q&A's and panels. 

More on CHILDREN OF GOD (movie website)

Children of God
104 min./USA
 
Against a backdrop of scaremongering and hate, the film introduces Jonny (Johnny Ferro), a creatively-blocked art student struggling with an obsessive-compulsive disorder that sees him cringe away from any human touch; Romeo (Stephen Tyrone Williams) a young man struggling with his obligations towards his family and his band; and the devoutly religious Lena Mackey (Margaret Laurena Kemp) an anti-gay activist whose hypocritical preacher husband has just given her a sexually-transmitted disease. On the Bahamian island of Eleuthera, these three people's paths collide, with life-changing results.
 
CLICK HERE TO VIEW TRAILER 

CTO WELCOMES CARIBBEANTALES NEW YORK FILM SHOWCASE

For Immediate Release 

Sylma Brown-Bramble of the Caribbean Tourism Organization. Photo credit: Margot Jordan Photo available here: http://tinyurl.com/sylma

NEW YORK (May 12, 2011) - The CaribbeanTales New York Film Showcase was described as a "fantastic addition" to Caribbean Week in New York by the island region's tourism body.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization, made up of the region's governments, enthusiastically welcomed the Film Showcase to the huge Caribbean Week festivities in New York and hinted the partnership may extend to other markets where similar festivals are produced.

Addressing community leaders and members of the North American press in Manhattan, Sylma Brown-Bramble, the Caribbean Tourism Organization's Director of The Americas, said New York generates the largest volume of business to the Caribbean and her organization was pleased that CaribbeanTales had become a new addition to the program of activities this year.

"Anything that happens in the Caribbean affects the tourism industry, positively or negatively - CaribbeanTales is one of the very positive (aspects) of the tourism industry," said Brown-Bramble.

The CTO executive saw the emergence of a new promotional tool for the region: "As the film industry takes wings in the Caribbean, CaribbeanTales is helping us to promote the (beauty of the) region."

The Film Showcase, an all-day affair, will screen on Saturday, June 11. The location will be announced shortly. 

Dr. Keith Nurse, Chairman, CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution. Photo Credit: Che Rodriguez
Photograph available here: http://tinyurl.com/drkeithnurse

Dr. Keith Nurse, Chairman of CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution (CTWD), saw synergies developing in the partnership with the CTO, especially with destination branding possibilities.

"In many respects, this is a marriage that will last a lifetime ... and we look forward to collaborating with the CTO in (New York), Toronto and other markets," pledged Dr. Nurse.

Director of the Shridath Ramphal Centre for International Trade Law, Policy and Services with the University of the West Indies in Barbados, Dr. Nurse said as the first and only distribution company for Caribbean audio-visual content, "we feel that we are making a critical contribution to the expansion of the creative sector."

The one year-old Barbadian company, a member of the BIM Ventures family of entrepreneurs, has hosted two film festivals in Barbados, one in Canada, training workshops for filmmakers, and now has more than 60 films in its product catalog.

"We (are on the move) to identify new locations, new destinations to showcase Caribbean work and to create the channels through which Caribbean content can be marketed."

CTWD's CEO Frances-Anne Solomon, a former BBC producer of 15 years, said it was cathartic to be part of the building of a movement "so powerful and important as the telling of our stories in film." "This has become my passion and my life's work, and what I feel is important is not just that we make films, but that we sell them internationally. That's why we started the distribution company - to put Caribbean film on the world stage alongside Hollywood, Bollywood, Nollywood and the British film industry."

Barbados' Consul General at New York Lennox Price congratulated Solomon and her team for their work thus far, and viewed the press launch as one of the steps towards the development of the film industry in Barbados, in keeping with the Government's thrust of developing the cultural industries.

His comments were also echoed by Campbell Rudder, the Barbados Tourism Authority's new Vice President of Marketing in the United States who believes much fruit remains to be borne by pitching Caribbean locations and presenting indigenous filmmakers for international projects.

For further information, visit www.caribbeantales-worldwide.com, www.youtube.com/ctwdfilms or www.caribbeanweekny.com.
 
About CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution
CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution is the first full-service film distribution company in the English-speaking Caribbean, and aims to become the go-to solution for producers and buyers of Caribbean-themed content. The company holds marketing events through the CaribbeanTales Film Festival Group, and provides co-production services to producers. CTWD was founded by award-winning filmmaker Frances-Anne Solomon, and its principals include creative industries expert Dr. Keith Nurse (Chair), economist and businessman Dr. Terrence Farrell, media personality and producer Lisa Wickham, and filmmaker and writer Mary Wells. CTWD is a member of the BIM Ventures family of entrepreneurs.

Contact: Bevan Springer + 1 201 861-2056
              bevan@marketplaceexcellence.com

MEDIA ADVISORY: PRESS CONFERENCE - CARIBBEANTALES NEW YORK FILM SHOWCASE/CARIBBEAN WEEK IN NEW YORK/ BARBADOS TOURISM UPDATE

WHO: Founder and CEO of CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution, Frances-Anne Solomon; Lennox Price, Consul General of Barbados at New York; Sylma Brown-Bramble, Director of the Americas, Caribbean Tourism Organization; Campbell Rudder, Vice President of Marketing, Barbados Tourism Authority.
 
WHAT: Press Conference to announce The CaribbeanTales New York Film Showcase to be held during Caribbean Week in New York on Saturday, June 11; updates from the Caribbean Tourism Organization about the week's activities; and to introduce the new Vice President of Marketing of the Barbados Tourism Authority.
 
WHEN: Wednesday, May 4, 2011 at 5 p.m.
 
WHERE: Consulate General of Barbados/ Barbados Tourism Authority, 820 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017 - 5th Floor Between 43rd and 44th Streets.
 
WHY: The creativity of Caribbean filmmakers will be a focus of the Caribbean Tourism Organization's Caribbean Week in New York, June 4 to 11, 2011. CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution has announced a new partnership with the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) which will feature trailers of top Caribbean films during CTO meetings and events, and a day-long Caribbean film showcase with panel discussions and networking on Saturday, June 11. The Showcase has received early support from the Barbados Tourism Authority, the Consulate General of Barbados in New York, Caribbean International Network (CIN TV) and Distribution Specialist Michelle Materre.
 
RSVP Contact:
Bevan Springer, Marketplace Excellence + 1 201 861-2056 - bevan@marketplaceexcellence.com

Watch: “Remixed & Remastered: Defining & Distributing The Black Image In An Era Of Globalization

Michelle Materre's conference "Remixed and Remastered: Defining and Distributing the Black Image..." took place in New York City on April 9/10. Most of you know that Michelle has been very involved with the CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution project during our first year - as a tutor and facilitator at our Toronto Launch and Market Acces Program, our Barbados Content Incubator, and as a consultant on marketing and distribution.
I am grateful to have been invited to this memorable conference, where I met many extraordinary people. There were great discussions, and a really positive vibe. Here is a clip from the panel that I sat on.

CARIBBEAN ENTREPRENEUR BACKS CREATIVE ECONOMY

NEW YORK (April 21, 2011) - The creativity of Caribbean filmmakers will be a focus of the Caribbean Tourism Organization's Caribbean Week in New York, June 4 to 11, 2011.
Frances-Anne Solomon, founder and CEO of CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution, announced a new partnership with the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) which will feature trailers of top Caribbean films during CTO meetings and events during Caribbean Week, and a day-long Caribbean Film Showcase with panel discussions and networking on Saturday, June 11.

"By presenting the best and brightest of our filmmakers, our intention is to create a platform on the world stage for Brand Caribbean," said Solomon, who noted that the linkages between film and the bread and butter tourism industry are obvious, but have not been exploited.

Sylma Brown-Bramble of CTO (left) and Frances-Anne Solomon in New York last week. Photo available at: http://tinyurl.com/ctwdcto  

The Creative Economy Report 2010, recently launched at the United Nations, shows creative industries have more resilience to the global economic crisis than traditional manufacturing industries. Global exports of creative goods and services - ideas and creativity-centered industries such as arts and crafts, audiovisuals, books, design, films, music, new media,visual and performing arts - have more than doubled from 2002 to 2008, reaching nearly US$600 billion, according to the UN publication.

"In a Caribbean context, films create powerful and easily accessible images," said Solomon. "The Caribbean can be promoted through feature films that tell our stories and documentaries that sensitize wide audiences about our identity, but also through local commercials or music videos which help to boost the creative economy," she advised.

Nigeria's US$2.75 billion film industry is the third largest in the world, following the US and India. Nigeria's "Nollywood" produces more than 1,000 films annually, creating thousands of jobs and is the country's second most important industry after oil. In recognition of its importance, the Government has invested in the film industry, reforming policies andproviding training to promote film production and distribution. And, in a highly unusual move, the World Bank also invests in "Nollywood".

Sylma Brown-Bramble , Director of The Americas of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, thanked the Toronto-based Solomon for her company's participation in Caribbean Week this year, noting the integration of the overseas Caribbean communities in the week's activities was heartening.

"We are encouraged by the participation of the Diaspora in Caribbean Week this year and anticipate forging an even closer relationship with the community," said Brown.

Dominion, the new Bajan-American web series is one of the films that will be profiled at CaribbeanTales NY Film Showcase on June 11th.

Solomon, who hails from Trinidad, said more details about film screenings and events will be shared in the weeks ahead. She thanked the CTO,  the Consulate General of Barbados in New York, the Caribbean International Network (CIN TV), and distribution specialist Michelle Materre for their early support of The CaribbeanTales New York Film Showcase. "We look forward to inviting more partners on board as we launch a movement to promote the region in a more creative and sustainable manner."

For further information, visit www.caribbeantales-worldwide.com or www.caribbeanweekny.com.

About CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution
 CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution is the first full-service film distribution company in the English-speaking Caribbean, and aims to become the go-to solution for descriminating producers and buyers of Caribbean-themed content. The company holds marketing events through the CaribbeanTales Film Festival Group, and provides co-production services to producers. CTWD was founded by award-winning filmmaker Frances-Anne Solomon, and its principals include creative industries expert Dr. Keith Nurse (Chair), economist and businessman Dr. Terrence Farrell, media personality and producer Lisa Wickham, and filmmaker and writer Mary Wells. CTWD is a member of the Barbados Business Enterprise Corporation (BIM Ventures) that provides seed and venture capital services to businesses.

For more information please contact:
Bevan Springer : + 1 201 861-2056
bevan@marketplaceexcellence.com