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Third Annual T&T Film Festival Opening
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Guests entering the Movie Towne cinema complex TriniView.com Reporters Event Date: September 17, 2008 Posted: September 20, 2008 The third annual Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival (TTFF) began with its opening ceremony on Wednesday 17th September, 2008, at the Movie Towne cinema complex. This highly anticipated film festival features virtuosos and novices in the field of cinematography and promises to give exciting and new dimensions to the world of film. Movie makers at different levels in the industry as well as several actors, actresses, behind-the-scenes personnel and movie aficionados were all present to partake in this grand event. LEFT: C.E.O. of Columbus Communications Trinidad and Flow Mr. John Reid, and Jane Reid According to Founder and Artistic Director of the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival, Mr. Bruce Paddington, in a statement from the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival website, the film festival will run for two weeks, from the 17th to the 30th of September and there will also be viewings in San Fernando, Tobago and the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine. He also intimated that, "We have many more films of every genre, for all ages, and we are screening the leading films from the MovieTowne Secondary Schools Short Film Competition as well as films produced by students from the University of the West Indies." Also featured is animation from Animae Caribe which offers, "...local and regional animations and workshops throughout the country." The aim of TTFF is "...to highlight the best films and videos from Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean and the Caribbean Diaspora in North America and Europe," and will include films in "...French, Dutch, Spanish or English reflecting the diversity of the region." Main sponsors of the event are the Trinidad and Tobago Film Company and Flow. UWI United Entertainers The evening began with a fiery introduction by the UWI United Entertainers who demonstrated their fire-breathing skills to the patrons who were in awe of their talent. These fire breathers, with their muscular bodies oiled and strong, tantalized observers giving them a glimpse of the artistic splendor that was to come. Arriving in fine style By sunset, guests began to arrive. The persons of the moment - the creators of the movies featured in the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival - arrived in Mini Cooper S Hatchbacks to the adoration of several fans and curious onlookers. They, as well as several other invited guests and patrons entered into the cinema red-carpet style posing for photographs and doing brief directors' interviews when summoned. Guests were then invited for cocktails before the start of the formal programme. Executive Director of the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival, Marina Salandy-Brown Marina Salandy-Brown, Executive Director of the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival provided opening remarks in the formal leg of the programme. She indicated that this year, the third anniversary of the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival, would feature sixty-seven films, shorts and prize-winning features including comedy, drama and animation. Brown promised that these were films to make ones, "...laugh, cry and think hard." Following were words by President and C.E.O. of Columbus Communications Trinidad and Flow, Mr. John Reid, who expressed congratulations to all in the film industry for their perseverance and hard work. Chairman of the Trinidad and Tobago Film Company, Ralph Maraj He was followed by Chairman of the Trinidad and Tobago Film Company, Ralph Maraj, who gave a brief history of this company. According to him, TTFC was created by the government for the specific purpose of the development of the local film industry and to promote the country as an international location for film. Maraj also said that the film company receives tax exemptions, administrative support and expenditure rebates from the government. He also expressed that eight feature films are expected to be released within the next two years which is a development that he is excited about. Executive Chairman of Movie Towne, Derek Chin Executive Chairman of Movie Towne, Derek Chin, said that films are an inspiration to us all and expressed kudos to those working behind the scenes. According to him, Movie Towne began as a dream for him because he loved a good movie and wanted to give Trinbagonians a world-class cinematic experience. The directors of Movie Towne, he said, are proud to be involved in this festival. LEFT: Director Michael New and Tony Hall Tony Hall introduced Michael New, director of several films including the featured film Florentino and the Devil who then gave a few words about his film-making experiences. After his brief speech about his time filming Florentino and the Devil, a presentation of flowers was given to him by Rhian Vialva. Roxanne Colthrust Roxanne Colthrust, Media and Promotions Director of Animae Caribe was last to address the gathering, congratulating all the directors and other personnel of the films presented in the festival and spoke about the role of animation in reaching the youth. An animation, Manipulation by Daniel Greaves The film viewing began with an animation, Manipulation, by Academy Award winner Daniel Greaves. This 1991 creation featured a cartoon character with its own mind who refused to follow the dictates and manipulation of the cartoonist's pen. The battle between cartoon and cartoonist ensued for about six minutes until the cartoonist eventually gave up, throwing the cartoon creation into the bin only for the cartoon to emerge from the bin free of the bondage of pen and paper. The audience truly enjoyed this humorous piece which earned Greaves an Academy Award in 1991. (See: Video) Florentino and the Devil Following this was the ninety minute 1995 film Florentino and the Devil (Florentino y el Diablo) by Trinidad and Tobago-born Director, Michael New. This film, inspired by Arvelo Torrealba's eponymous poem, features the protagonist Florentino who is a noted musician and an excellent horseman. Florentino is challenged to a musical extempore battle with the devil in which he ultimately wins, freeing the souls of the slaughtered nomadic peoples of a savannah land in Venezuela. The film is reminiscent of the Spaghetti Western classics of the mid-1900's but with a poetic twist and a cinematic drama present in some of the major film features of the 1990's. Within the film was a heavy Roman Catholic theme and an ominous and eerie feel that pervaded the movie. There was also a realism that was present in the film, made possible by the persons featured in the film including a nation of native Indians and the environment which was also made prominent in the film. New's artistic eye further made the movie-viewing more interesting. Guests at the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival Opening The Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival, themed "Our Voices, Our Stories, Our Films" will continue its fourteen day run until the 30th September ending with the 2008 films, Oliver Milne's The Cost of Living and Stephanie Black's feature-length documentary, Africa Unite: A Celebration of Bob Marley's Vision. Tickets are $20.00. Patrons of the festival are promised an enjoyable and educational experience that will give them a new perspective about local film and films that are not always made-for-Hollywood. T&T Film Festival Opening Ceremony 2008 in pictures: www.triniview.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=303203 Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival's Website: www.trinidadandtobagofilmfestival.com |