Barbados Film will open CT2011 @ Island Inn

The Barbados premiere of “A Handful of Dirt”, the acclaimed debut feature of Barbadian filmmaker and visual artist Russell Watson will kick off the CaribbeanTales Film Festival, Symposium & Marketplace on March 16, 2011 at the New Island Inn. This was disclosed at the Official Launch today which was attended by media, sponsors and a cross section of persons in the film and cultural industries as well as the wider business community.

CEO of CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution (CTWD) and award-winning film maker, Frances-Anne Solomon in her address at the launch disclosed an exciting follow up to last year’s programme which is designed to further boost the local and regional film industry particularly in the area of content development.

“Our Motto for this year is Vision, Momentum and Action... Our aim is to provide an injection of creativity with good business sense into the exploding Caribbean industry.” Solomon said.

She revealed that CT2011 which will run to March 20, will feature a 5-day intensive Content Incubator aimed at developing market-driven audio-visual content. The programme will also include screenings, workshops, a symposium and market place.

“Our focus for 2011 is on the exploration of popular indigenous stories and characters that will attract large audiences and funders, and contribute to a sustainable regional industry” Solomon noted.

Russell Watson with CT2011's Frances-Anne Solomon

Dr Terrence Farrell, a Director of CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution revealed that the 2011 event will once again feature a Symposium. Farrell who is the coordinator of the Symposium and former CEO of One Caribbean Media noted that the Symposium aims to bring together key players from around the world to build a viable regional audio visual industry.

“The first symposium laid out the obstacles and presented some models. This year we want to get more precise and we are bringing together regional and international players to help us create an actionable blueprint” he said.

In 2010, the inaugural Barbados edition of the festival attracted 76 film makers, buyers, media professionals and visitors from the Caribbean, North America, the UK and South Africa to these shores and was a major boost for the fledgling Barbadian film industry.

Established in May 2010, CTWD is a full service marketing and distribution company that acquires exclusive, long term rights to Caribbean-themed content for television, educational, home entertainment and Internet distribution. The company also holds marketing events through CaribbeanTales Festivals and Events, and provides co-production services to producers.

CTWD is founded by award-winning filmmaker Frances-Anne Solomon. Other principals include creative industries specialist Dr Keith Nurse, economist and businessman Dr Terrence Farrell, media personality and producer Lisa Wickham, and Jamaican filmmaker Mary Wells. CTWD is a member of the Barbados Entrepreneurs Venture Capital Fund that provides Seed and Venture Capital Services.

CaribbeanTales 2011 @ Island Inn, Barbados is sponsored by Island Inn, The Starcom Network, Ultimax TV, Lisa Wickham's Ezone, the Commonwealth Foundation, SFA Communications , Hall-e-wood Productions , Truly Caribbean, Morenamedia , HAMA Productions, Barbados Government Information Service, Caribbean Tourism Organisation, Caribbean Media Corporation, US EMBASSY, Animae Caribe, Merville Lynch Prods, Steinhill Studios , Blue Light Media, and Autonomous Entertainment.