CaribbeanTales 2011 and U.S. Embassy, Barbados Host Week of Free Film Screenings for Secondary School Children

Trapped In An Elevator by Barbadian Rommel Hall

CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution (CTWD) will partner with the U.S. Embassy for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean and the National Library Service to host a week of free film screenings for Secondary School students across Barbados.

The screenings will be the first of a dynamic series of  film-related events that will  take place during February and March under the banner of “CaribbeaTales 2011”.

CEO and Founder of CTWD, award-winning filmmaker Frances-Anne Solomon., said that CaribbeanTales is committed to the use of audio-visual content to educate and provide a positive image of people of African heritage - and by extension Caribbean people - to young people.

“We are delighted to partner with the U.S. Embassy because of the historical commonalities between peoples of the Caribbean and African-Americans in the United States. By showing Caribbean short films alongside African American films, we highlight those synergies, and also demonstrate to young people what we can achieve when we work together.”

Joseph Schaller, Deputy Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Embassy, speaking about the initiative said: “People of African heritage have made profound contributions in every sphere of human endeavor within the U.S. and across the world. Black History Month recognizes and celebrates these achievements, making the films pertinent to all audiences regardless of ethnicity.”

The partnership will bring five exciting films about the African American experience, and five short films by Caribbean filmmakers to the National Library main branch, Independence Square from February 21- 25 with each day beginning at 9:00 a.m. “To Kill A Mockingbird” is the film adaptation of a CXC English Literature text that focuses on Atticus Finch, a lawyer during the Depression-era South, who defends a black man against an undeserved rape charge and his kids against prejudice. Other films to be shown during the week are “Legacy”, “The Blind Side”, “Freedom Writers” and “Antwone Fisher”. Following the screenings, there will be Talk-Back sessions where students will have an opportunity to discuss topics related to the film. 

The short films to be shown include audience favourite “Trapped in an Elevator”, by Barbadian Rommel Hall, the entertaining Trinidadian film “Directions”, by Renee Pollonais, “Trou d”Air” by Martinican filmmaker Karine Gama, The Wonderful World of Delroy Kincaid by Dominican Powys Dewhurst, an extraordinary animated tale, and “The Legend Buchi Fil” a beautiful historical fable set during slavery, by Surinamese German Gruber.

Russell Watson's A Hand Full of Dirt will open CT2011 on March 16

The CaribbeanTales Film Festival 2011 @ Island Inn, Barbados runs from March 14- 20, 2011 commencing with the Opening Night Film, “A Hand Full of Dirt”, directed by Russell Watson. The festival will also include an Incubator Programme for Caribbean audio-visual content development starting on March 14,  a Symposium,  Marketplace and workshops as well as screenings of films from the Caribbean and diaspora.

~~~ENDS~~~

ABOUT Caribbean Tales Worldwide Distribution Inc ( CTWD)

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 Business Enterprise Corporation that provides Seed and Venture Capital Services.