CaribbeanTales celebrates the success of its 2nd Barbados Festival.

Bridgetown – March 21, 2011

The much buzzed about CaribbeanTales 2011 Film Festival came to a close last Sunday night following seven event-filled days that celebrated the exploding film and television industry across the Caribbean region and it's Diaspora. Filmmakers and film enthusiasts from around the region and the world come together for a week of cultural celebration, that took place at the Island Inn, and George Washington House.

The festival's Gala Opening on March 16th at Frank Collymore Hall was held before a packed to capacity audience of 500 patrons.

And at the closing night screening of Raoul Peck's "Moloch Tropical" , CaribbeanTales CEO Frances-Anne Solomon thanked all participants and sponsors for making this year’s theme “Vision Momentum Action! ” a huge success.

"Even though it was very hard work, in a lean year, the support we have had has been tremendous." She continued: "The pay off is a satisfied and nourished audience base, stimulated by rich dialogue about our industry. This will carry our team forward for a long time to come."

The festival's highlight was the unique CT Content Incubator , facilitated by US Marketing and Distribution consultant Michele Matterre, with a special animation incubator led by Camille Selvon Abrahams of Anime Caribe. Selected filmmakers participated in an intensive immersion in the creative, business and marketing aspects of the industry, with support from international industry experts, culminating in a pitch session.

Another highlight was the CT Symposium that provided a comprehensive overview of the regional industry, starting with a wonderful and inspired keynote adress delivered by Mia Mottley.

Many special guests travelled from abroad to take part in the activities including: Hollywood Director Neema Barnette, Berlinale Talent Campus Director Mattijs Knol, World Cinema Fund Director Sonja Heinen, Africa Channel EVP of Corporate Affairs Mark Watson, Kethiwe Ngcobo, Head of Drama at the South African Broadcasting Corporation and award-winning Canadian composer John Welsman who delivered a master class  on sound and music for film.

Also present was a stellar contingent from the Caribbean region including EZONE's Lisa Wickham and Sheldon Felix,  Antigua's HAMA TV - Mitzi and Howard Allen,  Dominica's Alwin Bully and Film Commissioner for Dominica Anita Bully, Guadeloupe Film Commissioner Tony Coco-Viloin and FEMI Director Frank Solvet.

Diaspora filmmakers also were present in numbers including Faisal Lutchmedia  from Montreal, and Dawn Wilkinson from Toronto,

Another high point took place on Saturday evening with the Awards Ceremony honoring Special Guest Hollywood Director Neema Barnette,

Ms Barnette who came from Los Angeles  to receive the Award, spoke movingly of the importance of the CaribbeanTales. "For someone who has worked hard for everything I have ever got, it is wonderful to see what this festival provides for filmmakers" she said.

This was followed by the world premiere screening of Howard and Mitzi Allen's eagerly anticipated fourth feature film THE SKIN, followed by a talk back session with the filmmakers. 

Mitzi Allen said that it was important to herself and her husband, filmmaker director Howard Allen to present the film at CaribbeanTales, even though it was not quite finished. “I really liked the feedback we got from industry folks. It was honest and constructive. A pre-screening outside of Antigua was the best thing we ever did,” said Mitzi who is the Executive Producer for the film.

Most films screened to sold out audiences at the George Washington House cinema. These featured some local regional and international premieres,  including Miquel Jalofre's extraordinary exploration of Jamaican dancehall music Hit Me With Music, and the stunning series premiere of Dominion by Bajan dream team Sean Michael Field and Rodney Smith.

CaribbeanTales 2011 Film Festival  was sponsored by: Island Inn, The Starcom Network, Ultimax TV, Lisa Wickham's Ezone, the Commonwealth Foundation, SFa Communications, Hall-e-wood Productions, Morenamedia, HAMA Productions, Barbados Government Information Service, Caribbean Tourism Organisation, The United Nations Development Program, Caribbean Media Corporation, US Embassy, Animae Caribe, Merville Lynch Prods, Creative Junction, Barbados National Bank, Steinhill Studios, Blue Light Media, and Autonomous Entertainment.

CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution the region's first full-service film distribution company, is founded by award-winning filmmaker Frances-Anne Solomon, and principals are 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 that provides Seed and Venture Capital Services.

For further information, please contact: SFA Communications Inc, info@sfacommunications.com

Students exposed to Film Festival

By John Sealy | Mon, March 14, 2011 - 3:47 PM

School children from across the island got a taste of what is expected at  the upcoming Caribbean Tales Film Festival 2011 when they met for a showing of the American film “All You Got” at St. George Resource Centre, St. George this morning.

United States Chargé d’Affaires Dr Brent Hardt, expressed delight at having the students and teachers who represented schools including Alexandra, Ellerslie, Foundation, Garrison, Grantley Adams, Lester Vaughan, and St. Winifred’s.

Multi-award winning film and television director Neema Barnette was on hand to be part of the opening agenda for the festival which runs until March 20.

Barnette is one of the featured artists for Caribbean Tales Film Festival 2011.

More support needed for regional film industry

2011-03-18

Film Makers Need To Roll Up Their Sleeves

The Caribbean film industry can be a viable and profitable industry, but it lacks the support needed to take it to the next level.

Chief Executive Officer of CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution, Frances Anne Solomon, made the point at the opening of the second annual CaribbeanTales Film Festival and Symposium, at the Frank Collymore Hall last night.

"We don't have the broadcasters on board, we don't have what countries like the UK, US and Canada have, [which are] incentives across the board, across the region to support the region to make the product and make it viable... and make it work as an industry," she said.

Solomon admitted it was difficult to start CaribbeanTales, as well as stage the film festival, but the team pressed on in order to create a structure to assist other film makers to work and make money.

However, she urged that the film makers must be ready to put their hands to the plough to reap the rewards.

"We have to be prepared to roll up our sleeves and do the dirty work. It is a very tough industry, but it is going to deliver returns..."

Manager of Island Inn and platinum sponsor of the film festival, Peter Odle, said he believed the industry could be beneficial to the region.

Noting that CaribbeanTales came at a "critical juncture" for the region, he said: "The prevailing global economic challenges require that our region exploits all opportunities available to provide greater economic benefits to the people of the region. Film and tourism, or film tourism can help to reposition our regional economies by being a key growth industry."

Odle asserted the film industry could result in increased foreign spending and jobs in both the tourism and non-tourism sectors.

But more than the economic benefits, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Celia Toppin, linked the regional film industry's benefits to the issue of identity.

"We see that having an indigenous film industry goes a long way towards helping us enforce that Caribbean identity that we have... Being able to see ourselves reflected back at us for a change makes a very big difference."

At the opening, the audience was treated to a snippet of new comedy series by Rommel Hall, Keeping Up with the Joneses, as well as web series Dominion, starring Sean Michael Field.

The evening closed with A Hand Full of Dirt, a full-length feature by Russell Watson. (LW)

Antiguan Actors Lauded at CaribbeanTales 2011 Film Festival

The performances of newcomers Aisha Ralph and Brent Simon of Antigua were praised during the Barbados preview of The SKIN, this past weekend. Ralph and Simon play a young couple who discover an ancient artifact, which changes their lives and unleashes a soucayant in The SKIN, a film written and directed by Howard Allen. Read More...

Media Studies Faculty Member to Present at CaribbeanTales Film Festival

Michelle Materre, Media Studies faculty member and associate director of the Bachelor's Program at the New College in Manhattan New York,  was a key facilitator at the  CaribbeanTales 2011 Festival, Symposium, and Marketplace in Bridgetown, Barbados, from March 14–20. The CT Content Incubator, is a program that aims to provide participants with support to develop their new projects through intensive analyses and interventions by international consultants.

Ms Materre was one of several high level industry facilitators working with a group of hand-selected Caribbean filmmakers during the four-day incubator that took place during the festival alongside a public workshop series, the CT 2011 Symposium and Marketplace. Ms Materre also presented two programs during the festival from her annual “Creatively Speaking” Film Series including the Closing Night Feature, Raoul Peck's 2009 masterpiece "Moloch Tropical".

Other presenters at the event included Mia Amore Mottley, who delivered the Feature Adress at the opening of the 2011 Symposium; Hollywood director Neema Barnette; EVP of the Africa Channel Mark Walton; Director of the Berlinale Talent Campus Mahttijs Knol; Director of the World Cinema Fund Sonja Heinen; Head of Drama at the South African Broadcasting Corporation Kethiwe Ngcobo; Director of the UK Media Desk Agnieszka Moody; Caricom's Malcolm Spence; Roman Tolic from Unido in Austria; CBC General Manager Lars Soderstrom; Guadeloupe Film Commissioner Tony Coco-Viloin; Dominica's film Commissioner Anita Bully; and HAMA TV's Mitzi and Howard Allen whose eagerly anticipated 4th Feature film THE SKIN was the Centerpiece Special, screening to rave reviews in to a large audience.

The couple made the bold step to preview the film at CaribbeanTales film festival rather than wait for the scheduled June premiere at home.

“I really liked the feedback from the industry folks. It was honest and constructive. A pre-screening outside of Antigua was the best thing we ever did,” said Mitzi Allen, who is the executive producer for the film.

For more information, visit caribbeantales-worldwide.com.

Introduction to Filmmaking Course

 

So You Want to Be a Filmmaker? Digital Filmmaking for Complete Beginners

with Rivelino Simmons

Monday, March 14, 2011
7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Cost: $50
Students and Unemployed $25
Venue: Island Inn

Do you want to make films but don't know where to start or what's involved? This course is designed to provide a basic overview of how films are made, providing technical insights and a practical hands-on look at the digital video format for production.

Through a series of presentations and exercises participants will develop an understanding of the use of different production equipment and how to use composition, lighting, sound, music and editing to tell a story.

Rivelino Simmons has been involved in video production over the last 18 years and has worked in various areas of production from producing to videography. Currently, he is a freelance videographer for international news organizations and teaches in Barbados with the Ministry of Education and the Barbados Community College. He is also a tutor with the UNICEF one-minute workshop program in Barbados.

At present, his company develops local and regional content for regional broadcasters. He has conducted training workshops with the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation, the OECS Secretariat and the Audio Visual Aids Department (Barbados). He is the President of the Barbados Film and Video Association.

Director of the Cosby Show to present workshop at the Caribbean Tales Film Festival 2011

February 22, 2011
For Immediate Release

Hollywood film director Neema Barnette, best known for her work as one of the original directors of the Cosby Show will be coming to Barbados to lead a Masterclass in Directing at the CaribbeanTales 2011 Film Festival.

This event, which is facilitated by the United States Embassy, will take place on March 20th at the Island Inn, followed by a screening of her film Zora Is My Name, at George Washington House.

During her visit to Barbados Ms Barnette, who is also a Professor at the renowned UCLA School of Film and Television and adjunct Professor at NYU, will attend a screening and talk back session of her film Run For The Dream: The Gail Devers Story for secondary school students, on March 14th; and participate as a Tutor at the CaribbeanTales Intensive  Content Incubator that runs throughout the week.

Ms Barnette is a multi-award winning film and television director and NAACP award recipient, with a directing portfolio that includes such projects as the Gilmore Girls, The Cosby Show, 7th Heaven and many films.

Director of the festival, Frances Anne Solomon expressed delight at the tremendous opportunity of having such an acclaimed filmmaker on board for this years’ program. “It is an absolute honour to have Neema Barnette join us for the festival, especially since our focus this year is on producing television series. She is an amazing film maker and person, and will lend so much experience and passion to the workshops. This is really a big treat for us.”

Solomon also disclosed the details of other workshops that will take place over the week-long event. These will include Introduction to Film Making, led by Barbados Film and Video Association president Rivelino Simmons, a two-day event targeted at complete novices to the audio visual medium, who are seeking to cross-over; a workshop focussing on Adapting Literature to the Screen, led by experienced South African Producer and former commissioning Editor  Kethiwe Ngcobo; The Anatomy of A Film Score that explores the unique role and use of Music for Film led by multi-award-winning Canadian composer John Welsman, and, “From Script to Screen”, a reading of 3 scripts developed by Penelope Hynam and Beatrice HallenBarter from their “Growing Up Caribbean” series of short films on childhood.

Neema Barnette is an extraordinarily accomplished filmmaker, writer and producer, who has made ten movies for television including Zora Is My Name (American Playhouse production starring Ruby Dee) which won a Lilly Award for Exceptional Representation of African American Images in Film; Different Worlds: An Interracial Love Story (four Daytime Emmy nominations, Directors Guild of America nomination for Best Directing); Better Off Dead (Lifetime Television production starring Mare Winningham and Tyra Ferrell) which earned a Cable Ace award nomination; Run For The Dream: The Gail Devers Story (Showtime Network production starring Lou Gossett Jr.) which earned Barnette her fifth NAACP Image Award nomination); Scattered Dreams (for CBS Television Network, starring Tyne Daly and Alicia Silverstone); Sin & Redemption (also for CBS; executive produced by Dick Berg). She also directed the Emmy award winning after school special To Be a Man.

Despite her illustrious career in Hollywood and mainstream US television, Ms Barnette still calls herself  "a director from Harlem”, and has also operated her own production company, Harlem Lite Productions since 1987 and is Executive Director of Live Theatre Gang, an urban theatre and performance company.

The Caribbean Tales Film Festival 2011 @ Island Inn, Barbados runs from March 14- 20, 2011. The festival will include an Incubator Program 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 its diaspora.

CaribbeanTales 2011 Film Festival is sponsored by: Island Inn, The Starcom Network, Ultimax TV, Lisa Wickham's Ezone, the Commonwealth Foundation, SFa Communications, Hall-e-wood Productions,  Morenamedia, HAMA Productions, Barbados Government Information Service, Caribbean Tourism Organisation, The United Nations Development Program, Caribbean Media Corporation, US Embassy, Animae Caribe, Merville Lynch Prods, Creative Junction, Barbados National Bank, Steinhill Studios, Blue Light Media, and Autonomous Entertainment.

CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution the region's first full-service film distribution company, is founded by award-winning filmmaker Frances-Anne Solomon, and principals are 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 that provides Seed and Venture Capital Services.

For further information, please contact:

SFA Communications Inc
#48 Warrens Court, Warrens Industrial Park
Warrens St. Michael
info@sfacommunications.com

GOING GLOBAL - CT 2011 Brings Business Leaders and International Partners To Table

The film industry of the Caribbean has major export potential and with strong ties and partnerships, the stories of the Caribbean can be exported to the world while making a viable living for regional film makers.

This is the theme of GOING GLOBAL - the CaribbeanTales 2011 all-day Symposium event scheduled to take place on March 17th at the Island Inn. Featured speakers include Mia Mottley, MP, QC and former leader of the Oposition in Barbados, and Derwin Howell, CEO of the Barbados National Bank, as well as international visitors like Sonia Heinen, Director of the World Cinema Fund and Co-Production Market of the Berlinale Film Festival,  Michelle Materre, US Marketing and Distribution Consultant, and Mark Walton EVP of the Africa Channel in the US.

CaribbeanTales 2011 @ Island Inn Barbados - The Schedule is online now!

Festival Quick Links:

FILMS  TICKETS  FILMS BY DAY  EDUCATIONAL SCREENINGS  OPENING GALA  GUEST: NEEMA BARNETTE  PARTICIPANTS  INCUBATORS  WORKSHOPS  MASTER CLASS  SYMPOSIUM  VENUES  CONTACT

CaribbeanTales 2011 - MAS MAN by Dalton Narine

 Dalton Narine's stunning elegaic tribute to the art of Trinidadian Mas Designer Peter Minshall.

March 17th, 6.30pm - George Washington House

Mas Man has won awards and critical acclaim at festivals around the world - click here to view the trailer and read more about this wonderful film.

 

Russell watson and Lisa Harewood faced obstacle while making local Barbadian film "A Hand Full of Dirt"

Russell Watson and his team battled for several years against the tremendous obstacles that are commonly faced by Caribbean film makers in order to complete the film. With a minimalist budget, and a lot of determination the movie is an example that against all odds, with creativity and a will, there is a way.

CaribbeanTales 2011 invites you to join us for the Gala Screening of A Hand Full of Dirt on March 16th at 6pm, Frank Collymore Hall.

Russell Watson and Lisa Harewood will talk about their experiences at Case Studies, on Sunday 20th March  at 10 am at Island Inn.

 

 

A Hand Full of Anticipation for CaribbeanTales Film Festival Opening Gala

February 28th, 2011
For Immediate Release

The CaribbeanTales 2011 Film Festival will celebrate its Gala Opening March 16th at Frank Collymore Hall, with the highly anticipated Barbados Premiere of local Film maker Russell Watson’s critically acclaimed debut feature, A Hand Full Of Dirt. 

The Gala is the main highlight of a week of cultural explosion, that will take place between 14-20th March as filmmakers and film enthusiasts from around the region and the world come together to celebrate Caribbean film at CT2011.

Producer of the film, Lisa Harewood expressed her pride that the production will be featured at the Opening Night Gala. "We feel incredibly honoured to have been given the opportunity to open CaribbeanTales Film Festival 2011. The festival is becoming a very important link between filmmakers from the Caribbean and the wider Diaspora, so we're looking forward to meeting and talking to our colleagues. More than anything though, we're excited to screen the film for the cast, crew, friends, family and supporters who are based in Barbados."

The movie has already attracted some major attention, copping a nomination for Best First Feature Narrative Director, at the hugely respected Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles. This recognition being well deserved as Russell Watson and his team battled for several years against the tremendous obstacles that are commonly faced by Caribbean film makers in order to complete the film. With a minimalist budget, and a lot of determination the movie is an example that against all odds, with creativity and a will, there is a way.

Shot in various locations in Barbados and Chicago, the film tells the topical family story of 3 generations , and one plantation. The men of the Redman family – father, grandfather and son - try desperately to break with the past to pursue their dreams on their own terms. Soon though, it is made painfully clear that their lives are inextricably linked and that the past exerts an inescapable grip on the future. A Hand Full of Dirt features such local and regional luminaries as Dominica’s Alwin Bully and Barbados' own Cynthia Wilson, Luther Bourne and Marcia Burrow.

The Opening Gala starts at 6:00 pm at the Frank Collymore Hall in Bridgetown Barbados and admission is $35 a ticket at the door. Early bird seats are available for $25.00, by emailing registration@caribbeantales-worldwide.com. Pre-registration is advised for this hugely popular event.

http://caribbeantales-events.com/ runs from March 14- 20, 2011. Not just a film festival the event will include screenings, talk back sessions, workshops, incubators, networking events, and a pitch marketplace, as well as a special Directing Masterclass by celebrated Hollywood Director Neema Barnette, known for her work on the Cosby Show. Audiences will also get to Preview the new film The Skin, the fourth feature film by Antigua’s prolific husband and wife filmmaking team, Howard and Mitzi Allen.

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

CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution the region's first full-service film distribution company, is founded by award-winning filmmaker Frances-Anne Solomon, and principals are 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 that provides Seed and Venture Capital Services.

For further information, please contact:

SFA Communications Inc
#48 Warrens Court, Warrens Industrial Park
Warrens St. Michael
info@sfacommunications.com

NEEMA BARNETTE HOLLYWOOD TV DIRECTOR will be CaribbeanTales 2011 @ Island inn!

Many international guests will be visiting Barbados to attend CaribbeanTales 2011 @ Island Inn, Barbados, that wil take place between 14th - 20th March.

Our special Guest is Hollywood Television Director NEEMA Barnette Through the kind support of the US Embassy, Ms Barnett will deliver a special DIRECTING MASTER CLASS on Sunday 20th March @ Island Inn Hotel. Two of her films will screen as part of the festival including ZORA IS MY NAME an PBS/American Playhouse Special about African American author Zora Neale Hurston, and starring Ruby Dee.

My Barnette, one of the first directors on the ground-breaking Cosby Show, and a lecturer in film at the renowned UCLA Film School, will also be a special Tutor at the CT2011 Television and Movies Incubator that will take place at the Island Inn from 14-19th March.

To register for all these events, check our website, and email registration@CaribbeanTales-Worldwide.com.

See you there!

 

 

The Count Down is on : 2 weeks 2 go b4 CaribbeanTales 2011 @ Island Inn!

Check the website :  http://CaribbeanTales-Events.com often for info and updates! Russell Watson's critically acclaimed, award nominated debut film A HAND FULL OF DIRT will have it's Barbados Premiere as the OPENING GALA on March 16th 2011. Please Join us for this very special event.

VENUE : Frank Collymore

TIME: 6PM