Caribbean Braces For Trindad & Tobago Film Festival

The TTFF is an annual event that brings together films and filmmakers from the Caribbean, its Diaspora and Latin America. This year’s Festival runs from tomorrow to September 30.

One of the most anticipated films of the Festival is the new documentary Soca Power in Trinidad and Tobago, an intimate look at the local soca scene. Featuring Machel Montano and Bunji Garlin among others, Soca Power captures the artistes backstage, in the rehearsal room and in candid interviews, showing a side of soca never before captured on film.

Another highly anticipated film is Panman: Rhythm of the Palms, from St Maarten. Written by and starring Guyanese-born Ian Valz, it tells the story of the rise, fall and redemption of a great panman, Harry Daniel. The first feature film ever shot in St Maarten, Panman: Rhythm of the Palms won the award for best feature film this year at the Black Film Festival in Hollywood.

Among the other music-themed films to be shown at the TTFF is the Cuban feature El Benny, a dynamic tribute to one of that island’s most popular singers ever, Benny Moré. There is also Jamesie: The King of Scratch, a moving documentary tribute to James “Jamesie” Brewster, the leading figure of the quelbe or “scratch” music scene in the US Virgin Islands. And from Jamaica comes Africa Unite: A Celebration of Bob Marley’s Vision, a masterful commemoration of the 60th birthday of reggae’s greatest icon.

The TTFF will be hosted at MovieTowne in Port -of-Spain and selected films will be screened in Tobago, San Fernando and at UWI in St Augustine. The programme comprises dozens of feature length, short, and animated films, which cover a wide range of genres and themes. Along with the film screenings there will be workshops for local filmmakers, and panel discussions with a number of acclaimed directors.

For more information on the Festival, including the full schedule, dates, times and events, please visit the TTFF website at www.trinidadandtobagofilmfestival.com.

The Reggae News Agency

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