Over 70 films for TT festival

The films are part of a strong programme of critically acclaimed and award-winning features and shorts from some of the Caribbean’s finest film-makers.

The TT feature films include: Sanskara by Christopher Din Chong, a chilling tale in which the veneer of ordinary family life is unmasked to reveal something far more sinister; Tomb, a sci-fi adventure by Nicholas Attin.

The film is set in outer space in 2025, when the TT commander of a space vessel receives a distress call, he must risk all he holds dear to find and rescue his friend and fellow countryman; and The Cutlass by Darisha Beresford. Inspired by true events, The Cutlass tells the story of a young woman’s physical and mental journey into the abyss, where, pitted against a sociopath, she is forced to muster all her emotional and mental prowess to survive.

The other TT film, Play the Devil,by Maria Govan and Abigail Hadeed, will be the opening night film of ttff/16.

Over 70 fiction features, documentaries and short films from film-makers across the English, French, Spanish and Dutch speaking Caribbean will screen at venues in Port-of-Spain, Arima, Chaguanas and San Fernando, and at MovieTowne Tobago.

Amongst them is Antes Que Cante El Callo (Before the Rooster Crows) - a euphemism for a young girl’s first menstruation. The main protagonist is the rebellious teenager, Carmen.

Abandoned by her mother and confused by the feelings aroused by her recently released-from-prison father, she must learn to live between rejection and acceptance and amidst absence, desire and love.

Still to be announced are the international films screening in the Festival’s Panorama section, and the experimental works of the New Media section.

The Caribbean films in competition are as follows:

Best Feature Film – Narrative El Acompa?ante/The Companion - Pavel Giroud, Cuba Esteban - Jonal Cosculluela, Cuba Antes Que Cante El Callo/Before the Rooster Crows - Ar? Manuel Cruz, Puerto Rico Play the Devil - Maria Govan, Trinidad+Tobago, The Bahamas, the USA The Cutlass - Darisha Beresford, Trinidad+Tobago

Best Feature Film – Documentary Make Mine Country - Ian Berry, St Lucia Diva: Enemy of the People - Tony Oldham, St. Lucia Se Bondye vie Yuli (God Willing Yuli) - Jean Jean, Haiti/Dominican Republic

Best TT Feature Film The Cutlass – Darisha Beresford Tomb - Nicholas Attin Sanskara - Christopher Din Chong Play The Devil - Maria Govan

Best TT Short Film – Narrative Redman - Jared Prima Dream Seller - Shane Lee Kit Sweat - Josiah Persad Best TT Short Film – Documentary The Dying Swan: Ras Nijinsky in drag as Pavlova - Christopher Laird How We Play with Fire - Desiree Sampson Living Without You - Anna-Lisa Wickham Who I say I Am - Amir Ali Best Short Film – Narrative SO.C13.TY - Khris Burton, Martinique Nightmare Before Wedding - Orain-Chomaud Fabienne, Guadeloupe Carapaz?n/Shell - Joa Vidal, Cuba Lost Boy - Aisha Porter-Christie, Jamaica Rico - Lynda D’Alexis, Martinique

Best Short Film – Documentary Blessed Love - Kra Kouassi, Jamaica Iceberg - Juliana G?mez, Cuba Welcoming Arms - Rosanne Ma, Bermuda H20 - Clish Gittens, Barbados

United Nations TT Award for Best Emerging Documentary Film-maker Amir Ali - Who I Say I Am Desiree Sampson - How We Play With Fire Jamie Lee Loy - Super Me Jonathan Barcant - Small Change Kyle Sahadeo - The Absentee The trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff) celebrates films from and about the Caribbean and its diaspora, as well as from world cinema, through an annual festival and year-round screenings. In addition, the ttff seeks to facilitate the growth of Caribbean cinema by offering a wide-ranging industry programme and networking opportunities.

The ttff is presented by Flow, given leading sponsorship by Trinidad and Tobago Film Company Ltd (FilmTT ), and supporting sponsorship by RBC Royal Bank, The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago, Embassy of the United States of America and the Tourism Development Company.