Filmmakers to Watch at this year’s trinidad+tobago film festival

Their films The Cutlass and Play the Devil are already causing a stir on the local film scene and are expected to play to sold out audiences during the Festival. And apart from great storylines, cinematic tension and emotional pulls, both feature spectacular aerial shots of Trinidad’s north coast and the Northern range, with the discerning viewer able to recognise parts of Paramin and Blanchisseuse, among other locations. Both films were partly funded by Trinidad+Tobago Film Company, now FilmTT.

The Cutlass, which is based on a true story, was written and co-produced by Newallo and directed by her friend and business partner, Beresford. It tells the story of Joanna Soloman, who, on a weekend getaway with friends on Trinidad’s remote North East coast, is suddenly abducted by low-life hustler and sociopath, Al, and held in isolation deep in the forest. At a disadvantage physically, she must muster all her emotional strength and mental prowess to outwit her kidnapper and survive.

Arnold Goindhan, as the unstable Al, and Lisa-Bel Hirschmann as a vulnerable, yet strong Joanna, give outstanding performances, ably supported by a cast that includes Hollywood actor, Kirk Baltz, who has worked on films such as Dances with Wolves, Reservoir Dogs, Natural Born Killers and Face Off. Baltz has also conducted several acting workshops at ttff over the years.

Beresford, who grew up in Port-of-Spain but left in 2001 to study film and television production at Ai Miami International School of Art and Design, has been working for over a decade in television and film, including on The First 48, an American documentary television series on A&E.

Currently based in Trinidad, Newallo has worked as a writer, casting director, actress/ voice actress and television host in TT. She received an Irene Ryan Nomination for her work in the play Conflict, and has had guest appearances in the feature films Love and Debate and Bachelor Party 2: The Last Temptation, and the pilot episodes of Burn Notice and Movie Star.

Set in the high altitudes of rural Paramin, Play the Devil - is a powerful, coming of age drama about the challenges faced by a young man growing up in a society dominated by religion, narrow social constructs and cultural mores. It shatters conventions of sexuality, masculinity, morality and individuality through its unapologetic, multi-layered exploration of the power dynamics between individuals, within communities and the wider society.

It has been selected as the Opening Night film for ttff/16, with a red carpet gala at the Eric Williams Plaza and Central Bank Auditorium on September 20. The film debuted at the Los Angeles Film Festival in June, to rave reviews, and has already secured international distribution, which is a major achievement for a local film.

Play the Devil, produced by Hadeed and directed by Govan, tells the story of 18-year-old Gregory, who is under enormous pressure to meet his family’s high expectations for him. When he befriends the sophisticated businessman, James (Gareth Jenkins), it seems someone finally understands him and his secret desire to become a photographer. But things quickly escalate out of control, causing Gregory’s pent up emotions to explode on Carnival Monday, amidst the frenzied dance macabre of Paramin’s blue devil celebrations.

Govan, a self-taught filmmaker worked on sets in Hollywood, before returning to the Bahamas to work on documentaries. In 2004 she moved to New York and began writing her first narrative film, Rain, which premiered at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival, screened at ttff/09 and won numerous awards internationally.

An award-winning photographer, Hadeed, has documented the region extensively over the course of several decades, accumulating one of the most highly regarded photo archives in the region. She produced the short film 4am (2011) which featured at the Toronto International Film Festival, and the feature documentary La Gaita, which won the people’s choice award at the trinidad+tobago film festival that year.

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.

For more information, visit ttfilmfestival.com.