This summer, The Island House Cinema will host a series of creative presentations celebrating Caribbean storytellers who operate through a visual medium. These storytellers are not only filmmakers but are artists who also work in theatre, music videos, television and the theatre.

The series opens with the work of four directors – three Bahamian women directors: Gina Rodgers-Sealy, Marion Bethel and Maria Govan, and also Spanish director Miquel Galofré.

For this week’s column, we spoke with two Bahamian directors that are showing their films this week at the cinema. Gina Rodgers-Sealy directed the fabulous Gentle Giant and Marion Bethel directed the very important and enlightening Womanish Ways.

Gina Rodgers-Sealy, director of Gentle Giant

TIH CINEMA: Can you tell me the name of your film?

GRS: The names of the film is Gentle Giant: The Andre Rodgers Story

TIH CINEMA: How long did it take you to complete?

GRS: I started working on it in 2006, two years after my father's death. I wanted to ensure that the youth of this country were aware of his legacy and they were inspired by someone like them who came from humble beginnings, but was still able to make his mark on the international arena.The film took eight years and a half years to complete but there were intermittent periods of down time.

TIH CINEMA: What is the most memorable experience you had making this film?

GRS:The most memorable experience that I had making the film was interviewing Hall of Famer Ernie Banks. Banks revealed a side of my father that I never knew existed. He made an unbelievable impression on American black ball players with the way he dealt with racism and the manner in which he interacted with white Americans. All because of his Bahamian upbringing and living in a British colony at the time.

TIH CINEMA: What do you want to leave the audience with?

GRS: I want the audience to feel and understand that despite the opposition that you may experience and whatever your circumstances may be, if you stay focused, keep God close, you can achieve anything. Oh so corny but oh so true!

TIH CINEMA: What is next for you?

GRS: Presently I am working on two documentaries simultaneously. One is a biographical account of internationally acclaimed Bahamian drummer Peanuts Taylor. The second is a documentary on the impact that Bahamians made on the formation of the City of Miami.

Marion Bethel, Director Womanish Ways

TIH CINEMA: Can you tell me the name of your film?

MB: Womanish Ways: Freedom, Human Rights & Democracy

The Women's Suffrage Movement in The Bahamas 1948-1962

TIH CINEMA: How long did it take you to complete?

MB: About two and a half years over the period 2001 to 2012. Maria Govan, Erika Robinson & I first began filming interviews in 2001. we worked steadily for 6 months. We then suspended the project and picked it up in November 2010 & completed it in November 2012.

TIH CINEMA: What is the most memorable experience you had making this film?

MB: Sitting in Maria's studio with Gabrielle, the Associate Producer and watching Maria,Co-Director & Kareem, the Editor, at the computer transform the raw footage into a coherent film.

TIH CINEMA: What do you want to leave the audience with?

MB: I would like the audience to appreciate our Bahamian history, in general. Specifically, I want the public to acknowledge the significant contribution that the Suffrage Movement made to the development of democracy and human rights in the Bahamas.

TIH CINEMA: What is next for you?

MB: I would love to do other historical and biographical documentaries on less well known aspects or personalities of our history such as Eloise Lewis, Blind Blake, Maureen Duvalier. I think the documentary is an effective & accessible way to know the history.

To book tickets and reserve your seat, visit The Island House Cinema’s website below. Scroll down to the bottom where you will see a calendar. Choose the date you wish to attend and then click the film you wish to watch. Tickets start at $15.

Friday May 22: Gentle Giant: The Andre Rodgers Story
Directed by Gina Rodgers-Sealy
Gentle Giant is a biography of Andre Rodgers, the first Bahamian to play major league baseball. This film has won three awards. Two Haven awards from The Bahamas International Film Festival and an award at the San Francisco Film Festival. There will be an intimate Q&A after the screening with director and producer.

Saturday May 23: Womanish Ways
Directed by Marion Bethel and Maria Govan
"Womanish Ways" is a documentary film on the Women's Suffrage Movement in The Bahamas. It features interviews with several notable women. This award-winning film earned its director Marion Bethel a Caricom award in 2012.

Sunday May 24th-29th: Why Do Jamaicans Run So Fast?
Directed by Miquel Galofre
A documentary that reveals how athletics and music have become ways to escape from poverty and violence in Jamaica. Starring Usain Bolt, Etana, Shelly-Ann Fraser, Vybz Kartel,Asafa Powell, Melanie Walker and Veronica Campbell-Brown.

CLICK HERE for The Island House Cinema’s website to book tickets.

About the author: Kareem Mortimer is an award winning filmmaker and artist who has completed several films including Children of God, Wind Jammers, Passage, Float and The Eleutheran Adventure. He is the President of the production company Best Ever Film and is the curator of the film program at The Island House Cinema, a boutique 48 seat theater in Western New Providence dedicated to showcasing the best in independent, foreign, art, Caribbean and Bahamian film. He is also in development of the feature film Cargo.