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From:TheBahamasWeekly.com Ministry of Tourism Updates
Yes We Cannes!!!
After intense planning and effort, the Caribbean Audiovisual Network (CAN) participated in the 64th Cannes Film Festival and Market (16-18 May 2011) under the banner – “Unity is Strength”. Brain-child of Tony Coco-Viloin, Guadeloupe Film Commissioner and CAN Vice-President, this initiative presented the Caribbean, (for the first time) as a region with a wealth of diverse locations, and world-class technical and human resources for international film projects. The 34-person delegation was led by the Guadeloupe Regional Council, in partnership with the Caribbean Export Development Agency that facilitated the participation of the Bahamas, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago. The opportunity to be a part of the Film France stand at the Pantiero International Village, was priceless – as the Caribbean would otherwise have been lost in the massive Film Market. The President of Film France addressed the delegation and invited guests at the Pitching Session on Wednesday May 18, noting that the partnership between the Guadeloupe Regional Council and the Caribbean Audiovisual Network and its spin off movements such as the Caribbean Film Commissions Group, is serving as a source of inspiration for the European Network of Film Commissions. The programme flagship was a pitching platform that showcased three (3) recently completed films from the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago and four (4) feature film projects in development from Guadeloupe. This core activity was very positive and yielded significant results for participants: “Our participation in Cannes gave us a broad perspective on global film market and actual trend and direct contacts with buyers around the world for the distribution of our film LOVE CHILD. We met with distributors from Spain, Germany, NY and Los Angeles, and have been invited to several Festivals including, “the African Diaspora Film Festival, Caribbean Film Corner and the Malaga Film Festival”. Leticia Tonos, Producer/ Director – Dominican Republic. “Jamrock Films was delighted to be able to accompany our film GHETT'A LIFE to the Cannes Film Market 2011. It was a fabulous opportunity to pitch the project to a panel of judges and we were delighted to win the pitch competition from such a well-prepared field of participants. Ghett’a Life is represented by Jinga sales agency, who organized a screening that was attended by media and buyers as well as interested festival attendees.” Justine Henzell, Producer, Jamaica. Another major component of the programme was the launch of the Caribbean Film Commissions Group which aims to represent the Caribbean as a dynamic resource network and to facilitate technical collaboration among countries across the region at multiple-levels. In the memorandum of understanding, the participants undertook to work together to achieve concrete goals, including “the creation of an inventory of human, financial, infrastructural and available technical resources for the promotion of the film sector in their respective territories; to pursue wherever possible, the joint branding, exhibition, promotion opportunities such as participation in locations trade fairs, film festivals, and film markets; to create a production guide to include case studies, success stories in financing and distribution; and to advocate for the development of film commissions in regional territories where none exist.” Cannes was the ideal setting to discuss the One Short, One Movie project developed by Tita Production in Marseilles. Overseas editions have been produced in Guadeloupe and New Caledonia, in parthership with local co-producers. The idea of the Caribbean project is to assemble a stellar team of filmmakers from across the region to create a series of shorts films that will raise the bar and help showcase our indigenous stories and talents. Participants at Cannes had an opportunity to see the 8 shorts shot in New Caledonia in late 2010, as they were screened at the Film Market to critical acclaim.
In discussions about how to advance the Caribbean film agenda, participants spoke passionately about linking film with other creative industries, the need for clearer indicators about the value of the film industry to economic, social and cultural development and integrating delivery platforms to capitalize on film content. In the words of Trinidad and Tobago Film Company CEO Carla Foderingham, the time is now for Caribbean cinema to take on the world and share our many stories – after all, the Caribbean is the new world! While the 3-day programme was hectic, as true Caribbean people we reserved the night to recharge our batteries for the day ahead. On Tuesday, 17 May 2011, the spotlight was on Trinidad and Tobago. The strategy of launching the documentary Calypso Rose, Lioness of the Jungle in the presence of the Diva, drew on the strength of her fame and dynamism. At the World Cinema Pavilion under a full moon, for two straight hours, the multiple award-winning queen of calypso regaled the crowd, proving that after 50-plus years on stage she can steal the show again and again... The Chinese fireworks display next door seemed to confirm that this was the perfect time and place! On Wednesday night, 18 May 2011, the Film France Pavillion was transformed into a Caribbean beachside lyme, complete with a Guadeloupean Gwoka Band and dancers. Drumming gave way to a special appearance by Calypso Rose, then zouk, merengue, reggae quicken our steps, and we danced the night away…
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