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The Other Side of Carnival (2010), is a 45-minute documentary that explores Carnival’s social and economic impact on Trinidad & Tobago. With more than 60 interviews from professors, medical staff, police officers, government officials, students, tourists, every day locals and more, The Other Side of Carnival is able to highlight that while Carnival is an exciting occasion, it is a festival that creates turmoil, which is not widely visible…or is it just simply ignored? Known as “The Greatest Show on Earth,” this documentary captures the roots of Carnival and how far some go to keep the original idea alive, and how others attempt to integrate change.

Shifting from the past and the present, I'll Be There, tells the story of two brothers dealing with the effects of bullying. Only having each other to depend on, Nathan takes care of his younger brother Anthony while their mother is away in rehab. From what seemed like a one time thing at a park, Anthony falls victim to bullying by two kids from his school, who have it out for him. Nathan tries to comfort and reassure Anthony that he's safe and he'll take care of him.

Fish, a gritty urban tale, tells the story of two homeless cousins desperately trying to survive the streets of Port-Of-Spain, Trinidad. Thieves by street credit, they routinely hunt the local market in search of unsuspecting shoppers, but times are getting harder and the pickings slimmer. Will fortune favor the brave? Or will their desperate actions lead to their demise?

Star Boy Cricket Wicket He Knows How To Stick It. Hmm, why fight when you can share? This video is a promotional excerpt from self published author, Tilsa Wright's three part book series, available on Kindle and Amazon. Young budding animator and film director Stephen Williamson is based in Jamaica, and represents Big Bomb Films. We are pleased to feature rising stars like Carla Moore, Garth Williams, Jessica Francis, Jane Macgizmo, P.Nyne, and Exile 'di' Nrave, just to name a few. Stay tuned to this series as we plan to give you more.

Bad Influence is an animated short film by Mental Chung Creative Labs The film tells a tale of a young man (Lance) who is convinced by his friends (Jeff , Grains, Cronic) to assist them in pulling off a Heist. A beautiful plan was orchestrated but none took into consideration the circumstances to arise as a result of their individual desires. Caught in a major dilemma, they have to make a speedy decision on how to maneuver themselves so they have a chance of making an escape.

"Beached," tells the story of a man's loss and redemption.

When Patasha is called upon to make a routine delivery to a young tourist couple, she encounters a situation that will test her morality. The young spear-fisherman Samson also wants to make a transaction, but this one is of a more sinister nature. Coast is an examination of choices, and how ugly or stunningly beautiful this island can truly be.

At a glance, Susan is a quiet, pensive housecleaner who takes her job seriously. A single phone call is all she needs to clean up the mess and leave things pristine. But, initial impressions rarely, if ever, give the full scope of a person—especially in the case of Susan.

Aspiring screen writer Derrick Myers, retreats to a vacation house in the mountains for seclusion, so he can get the time and space needed to complete his break-through project. He believes Jamaica needs a change in its ways of screenwriting, so he decides to create something new and different – a Jamaican horror story – with the hope of getting a movie deal.

The Coming of Org is based on short stories written by John Robert Lee, a Saint Lucian writer and adapted for the screen by his daughter, Executive Producer and Director Davina Lee. The story takes a look at three different people who come face to face with their inner demons in three separate ways. The movie highlights Saint Lucian folk stories and music, with most of the dialogue in French Creole.

Trapped in a life that has been decided for him by his father, Jeffrey, an accountant at a large oil company, hides his passion for calypso music. His dead grandfather, a calypso icon of the 1950’s, transforms him through a box of old clothes and records. With new-found charisma, Jeffrey breaks free, defying race and class boundaries and winning the heart of an edgy, carefree girl named Kala.

Hoghole is an award winning film short film made up of composite Super 8 and HD footage shot and based in the island of St. Vincent. The word 'Hoghole' refers to the specific patch of land in St. Vincent where my house stands. My family can no longer live there because of unprecedented crime levels in the island. The subtext of this film, therefore, is a reexamination of what Home means, when it, as an ideal and as a physical space, is lost, or, more accurately, forcibly stolen. It attempts to address the furious internal discord that emerged within me when this sanctuary was violated and we were forced to leave.

When Jonas loses a package that may cost him dearly, it is up to his quick-witted friend Paz to help him come up with a solution to his problems.

A story about the nature island of Dominica. It is a story of vision and determination – about how this small Caribbean country overcomes the challenges of nature, limited resources and a stagnant population to sustain itself as an independent nation.

The story of a young, mixed-race Trinbagonian couple, Chris and Britney, who break up as Britney is about to permanently migrate. The film explores Chris’ attempts at “getting-over” Britney, as her memory haunts him on a daily basis. It explores representations of masculinity in film, and unlike Laura Mulvey’s “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema,” the audience gets a glimpse of some “male instrospection,” as the film shares Chris’ thoughts in an effort to offer some insight into how men deal with a broken heart. The film also addresses themes of racial plurality, multiculturalism and how people function harmoniously or not, within a space, i.e. Trinidad and Tobago.

The Seawall is a narrative short film shot entirely on location in Georgetown, Guyana, and centers around Marjorie, a Guyanese woman, as she prepares for her 10-year old grandson’s move to America to be with his mother. Struggling with loneliness, and abandonment, audiences watch as Marjorie sacrifices her happiness for her grandson’s future.

Joel is a man who feels that he is living on the edge of sanity, about to fall into a pit of total and complete despair from which he will never return. As miserable as his life generally is, on this particular day, it is about to take a turn for the "worse." Today, other than going through his daily routine of misery, Joel receives a visit from a mysterious stranger, who offers him a chance to make it all better ... at a cost.

In Haiti, la borlette is the local lottery. Because of poverty and unemployment, people often have no other choice but to play, chasing the dream of winning. Superstition, dreams and premonitions, as well as the reality of this lucrative business all make up a portrait of Haitian society - grinding poverty, beliefs and survival through resourcefulness.

Territoires du sein explores the many paths associated with breast cancer. Unequal access to the health care system, a lack of parity, support networks, medical knowledgeand responses of the artistic community. In 2001, artist Sonja B. Hernandez was diagnosed with breast cancer at Evanston hospital in the United States. She had to cancel surgery on two occasions. On the first occasion, her right to be informed about other treatment options was not respected, then, she was not consulted in the decision. She fought tooth and nail to finally be able to access non-discriminatory medical care at this establishment. After contacting several philanthropic organisations, she was finally able to receive reconstructive surgery and the treatment she needed at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. This documentary shows the inequalities in the choice of medical care in the United States, and the fact that 46 million Americans without medical insurance could face serious violations of their fundamental rights as patients.

At 22 Stone Street in Port of Spain stands a house, home to the Cherrie family for over 60 years. This film is an autobiographical portrait of the Cherrie family and its branches in the US, UK and Canada. Mixing home-movie footage, photographs, musical recordings and interviews with a lyrical first-person narration, "Stone Street" moves beyond a simple record of family life to become a layered exploration of identity, history, race, place and belonging.

Richard, Roland and his daughter Muriel live in three abandoned buses on a piece of land on the edge of Point-à-Pitre. Concerned about Muriel’s mental health, Roland plans to send her to France for care. He is depending on help from Sally, a Dominican woman he had received at their camp in Tet Grenné. At 35, Richard, who was raised by Roland, can never find a direction for his life. Teddy is a young boy whose life is in crisis, and who often seeks comfort in his company. This and the threat of expulsion from Tèt Grenné, force him to come to his senses.

Jim is a videographer who lives in New York and suffers from recurring nightmares. His latest project, in which he surreptitiously shoots strangers and then uploads the videos to his website, brings him into contact with Samantha, a model who invites Jim to take risqué pictures of her. When Jim witnesses a shocking event at Samantha’s apartment one night, he is drawn into a downward spiral of horrific deeds from which there seems no escape.

This is a portrait of Tiga, visionary and multi-talented artist. Tiga is an original member of St Soleil, an artists’ movement that will save the popular art of folklore. “Tiga, one of the greatest Haitian and Caribbean painters, is a total artist. His name and history are closely linked to all Haitian contemporary art. He renewed the art of ceramics. He started art restoration. He worked in sculpture. He composed songs for the Simidor choir. He wrote poems(..)”

JJ, a Black British lesbian, is best friends with Seb, who is white and gay. The two are practically inseparable, but when JJ falls head over heels for the beautiful and bewitching Elle, jealousy rears its head and the friendship comes under threat. Funny, hip, sweet and true, "Stud Life" is a celebration of modern, multicultural London, and a romantic comedy with both a difference and universal resonance.

Like bad omens, the Emerillon Indians in French Guiana have often been described as having no culture, and being doomed to extinction. One Danish anthropologist suggests to the Emerillon that they should challenge these images, and he becomes immersed in their life. But the fundamental question that will emerge will be “What does it mean to be Emerillon?”

Darnell, a high-school student from St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, is about to take up a photography scholarship in the United States when his mother falls gravely ill. Unable to afford her treatment, Darnell joins with a local crime lord in a desperate move to take care of his siblings and save his mother’s life. This is a powerful drama about the lengths to which a young man would go for the ones he loves.

“Bwèt nan do” (those who carry a box on their back), and “Arab manie koulèv” (Arabs eat snakes). These are the words thrown sometimes light heartedly, sometimes with rancour, at Arab immigrants who arrived in Haiti during the 1880s. Coming from Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Egypt and Morocco, carrying boxes of small goods on their shoulders, these immigrants quickly settled near the seaside in Port au Prince. Today, their descendants own most of the businesses in the country, and practice the liberal professions. This documentary relates the journey of this heterogenous group, who professes a strong attachment to the host country, although they never forget their original culture.

Tatiana is a smart and demure young woman who moves with her mother and brother to their aunt’s house. In her new neighbourhood Tatiana meets Santiago, a quirky young man of Latin origin who can’t take her diva attitude. When they discover secrets about each other, a beautiful love grows. This love, however, brings new challenges. "Abo So" features memorable songs by Padu del Caribe, Aruba’s most celebrated musician.

Returning to his native Guadeloupe, a journalist searches within the island’s soul from GWO HA to hip-hop. Urban Ka is an immersion in Rap, hip-hop kréyol, dancehall, slam, reggae, zouk and salsa, accompanied by drums. This is a musical journey from the traditional to the modern.

In 1974, when Martinique was experiencing a crucial year, one man, Robert Saint Rose managed to get politicians, scientists and other local personalities to follow him in an apparently foolhardy project – building a rocket, so that the first Frenchman in space would be from the Caribbean, thus restoring pride to a people disoriented by their economic and identity problems. Robert Saint Rose is soon given the nickname “Zétwal”, or star in creole. A self-taught do-it-yourselfer and former footballer, he abandons his campaign to move to Fort-de-France. This film returns to examines Robert Saint Rose’s fate, as well as the portrait of a man, a dream and a society.

Romie and Pack are best friends who dream of becoming mechanics and escaping their boring jobs as security guards. They’ve been saving their salaries and plan to make a down payment on a garage in their village of Pickletons. But their efforts are being challenged on all sides: by their loving but eccentric families, a violent drug dealer, a charity collector and a still-obsessed ex-girlfriend. The boys will have to go to extreme measures to keep their dream alive.

Set on a fictitious island in the Caribbean during colonial British rule, "Island in the Sun" focuses on the life of a young, charismatic and handsome black man with political aspirations. David Boyeur is fighting for political office as the black labor leader against Maxwell Fleury. As if the contentious election wasn't enough, there are plenty of scandals to go around: Boyeur has a secret white lover and Fleury's wife, Sylvia, is also having an affair. And then, of course, there's the small matter of a recently murdered aristocrat. Infidelity, racism, and murder ensue.

Los Aldeanos (“The Villagers”) is an electrifying rap duo sweeping the Cuban underground with their urgent lyrics about the economic and political state of their beloved country. Heralded as the voices of the lost generation, El B and his partner Aldo are banned from performing in official venues, and distribute their music by hand, in total secrecy for fear of government reprisal. Shot in true guerrilla style with hidden cameras, this powerful and provocative documentary takes viewers inside a new revolution brewing in Cuba.

A model communist Cuban worker dies unexpectedly and is buried with his union card in his pocket. It soon turns out that his widow cannot collect any pension money without the card, thus the dead man's nephew intervenes on her behalf in order to convince the authorities to allow the family to exhume and rebury the body. The nephew's hilarious journey into the world of common beourocracy culminates in the dead man's family being forced to rob his grave.

Manuel and Lia are a young couple desperate to find accommodation in Havana. They manage to illegally lay their hands on the keys to an old house in the city centre, from which Tania has been evicted. Tania, however, refuses to give up her home. A silent domestic war among these three beautiful twenty-somethings ensues, until an impending hurricane places them under lockdown. All their pent-up irritation and desire reach boiling point, in this exciting and provocative chamber drama.

Juan Quin Quin, a poor but shrewd farmer, lives on his wits in pre-revolutionary Cuba as a circus performer, a bullfighter, a coffee planter, even playing the part of Christ with a traveling theatre company. Then he joins the Revolution.

After being released from prison, a man will have to fight his past to recover the love of his son.

After an accident in the world of illegal street fighting and gambling, Sandro is sentenced for 10 years in prison. He has to leave his only son son Shendel behind. When Sandro is free again, all he wants is to recover the relationship with his son who is about to turn twenty. What Sandro does not know is that Shendel’s obsession with easy money has led him to follow his fathers footsteps into the world of underground fights. In order to protect his son and win back his trust, Sandro will have to confront his toughest test yet.

In the Blaxploitation genre, Sir Charles Walker goes undercover on the island plantation of Lady Susan Walker to find his missing brother Jonathan. He quickly finds the plantation is a horrible place, ruled with an iron fist by Lady Walker through her men: the extremely racist – and very white – overseer Joxer Tierney and the cultured, homosexual, strict military commander – who’s very black – Capt. Raymond Daladier. The situation is ripe for rebellion, and this nice young man might well be the catalyst that makes it all happen.

In May 2011, history was made when the flag of the Dominican Republic crowned the world’s highest mountain, Everest, marking the first Caribbean expedition to reach the mythical peak. That mission inspired three young Dominican boys, fishermen’s sons, who set out to conquer the highest mountain in their country, and of the Caribbean: Pico Duarte. The Mountain unites both missions, intercutting one with the other. The result is an epic adventure, built on motivation, inspiration, determination and achievement.

"De Cierta Manera" mixes documentary-style footage with a narrative story to expose and attack the ongoing problems of the revolutionary project by examining the poor neighbourhoods of Havana shortly after the Cuban Revolution of 1959. The film is a portrait of marginalised communities, including former slum-dwellers now working under the Revolution.

Rene and Naomi are a young married couple. One night Naomi disappears without leaving any hint of her whereabouts. Rene receives a phone call from someone who claims to have seen her in a car accident, but there is no evidence whatsoever of this. Rene later discovers that he and Naomi were both in the accident, but he can't remember because they were taken right after to an experimental lab, where they are both connected to a computer that provides them with virtual life.

Based on the novel "Francisco" by Anselmo Suárez y Romero, "The Other Francisco" is a socio-economic analysis of slavery and class struggle. The film contrasts the romantic conceptions of plantation life found in Suárez Romero's novel with a realistic exposé of the actual historical conditions of slavery in the Americas.

The Mrs, an old widow, and Aridia, her young domestic servant, live together in an orchid-filled house in Santo Domingo. Aridia cleans, the Mrs gardens; sometimes they gossip. But the atmosphere can get tense: when the Mrs gets angry with Aridia and Aridia defends herself, the Mrs reminds her “where her place is.” "You and Me" is a moving, closely observed portrait of the complex relationship between two women that goes beyond merely employer and employee.

"If Wishes Were Horses" is a musical comedy featuring Guyana’s premier comedian Habeeb Khan as a farmer who prefers show business, but joins the National “Feed-Yourself" campaign. With original songs and theme music, and the dramatic and comedic skills of Khan, Mignon Lowe, Barney Johnson, Don Me Master, Lennox Greaves and director Vivian John Lee himself.

Janvier is a good-natured young man living in the town of Cristo Rey (Christ the Redeemer) in the Dominican Republic. The son of a Haitian mother and Dominican father, Janvier, like so many Haitian-Dominicans, is the constant target of casual discrimination and police harassment. After his mother is deported to Haiti, he is desperate to reunite with her in Port-au-Prince. Reluctantly he takes a job with a gang leader, El Bacá, as a bodyguard to Jocelyn, El Bacá’s sister. Soon the youngsters are in the grip of a clandestine love affair. As Janvier becomes more entwined with both Jocelyn and El Bacá, he is forced to make a difficult, dangerous decision. Inspired by "Romeo and Juliet", "Cristo Rey" updates Shakespeare’s play to a contemporary Caribbean setting.

Following the road accident that kills her son and hospitalises her daughter-in-law, an aging West Indian woman is obliged to end her retirement and return to work to support her grandchildren. Through her association with a militant trade union activist who advocates independence from France, she encounters the serious unemployment and social ills that belie the picture postcard image of Guadeloupe.

Fifty years ago Carmen Ignarra left her Cuban homeland and travelled to Hollywood, hoping to become a great actress. But her initial success was followed by a slow, painful decline. Today, at 80, she lives forgotten in an old mansion in Monterrey, Mexico. Laura, a young woman from the Dominican Republic, arrives to work as a housekeeping assistant. She brings a video camera and the secret intention of making a documentary about Carmita. Together they talk about the past, about wasted talent and lost loves.

Robert is trying to regain and embody his blackness. His wife Leontine is instead trying to blend in and display Europeanism, and, as a result, tensions arise between the couple. Through their own experiences and those of other immigrant families living in France, Robert and Leontine are forced to come together and question themselves – a road fraught with difficulties and contradictions – in their quest for their own identity.

Filmed over 13 years, "Lee Scratch Perry's Vision of Paradise" is a documentary that reveals the mysterious and complex world and mind of one of the most enigmatic figures of pop and reggae culture: the unique, poetic, and humorous story of the legendary Lee Scratch Perry.

Teresa is overwhelmed with a husband, three young sons, a job as a crew leader in a textile factory, and volunteer commitments as a cultural leader of her local union. Her husband, Ramón, wants more of her attention. When she does not deliver, Ramon begins an affair, but then changes course and asks for a reconciliation. Teresa must juggle her desire for what marriage represents with her continued desire for self-reliance, independence, and self-respect, which will determine the course of her life.

The invasion of Grenada by US forces in 1983 echoed around the world and put an end to a unique experiment in Caribbean politics. What were the circumstances that led to this extraordinary chain of events? This comprehensive, gripping and revealing documentary tells the story of the Grenada revolution as never before. The film features extensive, previously unseen file footage, as well as old and new interviews with many of the key players of the time.

Based on a true story, "Songs of Sugarcane" tells the tale of two boys, an African and an Indian, who are growing up on a sugar plantation in Guyana, as a slave and indentured laborer respectively, trying to re-gain their freedom. The plantation owner beats the two boys and treats his workers badly but does not realize that one of the boys, Panday, is actually his son, the result of the rape of his mother by the plantation owner. A rebellion takes place, and in the ensuing melee the truth is revealed in tragic Shakespearean terms.

"The Pierced Heart & The Machete" is a exploration of two popular annual Voodoo pilgrimages in Haiti where worshippers from all over the world descend on the southwestern town of Ville-Bonheur to bathe in the sacred waterfall where Dantò supposedly resides, and the northern town of Plaine du Nord, where hundreds of enraptured practitioners bathe in a mud pool and make flamboyant sacrifices to Ogun.

On Martinique in 1943, Alban, a black overseer on a French plantation, sees his wife leaving the barn after the plantation owner has forced her to give in to his sexual demands. Furious, Alban shoots his wife and batters the owner. He then flees for his life to the surrounding hills where he successfully eludes the inept gendarmes, becoming a symbol of civil disobedience as he commits various acts of sabotage.

Over three years after the earthquake that ravaged the country, conditions in Haiti remain far from acceptable. Why is this the case, despite billions of dollars in aid and the intervention of everyone from movie stars to former US presidents? This documentary by Haiti’s most acclaimed filmmaker dissects the recovery effort and exposes its inner workings. In the process, it paints a damning picture of a country in thrall to a paternalistic aid system almost as invidious as any dictatorship.

In 1830s Havana, amidst the Cuban independence movement, social climber Cecilia Valdés uses Santería to conquer Leonardo Gamboa, the son of a rich colonialist family.

A scientist invents a potion that allows vampires to be able to live withought problems in daylight. When the word gets out to the rest of the vampires in the world, they come to Cuba and fight for control of the potion. However, it's the scientist's nephew, a trumpet player, who holds the formula for the elixir.

"The Abominable Crime" is a story about a mother's love for her child and an activist's love for his country. Told as they unfold over several years, these personal, intimate accounts of discrimination and violence perpetrated against gays in Jamaica take the audience on an emotional journey. The film also seeks to get to the roots of homophobia in Jamaican society, revealing the psychological and social impacts of discrimination on the lives of gays and lesbians.

"Clandestinos" chronicles the last days of the revolutionary struggle against Fulgencio Batista in Cuba by portraying the romance between two clandestine fighters who work on an underground printing press, used to print subversive pamphlets against the government.

Set in Jamaica, this contemporary movie explores the conflicts between a Christian teen and her worldly brother, a husband and wife, and the influences of their visiting relatives. When Leon and his friends decide to go partying on Good Friday, they realize that although Friday nights are usually made for having fun, Good Friday is not just another Friday. As the teens work out their conflicts, the adults also face their own dilemmas. With the underlying theme that tomorrow is promised to no-one, "Just Another Friday" provides a stark reminder that old and young alike need God.

"La Bella del Alhambra" is the story of the genesis, rise, and career of Esther – a beloved actress in the most popular theatre in Havana at the turn of the 19th century.

An old, much loved and respected music teacher known as Mad Simeon lives in a little West Indian village. His star pupil, Isidore, a talented guitarist, is a car mechanic by trade. But they both share a crazy dream, to create a new type of West Indian music that will become as widely known as jazz or reggae.

Based on true events that took place on Curaçao in 1795, this is the story of Tula, an enslaved African on the island of Curaçao, who is becoming more and more aware of the injustice existing between his people and the white oppressors. When he hears of the revolution in St Domingue and that France has ended slavery in her colonies, he downs tools and demands to meet with the governor, de Veer. His peaceful resistance is not looked upon kindly by the rulers. But it resonates with his own people, including old Shinishi. Inspired by Tula’s example, they unite in a passionate struggle for equality, freedom and brotherhood.

A three-part documentary about the Martinican author who coined the term “negritude” and launched the movement called the “Great Black Cry.”

"Haiti, le Silence des Chiens" is a portrayal of Haiti and the power, rivalry, and political ambition of its power brokers, whereby law and order in democratic terms are constantly abused. The documentary features two opposing worldviews, amid terrible repression, between the diplomatic haggling that takes place between elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, in exile in Washington, and the Prime Minister Robert Malval in Haiti, who is a virtual prisoner after the military coup.

Charlie is a young man seeking to make ends meet on the streets of Port of Spain. Reluctantly, he takes a job from a gang leader as assistant to a drug courier. This is how he meets Dinah, a prostitute, who works for the fearsome Putao. Dinah convinces Charlie to escape with her, in a move that triggers serious consequences. Shot in an urgent and unflinchingly gritty style, "God Loves the Fighter" is an honest yet sympathetic tale of real life as lived in contemporary urban Trinidad.

When the French conquered Dahõm’ey, they ended the reign of King Behanzin, sending him and part of the royal court into exile on the Island of Martinique, where Behanzin was treated as a war prisoner. This film deals with his reign, as well as capture and incarceration by the French, but it is also a moving romantic drama of a king who fell passionately in love with a beautiful Martinican half-caste, only to later lose her to an earthquake.

Hosay is a Shia Muslim ritual commemorating the martyrdom of Hussein, grandson of the prophet Muhammad. In the southwestern Trinidad community of Cedros, the observance of Hosay in the month of Muharram crosses ethnic, gender and even religious lines. This film documents significant aspects of Hosay, while recording for posterity the collective memory of the Hosay artists and celebrants from Cedros.

Junkanoo is a Bahamian festival that occurs during the dark hours of morning on the 26th of December and again bringing in its first hours of light on the first day of the new year. Thousands dance through Bay Street, Nassau’s town center. Through a tapestry of interviews with a diverse body of characters, this film explores Junkanoo’s historical, social, political, culture and spiritual impact on Bahamian life.

Randolph Briggs is an ex-cop living in Port of Spain. After being removed from the force for unjust reasons he now works as a taxi driver on the graveyard shift. He’s a loner who cruises the streets at night in a city plagued with crime and violence. A serial killer posing as a taxi driver also prowls the city at night stalking young female victims. Stripped of his official authority but burdened with a need to protect the innocent, Briggs eventually makes the ultimate decision to follow his instincts and escape from Babylon.

A profile of Haitian radio journalist and human rights activist, Jean Dominique. "The Agronomist" weaves historical footage of Haiti's vivid and tumultuous past, interviews with Dominique and Michele Montas, his wife and extraordinary partner, and incorporates footage shot before Dominique's assassination on April 3, 2000.

In 1951 Stuart Hall left his native Jamaica to study at Oxford University. He would later become one of the United Kingdom’s foremost cultural theorists and intellectuals of the Left, and be hailed as the father of modern British multiculturalism. This powerful documentary portrait of Hall, spanning over 50 years, is comprised entirely of footage from his archives. The film is completed by a potent soundtrack comprising music fragments from Hall’s lifelong love of Miles Davis.

When Oswald, the greatest Barbadian monkey hunter meets his match, the monkey Chango, Oswald's nephew Miguel returns to Barbados. Miguel aims to document Oswald's battle with Chango, who may or may not be the "monkey destroyer" from the Rastafarian bible.

For well over a hundred years, men of the tiny island of Bequia in the Grenadines have engaged in a dangerous and (now) controversial activity: the hunting of humpback whales. Spanning a generation, this revealing and compelling film gently examines this group of men whose lives are indelibly entwined with nature. Amidst the clamour of modernisation, the steadfast voices of a people reverberate as they cling to a proud past.

"The Eleutheran Adventure" is a Bahamian road movie in which the filmmakers hitchhike from North Eleuthera to the Southern End in search of adventure, with only $150 to take them there.

Based on a popular television sitcom, "Keeping up with the Joneses" is centred around the Jones family: Irving Jones, his wife Angela, their daughter Tracy and son Nathan, who are stars in a reality show called "Life & Times" in the Caribbean. When the Joneses are kidnapped all is thought to be lost. That is until Angela’s mentally ill brother, Anderson, and three friends from Green Meadows Mental Institution go on a mission to save them.

"Chartered Course" is a portrayal of the Bahamian philanthropist and businessman, Sir Durward Knowles. This film covers the 90 years of Durwad's exceptional life.

Jon and Madj Smart offer to give Desiree, a young clerical officer, a ride in their van, but during an argument with her husband Madj crashes the van into a gully. With cell phones dead and torrential rain falling, the threesome decide to wait out the storm and find help in the morning. However the long night reveals a tangled web of lies and betrayal, where some relationships are more deadly than the raging storm.

"Final Truth" tells the story of Sean Osbourne – a young, ambitious, married doctor and politician, who develops a gay relationship with one of his tutors in New York that lasts many years. His wife, Shannah, becomes infected with HIV/AIDS and makes a video of her life prior to her death.

Life isn’t easy for 11-year-old Chala. When he isn’t getting into trouble at school for his violent behaviour, or with the police for raising fighting dogs, he has to contend with an alcoholic mother who spends her nights hustling in Havana’s nightclubs. Chala has one person on his side: his teacher, Carmela, who absolutely believes that no child is a lost cause. But when Carmela falls ill, Chala himself is in danger of falling through the cracks of an unforgiving system, in this heartfelt, clear-eyed drama.

This comedic tale is about your best friends becoming your worst enemies, your girlfriend leaving you, owing money to the court, and then and only then do you get real Vexx!

In Perico, Cuba, an Afro-Cuban community has kept alive songs and dances brought from West Africa via the slave trade almost two centuries ago. Through years of searching, filmmaker Emma Christopher tried to find the origins of these cultural artefacts. Then, in a remote village in Sierra Leone, people watching a recording of the Cubans' songs and dances joyously declared “They are we!”, and joined in with the songs. In this extraordinary film, their Cuban brothers and sisters finally come home.

A panorama of female musicians from across the Caribbean and their various musical styles are revealed here in a series of interviews. From Calypso to Soca, from Gospel to Reggae, these divas take you right to the heart of their music.

The formerly luxurious Hotel Nueva Isla in Old Havana is now in ruins, but it is home to people living on the fringes of society, like the retired public servant Jorge. Abandoned by his wife and children, Jorge’s only motivation, like a Don Quixote forgotten and gone astray, is to continue a quest he’s followed for years: dig among the dangerous ruins of the hotel, where he is convinced that the former owners hid valuable objects before fleeing the Cuban Revolution.

Michael Wells was born through a breached birth and suffered severe neurological damage culminating in cerebral palsy. He was not allowed in any school and did not receive any formal education, but learned to read and write through watching "Sesame Street", and surprised his family when he wrote the words I AM NOT A DUMMY on a piece of paper. This film follows him on his journey to get his book published, the daily challenges faced by his 74-year-old caregiver and father, and Michael's tireless fight as an advocate for disability rights.

"Blanco" portrays the daily life and human side of six albinos of different ages and stages in life, who have more in common than just their physical condition. Uninformed about the symptoms related to albinism, these people live their lives with normalcy despite their unique appearance, visual impairment and the harmful effects of the sun on their skin. Shot with an often ethereal beauty, "Blanco" neither exploits nor patronises its subjects, instead presenting them as they are, with warmth and compassion.

Before reggae conquered the world, Jamaica gave us ska. This exciting and uplifting Feature Documentary tells the story of ska music in the words of the musicians themselves, from the rhythm-and-blues-influenced sound-system dances in Kingston in the 1950s to the classic ska period of the 1960s to the coming of reggae. The film is punctuated by performances from the 2002 “Legends of Ska” concert, and features interviews with Frederick “Toots” Hibbert, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Jimmy Cliff, Keith Richards and others.

In the year 1967, Sir Stafford Sands, hailed as the architect of the modern Bahamian economy, left the Bahamas and never returned. The movie investigates this complex man, examines his genius, and seeks answers as to why he left.

When Queen Elizabeth II visited Jamaica in 2002, she was petitioned by a small group of Rastafari for slavery reparations. For Rastafari, reparations are linked to moving to Africa, from where their ancestors were brought as enslaved people. This timely, important film traces the Rastafarian petition and a reparations lawsuit against the Queen over a decade into both the British and Jamaican parliaments, while interweaving stories of earlier Rastas who pursued reparations in the 1960s.

In 1948 Cuba, Chico is a hotshot jazz pianist living in Havana, where his reputation as a ladies' man nearly outshines his talent at the keyboard. One night, Chico sees the sultry Rita singing "Love for Sale" at a nightclub, and later backs Rita during a talent competition held at a Havana radio station. They begin an affair but, after a quarrel with Chico, Rita leaves for New York. Not wanting to lose her, Chico and his best friend Ramon head to New York City, but as Rita achieves fame and fortune in the United States, Chico finds the limelight difficult to manage and returns to Cuba.

Marcelino is a celebrated painter and art teacher with a curmudgeonly reputation. On the verge of losing his sight and being squeezed to retire from the university, he reaches out to his only daughter, Isabel, a writer of self-help books. With his thoughts turning to his final end, Marso seeks forgiveness for abandoning his family decades ago. The wounds of the past prove difficult to heal, however, in this engaging and touchingly bittersweet comedy-drama.

"Fire in Babylon" is the breathtaking story of the achievements of one of the most gifted teams in sporting history. In a turbulent era of apartheid in South Africa, race riots in England, and civil unrest in the Caribbean, the West Indian cricketers, led by the enigmatic Viv Richards, struck a defiant blow at the forces of white prejudice worldwide. Their undisputed skill, combined with a fearless spirit, allowed them to dominate the genteel game at the highest level, replaying it on their own terms.

The transgender community of Puerto Rico is as diverse as it is vibrant. A unique exploration of self-discovery and activism, Mala Mala features a cast of unforgettably colourful and vivacious subjects that includes LGBT advocates, business owners, sex workers and a group of drag performers who call themselves The Doll House. This is a passionate and winning documentary that portrays a fight for personal and community acceptance paved with discouraging lows and triumphant highs.

Dave and Sonia live happily in Georgetown until Sonia's friend Donna makes an appearance one morning, claiming that her home had been demolished in a storm. Against the wishes of her husband, Sonia takes her into their home and offers her a place to stay. But things take a turn when Sonia unexpectedly has to temporarily go to the USA, leaving Donna alone in the home with Dave.

"A Jasmine for a Gardener" tells the story of a girl who is forced into marriage by her parents for the sake of wealth, but who defies their wishes to follow her heart and her quest for happiness.

"Pan! Our Music Odyssey" is the story of the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago, the only new acoustic musical instrument invented in the twentieth century. The film boldly dramatises the almost mythical invention of pan in the 1940s, and then surges forward to tell the stories of people from all over the world—T&T, France, Japan, the USA—who have staked everything on their love of the instrument, and whose passion and daring draw them each year to the “world championships” of steelband, Panorama. Written by Kim Johnson, T&T’s foremost pan writer and researcher, "Pan!" is interlaced with dramatic re-enactments of the rags-to-riches tale of the steelband movement, which was born into poverty and violence but climbed to the highest levels of social and artistic acceptance without losing its life-or-death urgency.

Based on a true story, GG, a young, pretty Jamaican woman, and her husband, a hard working farmer living in rural Jamaica meet in church, where GG let it be known that she did not believe in sex before marriage. But, unknown to GG, Jimmy carried a dark secret into the marriage with unfortunate consequences.

"Rasta: A Soul's Journey" is the story of Rita and Bob Marley's granddaughter, Donisha Prendergast, and her exploration of the roots and evolution of Rastafari in eight countries where her grandfather's captivating performances and messages are still fondly remembered. The documentary boasts an uplifting and inspiring reggae soundtrack that features established, as well as emerging, contemporary reggae stars, such as Humble, Matisyahu, and Damian Marley.

"Haiti Bride" centres around Marie-Thérèse, who leaves Haiti for New York with her family when Jean-Bertrand Aristide is thrown out of power. Years later Marie-Thérèse meets and falls in love with Paul, a fellow Haitian. They go back to Haiti to get married, but unfortunately the date and time of the wedding coincide with the 2011 earthquake. The lovers are separated, and fear each other is dead. A year later, however, they meet again.

This is the story of Machine, a maxi-taxi driver with a good heart and some bad acquaintances, whose main aim in life is to provide for his family and enjoy himself. The story takes place over the course of a day in Machine's life.

"80 Million Gees" is a comedic tale about a multi-racial group of Guyanese who feel economically deprived by the political process and resort to stealing $83 million dollars from the Central Bank to avenge a system and government that has neglected their needs. But they quickly learn that the most difficult part of the operation is not the heist, but dispersing the spoils to the people.

Lisa Collen visits Jamaica from Toronto, Canada to sell her family's estate. Complexities soon present themselves to her when she meets a musician under the watchful eye of her family.

"A Man With a Voice" chronicles the Bahamian legend, Norman Soloman, a journalist, politician, activist, and businessman. This film sheds light on his journey while also illuminating the changing political landscape of pre-independent Bahamas up until the present.

Set on the island of Barbados, "Guttaperc" is the story of Eric, a ten-year-old boy who spends a holiday with his grandparents in the countryside, at a time when the government has just revealed plans to build a tourist resort on the villagers’ land. Eric befriends Sister Pam, an old woman of the village who tells him stories, one of which bears the answer to the future of the village. Soon he comes to the difficult realisation that the venture threatens to displace all the villagers, and that his grandfather will be a major supporter and beneficiary of the project.

Ram, a cane cutter, is trapped on the sugar plantation because of his lack of skills and education, and only forgets the hopelessness of his station in life when he is drinking rum at the village rum shop. His wife Leela reconciles herself to the conditions of plantation life by seeing the beauty in the cane fields that have trapped her husband. Ram and Leela vow that their sons will not inherit the legacy and devote all their love and resources to their children despite the intrigues of plantation life and the machination of the conniving local money lender. In spite of their travails the boys become a success.

Set in the early 1960s, "L'Homme sur les quais" examines the violence and instability of Haiti's darkest days. The corrupt François "Baby Doc" Duvalier has risen to power, and his private army, the Tonton Macoutes, enforce his bidding with an iron fist. Eight-year-old Sarah's father is a discredited army officer; he and his wife are forced to flee their rural town by Janvier, a vicious Tonton Macoute. Sarah and her two sisters are left behind in the care of their grandmother, who risks her life to secure them from Janvier, now bent on revenge and dedicated to the new regime. The story is narrated 30 years later by an adult Sarah, whose memories are haunted by nightmares of the man by the shore who put an end to her childhood.

Bob Marley’s universal appeal, impact on music history, and role as a social and political prophet is both unique and unparalleled. "Marley" is the definitive life story of the musician, revolutionary, legend, and the man, from his early days to his rise to international superstardom. Made with the support of the Marley family, the film features rare footage, never before seen performances, previously unreleased music, and revelatory interviews with the people who knew him best.

OnePeople is a collaborative documentary that invited people worldwide to contribute footage to celebrate Jamaica’s global reach 50 years after independence. On August 6th, 2011 the question “What does Jamaica mean to you?” was posed, with an aim to get the global community to respond by uploading visual representations of their answers to www.onepeopledocumentary.com. The results show how the tiny island nation has touched many people outside of Jamaica.

In 1979 Havana, university student David is marginalised but loves his country and its cultural traditions. He meets Diego, a gay artist unhappy with the Castro regime's attitude toward the LBGT community, as well as the oppressive culture of censuring freedom of expression. David's classically homophobic classmate, Miguel, plans to use David to spy on Diego, a person whom they see as aberrant and dangerous to the Communist cause. Diego, for his part, initiates the friendship to pursue his sexual intentions.

This film explores the question, "Was L.O. Pindling, the first black Prime Minister of The Bahamas, one of Bahamian history's greatest national liberators, or was he one of Bahamian history's greatest national drug dealers?" The film follows L.O Pindling as he sets out on a course to bring about social, political, and economic revolution to the British Bahamian Islands.

"La Última Cena" tells the story of a pious plantation owner during Cuba’s Spanish colonial period. In his misguided attempt to enlighten his slaves, the Count invites 12 of them to a dinner on Maundy Thursday, in a re-enactment of the Last Supper with himself as Christ. While they eat and drink, he also feeds them religious rhetoric and attempts to instruct them in the workings of Christianity. He promises them a day off for the following Good Friday and commits to freeing one of them. However, when these promises are not held up the next day, the slaves rebel.

This film explores the story of the Women's Suffrage Movement in The Bahamas, between 1948 –1962. It highlights the five main leaders of the movement and the social obstacles they faced in obtaining women’s rights.

Three women, all named Lucia, become revolutionaries, as they confront the specific historical dilemmas of their respective epochs—1895, 1932, and the post-revolutionary era of the 1960s. During Cuba's war for independence from Spain, Lucia, a single woman from a wealthy family, betrays her brother, a Cuban revolutionary, when she inadvertently leads her lover to his secret hideout. In the 1930s, the idealistic young pregnant Lucia leaves her family and gets involved with an activist group. Finally, in the 1960s, the newly married Lucia fights with her husband over her own freedom.

"Trailblazer" is the story of Bahamian basketball legend Mychal Thompson, who started playing basketball at the late age of 16 in his native Bahamas some 50 years ago. After a chance meeting with a coach from Miami Jackson High School, Thompson received a scholarship and led his high school team to an undefeated national championship, and then four years later, after an outstanding career at the University of Minnesota, he became the first foreign-born number one draft pick in NBA history. Thompson played with the Portland Trailblazers for eight years before he went on to win two NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers.

In the aftermath of the Bay of Pigs Invasion, Sergio, an affluent writer, chooses to stay behind in Cuba while his wife and family escape to neighbouring Miami. He is pessimistic about the revolution's promise to bring sweeping change to his country, and squanders his days prowling the streets of Havana looking for female companionship. Trouble erupts when Sergio's fling with the chaste Elena nearly ruins him after her family accuses him of rape.

Tony Dass finds himself in the doldrums. His wife has put him out of his home and he is estranged from his son. While trying to come to grips with this new reality, he receives an intriguing call from an antique dealer in Guyana that prompts his return to his homeland. After an absence of over 20 years, Tony undertakes the journey in order to understand exactly what is the cause of the misfortune and misery that he is experiencing in America. What Tony discovers about himself not only shocks him, but reveals the human spirit at its finest. “Forgotten Promise” is a tale woven by pathos, comedy, and humanity.

Andre Rodgers grew up playing cricket in the British colony of The Bahamas, and had never even seen a game of baseball before he went to try out for the New York Giants minor league farm system in 1954. He was signed immediately and became a minor league superstar before playing eleven seasons in the major leagues with the Giants, the Cubs, and the Pirates. Rodgers lived in two worlds, the violent racial struggles of America in the 50s and 60s and the sleepy laid back British Colony known as The Bahamas. Rodgers led by example and taught many of his American counterparts how to deal with racism while successfully navigating the baseball fields of America.

Based on old legends, "Almacita di Desolato" depicts a fictional agricultural community in an isolated part of Curaçao at the turn of the century. During a long drought, Solem uses her magical powers to protect her village from evil spirits. She also provides food, searching the wilderness for edible plants. During one foraging mission, she encounters an evil spirit who impregnates her. Solem's fellow villagers believe her power to be derived from her virginity, and when she gives birth they ostracise her. She then embarks on a quest to purify herself and restore balance to the world.

"Gold" is about a mystical Rastafarian who is trying to uplift the youth in his village, but the village is run by a gangster known as the Eagle who wears a guard ring that gives him dark mystical powers to reign terror on the village.

"La silla" deals with the horrors of the notoriously violent Trujillo regime and its impact on human relationships. Based on a play ("Monologue"), by Franklin Dominguez, "La silla" addresses Dominican youth under the regime through the story of a young man who is accused of betraying his comrades while they were in jail, and of setting up a plot to assassinate the dictator. In his self-defence he states how easy it is to move from being a hero to be a traitor.

"When a Man Dreams Dreams" chronicles the extraordinary life of Bahamian playwright, actor, musician and lawyer Winston V. Saunders. From his humble beginnings as a child organist to his meteoric rise as the writer of "You Can Lead a Horse to Water", the iconic Bahamian play. Saunders' achievements left an indelible mark on Bahamian society and culture.

Balbuena is hoping to go to New York to improve his family's living situation. After the death of his wife, he decides to undertake the trip and leave the Dominican Republic. With the help of his cousin Fellito he is able to obtain a US visa and Balbuena arrives in the big city, where he has always dreamed of living. He is welcomed by another cousin, Pedro, and his life appears to be going well but, as an immigrant, Balbuena realises too late the reality and suffering the foreign city will have on him.

Director Frank Zichem, who was known for his groundbreaking documentary "Paper Dutchmen" about young Surinamese people who emigrated with their families to Holland, returns to the same subject 27 years later, focusing on Shirley Alison, who he met and observed as a little girl.

Faced with a precarious economic situation and poor standards of living, a group of workers and friends initiate a plan to leave the country illegally. "Un pasaje de Ida" is based on actual events that occurred on September 6, 1980, when several Dominicans were suffocated inside a container ship, the Regina Express.

Nico Verema, a decorous Dutch magistrate lives happily with his Curaçaon wife Shirley and her two young nephews. Everything changes with the arrival of the boys’ mother, Magda. When Shirley, who cannot bear children, demands that her husband impregnate her sister, the good judge finds himself entangled in an intergenerational, trans-Atlantic web of family dysfunction.

"Haitian Corner" tells the story of Patrick Bossue, who often visits the Haitian Corner bookstore in New York, frequented by many exiles who also fled President François Duvalier’s dictatorial regime in Haiti. One day he thinks he recognises one of his torturers. This possibility then plunges him right back into a past that he was trying to forget, a past marked by seven years in prison. From now on, his sole purpose is to find his torturer again, and have his revenge. But this search will have its consequences.

On the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe two technocrats sent from Paris are responsible for electing the candidate of the majority in the next elections. Coco la Fleur is duped into standing for election in the sure expectation he will be a puppet after his victory, according to the strategy of the powerful Monbin family. When Coco discovers how much publicity the campaign offers, though, he seizes the opportunity to voice the people's grievances.

A woman is lured by a friend into a life of lust, pleasure and deceit after her husband temporarily leaves home for a job in order to provide for his family.

"The Terror and the Time" explores British colonialism in Guyana by focusing on three historical moments of developed antagonism between the exploited and the exploiter. The film portrays the organisation, action, and eventual repression of the forces of liberation. Interviews of those who had been involved in the 1953 struggle are combined with news clippings, newsreel footage, and the poetry and music of Guyanese artists and the year of the first elections under a provisional democratic constitution.

In the late 1920s, Arthur Parisius, aka Kid Dynamite, travelled from his native Suriname to the Netherlands where his swinging jazz, inspired by South American music, became immensely popular. However, in the late 1930s, the authorities turned against this ‘nigger music’.

Alex Grant, nicknamed Aggro, obtains a job as a seizeman – a repossession agent for a hire-purchase firm. He is successful despite opposition, and negotiates a deal by which he gets five per cent of the value for repossessing mining equipment from an up-country firm.

On 8 December 1982, at Fort Zeelandia in Paramaribo, Surinamese authorities committed 15 murders led by the military regime and its leader Desi Bouterse, who had previously come to power through a military coup. Thereafter the authorities disposed of all of their main critics through torture and summary execution. The shock of these events is still felt in Surinamese society today, particularly as the culprits have never been arrested or tried.

"Haïti, le chemin de la liberté" traces the struggle of the Haitian people and their desire for freedom that existed from the arrival of Christopher Columbus, to the infamous reign of the notorious political figure Jean-Claude Duvalier. This film, the first Haitian feature, recounts the terrible and unecessary poverty and violence that siezed Haiti, and of the historical figures who made great sacrifices to try to change its violent path.

Erwin dies during a hunting trip leaving behind his children, his ex-wife and his girlfriend. His daughter Lillian finds out that Erwin wasn't her biological father, and to complicate matters, Erwin's girlfriend becomes violent and lies in an attempt to get all of the inheritance.

"La ronde des vodu" documents the significant role of Voodoo in Haitian culture and how it remains an authentic and stabilising cultural base of everyday Haitian society, despite being banned as subversive in 1935. The film is told from the perspective of Voodoo priests, government officials, historians and politicians.

Secret agent Robert Lipmann is ordered by the Dutch government to start a search for the journalist Kevin Poelgeest, who has disappeared. During his search, Lipmann meets Kevin's sister Elvira, who is having an affair with a top commander in the Surinamese military. Like Lipmann, she is convinced that Kevin's disappearance likely means he has been murdered in a bad drug deal, but events soon change and, unknowingly, they uncover the tragic real life events of 8 December 1982 in Suriname known as the December Murders.

Best known as a pioneer of independent experimental cinema, Maya Deren was also a Vodoun initiate, who took her camera and recorder where few have gone before or since. "The Divine Horsemen: The Living Gods of Haiti" journeys into the world of the Vodoun religion, communing with the drums and loa rituals, between 1947–1951. The film was edited posthumously by Teiji and Cherel Ito in 1971.

Born in Suriname and living in the Netherlands, Clarence Breeveld wants to visit the places where his ancestors were traded as slaves. Along with director Frank Zichem, he departs for Ghana, where he learns about how and where the slave trade took place, and is visibly moved upon seeing the dank dungeons and the 'door of no return' at Cape Coast Castle, and the 'key bearer' of the mighty Ashanti king. They meet the Ghanaian Stephen Korsah, who shares with them the history of slavery in his native country, but reveals he knows nothing about his forebear’s final destination, Suriname. Korsah agrees to travel to Suriname, where he is greeted in Kromanti, the language from his native region, and new knowledge and old emotions are exposed.

"Countryman" is the story of a fisherman whose quiet life is irrevocably changed when he rescues a young American couple from their plane crash in Jamaica. He leads them away from the authorities, and the nefarious Colonel Sinclair, who have fabricated a story about the plane, involving drug and arms smuggling by the CIA, to gain popularity in an upcoming election. Countryman is unceremoniously tossed into a political plot and has to use his knowledge of the terrain and his innate survival skills to overcome his unfortunate situation.

This documentary portrays a generation of Surinamese people who were the first to explore their roots and culture, otherwise known as ‘wie eegie sanie’, or ‘our own things’.

Ivanhoe Martin arrives in Kingston, Jamaica, with dreams of becoming a successful reggae singer. After some initial struggles in which he is jailed for a knife fight, he lands a recording contract as a reggae singer and records his first song, "The Harder They Come". After a bitter dispute with a manipulative and corrupt producer named Hilton, and the drug pushers he's connected to, Ivan finds himself resorting to petty crime in order to pay his bills. He deals marijuana, kills some abusive cops during a malicious raid, and earns local folk hero status when his recording is released and tops the charts.

A mother has to deal with her teenage daughter who gets pregnant and has the baby unexpectedly, and then leaves the child at a garbage dump.

After a transfer back to his old neighborhood to join a group of officers fighting organised crime in the area "Dungle," one of the poverty-stricken tenements of Kingston, Jamaica, loose cannon cop Capone uncovers a burgeoning gun running operation headed by the local Don, "Wonie". Capone finds out that one of the Don's main men, Ratty, is the young brother of Capone's best friend from his youth. Capone is forced to make a choice between his current job and his old crew.

Director Ivette Forster talks with friends and family of Fred Derby, a former union leader, on why he was the only one who was captured and not murdered by the military on the night of the December Murders, where 15 other critics of the military regime were brutally killed.

Marcia has a tough life in Kingston, Jamaica, where she's the sole provider for her teenage daughter, Tanya. Her business as a street vendor is threatened by a thug, Priest, and Marcia makes matters worse when she accepts money from Larry, who has eyes for her daughter. To get out of her problems, Marcia devises a plan that involves entering a dance contest in disguise, winning the top prize and pitting both men against each other.

Based on the stage play by director Trevor Rhone, "Smile Orange" is about the tourism industry and the naiveté of American guests. The film takes a humorous and somewhat acidic view of the tourism business, mostly from the point of view of Ringo, a hustler, con man and waiter.

The life of a taxi driver is turned upside down when he gets caught up in a robbery, commits a foolish act, is arrested and brought before the court where he sentenced to prison for 12 years. During his absence, his family falls apart.

Set in Martinique in 1931, "Rue Cases Négres" presents a rich portrait of native life under French colonial rule, filtered through the coming of age of a bright, sweetly opportunistic boy learning to reconcile the value of his shanty-town roots with the education opportunities that beckon him to the big city.

A 9-year-old computer whizz kid, Sjommie, accidently steals an important file from criminals, who chase him. The boy is smarter than the gang of criminals, who eventually are caught by the police.

As World War II begins and the US Navy settles in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the local elite decide to throw a final party at a casino that's being converted to a military base. There, government worker Jose Manuel announces he's breaking off his engagement to Rita, a woman he doesn't love who comes from a rich family. But when his father is framed for treason against the Americans, Jose must reconsider marrying Rita, who has powerful political connections.

Verkeerd is a love story between Sita, of Hindustani descent, and Sukru, of African descent. Sukru is a witch doctor, who uses his knowledge to attract and abuse other women. But the spirits, the wintis, punish Sukru for his acts and Sita faces a difficult choice.

Santiago is a widower and a retired accountant. He likes things to be orderly. However, as his children have lives of their own, his days have grown increasingly lonely. For entertainment, he sometimes takes walks in the open spaces of Old San Juan. There, he meets Angelina, who comes to share his pleasure in these walks. Soon, he is arranging his walks so as to meet her, but she refuses to give out any personal information about herself. As his attachment to her grows, so does his curiosity, and before long he has hired a private detective to find out her story.

Sjommie has a special gift, and together with his friends he aids the police in catching criminals.

"Los peloteros" is the story of a group of very poor boys that play baseball with broken bats and torn mitts. Pepe, who no one takes seriously, not even his wife, coaches the boys in baseball and fills their heads with stories of when he used to play the "big leagues". The story takes a twist when the boys decide to fundraise for new uniforms and equipment and appoint Pepe to be in charge of the money. However, a problem arises when his wife steals the money.

Spike lives in the Bijlmermeer, a part of Amsterdam where mostly Surinamese people live. Because of poverty, he lands in the criminal circuit. Eventually he ends up as a cocaine transporter, is arrested and deported back to Suriname. His girlfriend Rosalie travels from Holland to visit him in prison.

Suriname’s first feature-length drama, "Wan Pipel" tells the story of a young black Surinamese man, Roy, who is studying in Amsterdam when he learns that his mother back home is dying. After borrowing money from his Dutch girlfriend to return home, he scandalises everyone when he begins a new relationship with Rubia, a Hindu.

Professor Horatio Treurniet travels to his native Suriname to celebrate his 50th birthday accompanied by his elegant wife Hortense. Their childless marriage has lasted 22 years and Hortense wants to use this holiday to ask for a divorce. Totally absorbed in their marital crisis, the professor and his wife will soon discover that a mysterious secret, the secret of the Saramacca River, is unfolding.

Produced in 1977, this classic Carnival film stars Gregory Ballantine (the calypsonian GB) and Kamalo Deen (who directed the film) as stickfighters, and features appearances by Calypso Rose, Crazy, Count Robin, Trinidad Rio, Mighty Wanderer, Stork St. Hill and a host of others. "Bacchanal Time" is about an islandwide stick-fight competition on Carnival Sunday, and two fighters in particular who have to travel great distances through treacherous, often hilarious circumstances to participate in this traditional event.

A documentary style fiction film about a Surinamese filmmaker Pim de la Parra who, while shooting a historical film about the abolition of slavery, was approached by a Dutch filmmaker who wanted to make a film about him. The result is a film not only about minimalist film director Pim de la Parra, but also about his relationship to film, women and the Surinamese film industry.

This two-part documentary covers the life of Lieve Hugo, the Suriname King of Kaseko music. The first segment addresses the life of Lieve Hugo (also known as Hugo Uiterloo), while the second segment explores his musical performances and greatest songs, played by the Rotterdam Metropole symphony orchestra.

The first film to be produced by a West Indian production company, "The Caribbean Fox" is the story of Butch and Boysie, two local gangsters who become involved in drug trafficking through a sinister underworld figure known as The Caribbean Fox. They then meet Kim and Angel, two women whose demonstration in opposition to women exploitation caused their nightclubs to be wrecked. Because of this, the gangsters decide to give up pushing drugs, but The Caribbean Fox kidnaps Kim and Angela in order to force the men to change their minds. A battle ensues.

"Tears of the Suriname Jungle" tells the story of the 1980 Surinamese civil war, which culminated in the massacre and destruction of the village of Moiwana by National Army units.

"The Right and the Wrong" tells the story of a cruel, white plantation owner who kills and ill-treats the Indian and Afro-Caribbean workers who slave for him on his island. Revolted by his brutality, two community leaders, one an Indian and the other an Afro-Caribbean, try to unionise their fellow workers on a Caribbean plantation. The daughter of the plantation owner is attracted to the black union organiser and has an affair with him. The climax of the movie comes near the end when the plantation owner "arrests" the two organisers and sentences them to death.

During WWII 48 planes crashed in Suriname. Cameraman and filmmaker Dave Edhard undertakes two expeditions in order to find two of the crashed planes and sites: one in the swamps in the district of Coronie, West Suriname, and one in the Warapa creek, located in the district of Commewijne in central east Suriname. A mystery unfolds surounding the Warapa Creek crash.

As a Trinidadian dance legend, Beryl McBurnie established The Little Carib Theatre, and promoted the culture and arts of Trinidad and Tobago as her life's work. She helped to promote the cultural legitimacy of Trinidad and Tobago that would ultimately arm its people to handle independence psychologically and healthily. "La Belle Rosette" is a profile of Trinidad’s iconic choreographer, dancer and folklorist.

People living in a senior citizens' home are interviewed about the period iin the 1980s in which they lived under military dictatorship in Suriname, and how the December Murders of December 8, 1982 changed not only their lives, but the whole of Suriname.

The opening scene of "Dead Man's Gold" is set in 1732, when pirate Captain Kyd and his first mate bury stolen treasure on an island. The greedy captain kills his mate, and the treasure remains undisturbed for 200 years. The film then fast-forwards to 1932, with prisoners at work breaking rocks in a quarry on a convict island. One of the convicts escapes at sundown, finds a boat and sets sail for Trinidad. He arrives at Sans Souci, on the north coast. Once ashore, he finds a bottle containing a map with directions to the buried treasure. He discovers the treasure, but does not realise that the ghost of the murdered pirate still jealously guards the treasure.

A French women goes to Pelelu Tepu, a remote Amerindian village in the far South of Suriname to search for her collegue who has gone missing.

Grace wants to know more about her father in Suriname, but no one in her family wants to speak of him. Being the only black child of an all-white family, Grace is desperate to find out everything there is to know about him. Her grandfather can help her, but his memory is geting worse with each passing day since the death of his wife. When the family tries to put him in a retirement home, he and Grace try to unsuccessfully rob a bank forcing them to flee to Suriname.

"Pressure" deals with institutional racism and police brutality through the story of a British-born younger son of an immigrant family from Trinidad, who finds himself adrift between two cultures. Tony, a young black man in England endures discrimination despite his best efforts to blend in with white society. An intelligent young man, he tries to find work but only the lowest paid jobs are open to him. Tony's disillusionment grows steadily and his difficulty in getting a job increasingly estranges him from his white friends until he becomes involved with his brother's radical political group whose aspirations and attitudes do not exactly end up matching his own.

"Paradox" is about the rise and fall of Pim de la Parra, a crazy, controversial and creative genius. Driven by beautiful women, his ego and thirst for money, De la Parra celebrated life while producing and directing dozens of films, changing the Dutch film industry and helping many young talents on their way.

“Burning an Illusion” tells the story of a young British-born black woman who becomes increasingly frustrated with her life and her lazy, demanding boyfriend and, with the help of her friends, seeks something better. Mostly shot in London’s Notting Hill and Ladbrook Grove communities, it was only the second British feature to have been made by a black director. “Burning an Illusion” is notable for breaking the tradition of placing white males at the center of the story, and also for prioritising the personal drama of a black woman over the socio-economic and political conflicts traditionally associated with such films.

Jong Suriname tells the story of three young Surinamese speaking about their dreams after the military period of the 1980s when Desi Bouterse was the military leader of a dictatorship, and is now about to become president of the country.

"Black Joy" is a lightly ironic, British culture-clash comedy. At the centre is Ben, a young, innocent and unsophisticated Guyanese immigrant who is exposed to the hustlin' way of life of the Brixton ghetto. Ben is under the delusion that life will be easier for him in London but, as soon as he sets foot in England, he gets tangled up in one disaster after another. The catalyst for most of our protagonist's travails is "assimilated" Caribbean man Dave, a streetwise con artist.

Winston Richter returns to his country of birth, after a career as a drug dealer. His path to crime originally started in Suriname and, as a result, he comes into contact with his former crime associates. Winston tries to escape from their influence and has to be creative in order to achieve this.

"Time and Judgement" is an overview of the African Liberation Movement that spans a period of 400 hundred years. The film narrates the tribulations and successes of people of African descent in and out of Africa, with a special focus on the struggles of the last century. Through extensive footage of the movement in the Caribbean, Africa, America and Europe, the viewer is exposed to the critical political analysis of leaders such as: Maurice Bishop of Grenada, Walter Rodney of Guyana, Jessie Jackson, Kwame Ture (Stokley Carmichael) and Louis Farrakhan of the USA, Samora Machel of Mozambique, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, Bob Marley and Marcus Garvey of Jamaica, and more.

This film is about the poet and writer Edgar Cairo, one of the most prolific Surinamese writers of the 20th, who ignored Western aesthetics and created his own norms.

"King Carnival" takes an in-depth look at Trinidad and Tobago's carnival through its turbulent history. African and East Indian rhthyms and rituals, combined with the European Mardi Gras celebration, have evolved into the spectacle of "mas" and music that erupts on the streets of Port of Spain on the two days preceding Lent.

David, a rich young man of Jewish descent, breaks up with his longtime girlfriend when he meets Rowanda, who is of a disavantaged background. David's family disapproves of their relationship. Feeling the pressure, David escapes his relationship with Rowanda by having sex with other women.

Set in London in 1977, "Young Soul Rebels" takes place against the background of Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee. This is a buddy movie between two friends, Chris and Caz, who run a pirate radio station from a tower block in Dalston, East London. The film starts with a murder of their friend TJ while cruising for sex in the local park at night and, while Caz is devastated by the death of his friend, Chris seems to want to push forward towards a professional career in commercial radio. They both want to promote soul music while the prevailing popular music is punk.

Diego is a troubled person with an unstable character. He is a married womaniser, who, when things get tough, doesn't hesitate to beat women.

Anita wants to become a professional reggae singer and performs with her friends, Sharon and Yvette. However, Anita's husband, Byron, wants her to give up the dream and simply take care of her children. While Anita is trying to sort out her future, she is confronted with a stunning revelation – after her mother's death, Anita learns that her birth mother was Rose, the woman she thought was her older sister.

"Lost in Hustle" is a film about young Surinamese living in ghettos who are trying to get ahead, but do not seem to be able to flee from criminality in order to achieve a better life.

"Babylon" centers around the racial divide of London in the 80s, and the lack of opportunities available to black people as a result of class, race, and poverty. The story follows David, a young black Rastafarian rapper in South East London, and working-class musician with Reggae Sound System Ital Lion, who hopes to rise above the trials of his daily life and succeed at a sound system competition. By day he works as a mechanic, at night he is a mic controller at a local dance hall. David loses his job, gets brutally beaten up and charged by the police, forcing him to go on the run. After breaking up with his girlfriend, all of his frustrations culminate in the unfortunate stabbing of a racist neighbour.

In this documentary about Antillean writer Frank Martinus Arion, people who knew or worked with him talk about his life and analyse his work.

"What My Mother Told Me" is a dramatic journey towards one woman’s self-discovery. The story focuses on Jesse, a young woman from England, who goes to Trinidad to bury her father. Reluctantly she agrees to meet her mother, whom she thinks abandoned her as a child and learns of her parents’ troubled and violent marriage. Jesse is forced to face the truth about her past.

In this docudrama, director Ramdjan Abdoelrahman tells the story of the massacre at Mariënburg, a Surinamese sugar plantation which was run by a Dutch company in a Dutch colonial territory. With the abolition of slavery, cheap and compliant labour was needed, but after a revolt due to horrific working conditions, 17 workers were killed, and many were wounded. The dead were buried in secret unmarked graves without the benefit of rites. A modern, young Indo-Dutch girl visiting the country of her roots is troubled by the apparition of a restless man who she learns about this massacre from, and begins to explore the legacy of her people.

"Reggae" focuses on a concert held at Wembley Stadium in 1970 featuring the Pyramids, Pioneers, Black Faith, Millie, Maytals and Desmond Dekker. It includes interviews with disk jockey Mike Raven and producer Graham Goodall who review the history and development of reggae.

"Willy Willy Gaan Baby" tells the story of a well-known Surinamese social taboo, illustrated in this movie by a wealthy woman who is fed up with her slightly older, cold husband. She falls in love with a 19-year-old playboy, and leaves her husband while experiencing all kinds of comic and dramatic adventures with her young lover.

"Playing Away" is about the cultural clash that takes place when the residents of a small, affluent, and idyllic village in Suffolk invite a West Indian cricket team for the weekend to participate in a match highlighting the village's ''Third World Week.'' Mostly molded from Jamaicans who have immigrated to the rough-and-tumble Brixton section of London, the visitors remain unsurprised by the manners of their rich, bucolic hosts, and the indigenous townspeople's rough crudeness. In addition to the match that is the weekend's climax, there are the vicar's reception, special Sunday-morning services in the ancient church, impromptu, boozy confrontations in the pub, and late-night connections on the grass.

Two sisters, Sarith and Mini-Mini, grow up on the sugar plantation in Suriname in the latter half of the eighteenth century. Sarith is white, spoiled, and the most beautiful woman in the colony, while her sister, the mulatto Mini-Mini is forever in her shadow, slave to her own half-sister.

"A Hole in Babylon" is based on the 1975 botched robbery of an Italian spaghetti house restaurant in Knightsbridge, London, by three black men who later claimed to be a Black Panther splinter group, the Black Liberation Army, fighting against capitalism and the oppression of black people. When the police are called after one of the hostages escapes, the robbery unintentionally becomes a siege, and the men end up holding hostages prisoner for six days. As the police refuse their demands, the men find themselves in a desperate situation spiralling out of their control. This dramatisation invokes discussions of race relations, state vs minorities and institutional racism accompanied with real archival/news footage of the siege.

A struggling single father tries to give his troubled son a good life but, when the father meets and decides to marry Jenny, the problems with his son only get worse.

Björn, a Swedish Literature Professor, rents a room at the house of a retired policeman. A bizarre friendship develops between them as a series of unusual robberies begins in Havana.

Mark and Tsale, children of Eastern European Jews that fled to Curaçao, travel back to the countries of their ancestors. In a documentary style road movie that crosses Curaçao, the United States, Belarus, Ukraine and Israel, we witness their discoveries, courage, and despair, while they are reminded of the sacrifices their parents had to make in order to provide their family with a better future.

At a bus terminal in a small Cuban town, many passengers are awaiting the arrival of a bus to take them to their destination. Time passes and a strange, heart-warming story begins to develop among them, in which almost everyone becomes reconciled with the best of themselves.

Sombra di Koló explores the impact of race and skin colour in Curaçao’s post-colonial society. The film highlights conscious and unconscious racism experienced by Curaçaoans with the aim of breaking the real or perceived taboos of talking about color on the island.

Carla Pérez is a postal worker. Her parents have registered her in the visa lottery to migrate to the United States, but she isn’t very hopeful. One day, she accidentally spills a bit of coffee onto a letter and Carla discovers an anonymous way of helping others.

"The Sweetest Mango" is the story of Lovelyanne Luv Davies, who returns from Canada to her homeland, Antigua. It tells of Lovelyanne's adjustment to island life, her professional turmoil and a love triangle with her colleague and her boss.

Roberto, a young Cuban American who was illegally taken from Cuba by his father at the age of seven, returns to his native country for the very first time. His fundamental goal is to reunite with his mother and confront her, believing that she is the one who abandoned him to his destiny. This trip will also become a decisive encounter with his country and his true identity.

Utilising excerpts from the award-winning non-fiction text "A Small Place" by Jamaica Kincaid, "Life and Debt" is a woven tapestry of sequences focusing on the stories of individual Jamaicans whose strategies for survival and parameters of day-to-day existence are determined by the US and other foreign economic agendas. By combining traditional feature documentary telling with a stylised narrative framework, the complexity of international lending, structural adjustment policies and free trade are understood in the context of the day-to-day realities of the people whose lives they impact.

Tomás’ home is ravaged by a hurricane the day before he gets a job that will give him an escape from his marginal life. In crisis with both his job and personal life, his misfortunes are further intensified when his brother involves him in a crime that threatens his future and his willingness to change his life.

The Mystic Masseur charts the rise of Ganesh Ramsumair from small-time holy man to colonial politician G Ramsay Muir MBE. Based on VS Naipaul’s classic first novel of the same name, this adaption was written for the screen by novelist Caryl Phillips, and filmed on location in Trinidad and Tobago. This is the story of an ordinary man with a seemingly extraordinary gift, who through circumstances that are quite humorous, becomes a healer and one of his country's most respected leaders.

Tragic stories of regular people, many of them immigrants from other regions in the country, combined with laughter and euphoria, where Havana is the backdrop, with its universe of beliefs and hopes.

“When you play Warri with God, you get no seed,” says the Antiguan proverb. Set on the fictional island of St. Mark, "No Seed" explores the behind-the-scenes nuances of Caribbean politics. The film also highlights cultural mores, including the game of Warri, which is used metaphorically to underscore the faith of its characters, including Grace Valentine, who is struggling to keep her personal and professional life from crumbling while her colleagues conspire against her.

Mercedez, a music teacher, dreams of the return of her husband Ramiro, while she sees her family world collapsing when her children try to “make their own lives”. The legendary Prado y Neptuno dance hall is the special witness to her adventures. In her desperation, Mercedez will turn to her past to find unexpected proof of love.

Filmed in Jamaica, "Roaring Lion" charts the growth and development of the Rastafarian Movement and its founder, the former Garveyite Leonard Howell. With interviews from the renowned academic and Rasta scholar Professor Barry Chevannes and several of the movement's leading figures - Mortimmo Plano, Fimore Alvaranga, Dago and Gertrude Campbell - this documentary charts the Movement's growth from a persecuted commune in the foothills of Pinnacle, Jamaica, to an internationally recognised religion.

In Havana 1958, Alicia and her ten year old son Samuel together return to the house of Violeta, the boy’s maternal grandmother, a woman of intense obsessions, reluctant to share her privacy. A special relationship will emerge between Samuel and his grandmother.

"Studio One Story" is a unique documentary in which the late Clement Dodd granted unprecedented personal access in order to tell the story of how he, and the many artists and musicians of Studio One, shaped the rise of reggae music from the 1950s through to the late 1970s.

Havana, September 2000. It’s Mauricio’s sixtieth birthday. He’s a man devastated by the loss of his wife. The story is told through a recap of the events making up the last twelve years of his life, in which there is an interlinking of the personal dimension with the social context and the political code of the last decade of the 20th century in Cuba.

In the tradition of "Scarface" and "The Harder They Come", "Shottas" is an unapologetic raw urban drama about two young men, Wayne and Biggs, who grow up together on the tough and dangerous streets of Kingston, Jamaica. As young boys, they begin a life of crime, eventually moving to the US, where they begin a ruthless climb to the glittering top of a criminal enterprise.

A young boy, the victim of a beating, is abandoned at the security post at a Havana hospital. Everyone assumes it’s a travesty. The attending nurse convinces ex-policeman Frank to investigate the “case”. Frank embarks on a shocking investigation at whose centre is a Cuban family full of secrets and dark passions. The whole scenario transpires on Sunday 28 December: Holy Innocents Day.

"Scent of Oak" is set in early 19th century Cuba and is inspired by the lives of Cornelio Souchay, a German merchant recently arrived on the island, and Ursula Lambert, a freed Black slave from Haiti. Despite their different cultures and the social and racial barriers separating them, a strong attraction forms, and a tale of love emerges to challenge the taboos and power structures of their time.

The bodyguard of the most feared gangster in Cuba during the first half of the 20th century is now an old man, who sits by and observes the triumph of the Cuban Revolution. His former boss, who had to flee the country, calls him for a new mission: protect the gold buried at his mansion while he’s away. Accompanied by two helpers, he hatches a plan to steal the gold.

"One Love" is a Jamaican story about a young Christian girl, Serena, a Gospel singer and Pastor's daughter who, against her better judgment, falls in love with Kassa, a Rastafarian, and Reggae songwriter. Brought together by their mutual love of music, Serena must decide whether to keep her engagement to Aaron or follow her heart while overcoming class and cultural differences.

Ana’s family left Cuba in a raft, but she decided to stay behind; Ernesto, for his part, spends years trying to leave the country, all his belongings fitting into one bag. Ana and Ernesto have inevitably fallen in love, each one finding in the other what they themselves are lacking, but they are well aware that they have chosen different paths.

Biggs, a larger-than-life hood in Los Angeles, has his sights set on getting his slice of the drug trade in the United States - all he needs is a mule to make sure his plan is executed. Enter Julius, a dancehall DJ with his own visions of fame and fortune, and with a violent past in his home country, Julius hopes to start over in America. But when prospects in the US don't pan out quite the way he planned, Julius must go to Biggs for help and his only option is to return to the life of a hit man that he thought he left behind in Jamaica.

Iluminada lives in a poor neighbourhood and she’s in a precarious economic situation. Her luck suddenly changes when she discovers a winning marble in a bar of Rina soap, giving her a new home.

"Ribbons of Blue" is a heartwarming and poignant story about the power and durability of a mother's love. The film portrays a single mother and her struggles to raise a bright and ambitious, but ungrateful, daughter who is ashamed of her mother's humble status.

The story takes place in 1957 and develops over a 24 hour period, giving an account of the insurrection, rebellion and solidarity during the clandestine battle in Santiago de Cuba against the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista.

"Chattel House" expresses the visual architectural vernacular of the Caribbean to chronicle the development and changes to Barbados's cultural and aesthetic history, in which Barbadians tell their stories that are closely intertwined with the Chattel house and its history.

During the early sixties, Soviet missiles are being kept in Veredas, an imaginary town in Cuba. Sergio and Aurelio are two young men fighting for the affections of Lisanka, the most beautiful and desired girl in the area. The Missile Crisis is looming and a “group” of Soviet soldiers arrives, among them Volodia, who becomes a dangerous rival for Sergio and Aurelio. The daily life of the town and that of Lisanka is changed forever.

During a weekend, two shady US businessmen flee to the Cayman Islands to avoid federal prosecution. But their escape ignites a chain reaction that leads a British native to commit a crime that changes a nation.

Four friends have agreed to never leave one another. Cuba has undergone the tough 90’s… Ana’s thirty fifth birthday is approaching and she’s discovered that she still has no friends to invite to her celebration, so she decides to reinvent them. She will have just one birthday night to rediscover the best of her past life.

The abolition of slavery in the British Caribbean in 1834 prompts Gillanders, Arbuthnot & Company in Calcutta, a part of the East India Company, to recruit from India to fill the resulting labor void. The company hires Sinha, a fierce small-timer to sell dreams of El Dorado to the unsuspecting, impoverished workers who are signed to five-year contracts as indentured servants. Upon their arrival in British Guiana in 1838, the British planters promptly enslave them to ensure that the growth of sugar in the British West Indies will continue uninterrupted. John Scoble of the British and Foreign Anti Slavery Society arrives on the colony a year later to discover a new form of slavery; this time on the backs of Indians.

A Cuban intellectual abandons the Revolution and underdevelopment, only to find that he’s not fitting into his new life in the developing world. The study of a lonely character, without any defined politics or ideologies, who’s facing old age, desire and the impossibility of belonging to any society.

After a massacre at a travel agency, Isabelo, a private detective, is hired to solve the case. The investigation takes place in an underworld of frayed relationships and foul connections. As the cynical protagonist walks a thin line between a corrupt plutocracy and a psychopathic criminal underclass on the streets of San Juan, the uglier side of beautiful people is revealed.

In light of the emptiness and the absence of any rational explanation for many of the problems in the contemporary world, sometimes it seems that the only way out is to take refuge in instincts… and instincts lead us to sex and the manipulation of others. But the result is ephemeral and the effort has unforeseen consequences.

On learning of the imminent death of his father, Esteban returns to the home of his birth after fourteen years away.

"Calypso Dreams" is an intimate portrait of some of the most important calypsonians in Trinidad and Tobago. Shot over a three-year period, it includes conversations with and performances by legendary calypsonians such as Lord Pretender, Lord Kitchener, the Mighty Bomber, Relator, Lord Superior, Brigo, Mystic Prowler, Calypso Rose, the Mighty Sparrow, Terror, Valentino, Blakie, David Rudder, Regeneration Now, the Mighty Duke, Conqueror and others.

Following the discovery of a young boy who was killed in Parque Central in Havana, a series of coincidences unfolds, revealing the Havana night life and the corruption that exists in the world of male prostitution.

Carmen & Geoffrey features interviews and performance footage of friends and colleagues: dancers Judith Jamison, Gus Solomons, Jr., Dudley Williams, Ulysses Dove and Alvin Ailey.

Filmed over three years in New York, Texas, Trinidad, and Paris, "Carmen and Geoffrey" is an affectionate and enamoring portrayal of dance icons Carmen de Lavallade and Geoffrey Holder, who met and wed in 1954. Ever since, Holder (from Trinidad, d. 2014) and deLavallade (from New Orleans) have been dancers, actors and choreographers and much, much more, together and individually. Archival footage and candid interviews offer a glimpse into the remarkable lives of these two dancers, widely considered one of New York’s most beautiful and dynamic couples, who have excelled in one of the most notoriously challenging careers.

"La Diablesse" is a humorous look at Caribbean folklore, particularly the oral tradition of storytelling. The story unfolds over one night in which Diablesse, the ‘she-devil’, attempts to find a husband and get married before sunrise.

The drama of Liz and Alexander unfolds through music and dance. In their respective families, they’re met with relentless opposition to their love. This drives them to make a decision so radical that, without meaning to, it will jeopardise the values that have been instilled in them.

Nikki and Regan become lovers in Trinidad, while Regan is engaged to Howard. Six years later in Toronto, they try to hide their secret. At turns poignant and funny, this film explores the volatile, compelling nature of modern relationships.

At a port bar, Alfredo, a merchant ship nurse, meets Carlos, a computer technician aspiring to be a pilot. The sailor invites Carlos to his hangar at the port. Attraction, seduction, rejection and the encounter with the most intimate aspects of the human being.

One year after the death of his wife Maruja, Lino Catalá, a serious and conventional old man, is approached by Larry Po, a sloppy guy with multiple personalities. He reveals to Lino that Maruja was living a double life: a regular housewife by day and a magnificent bolero singer by night. Together they embark on a thorough investigation into Maruja’s past, while looking into the whereabouts of Larry’s greatest love, Esther Rodenas.

Malú and Jorgita are sworn to lifelong friendship despite the bitter enmity between their families. When Malú’s grandmother dies and his mother decides to leave Cuba, Malú and Jorgita seek to escape in search of hope for their love.

In today’s Cuba, where everyone is selling something, Nácar wants to sell his only property, the family grave. To do this, he must face great obstacles and will have help from Noel. A story of black humour that uses death as a pretext for speaking about life.

On the seemingly paradisiacal island of Haiti in the late 1970s, three North American women looking for flirtation, relaxation and reprieve from their mundane jobs and marriages find exactly what they are looking for in Legba, a handsome enigmatic local boy, whose beauty and passion captivates them. As the tension mounts between them for Legba’s heart, he in turn leads them away from their privileged lives and opens their eyes to the poverty and dangers of living in Haiti in the midst of the "Baby Doc" Duvalier dictatorial regime.

Cuba. The 1990’s. The National Baseball Series has been decided. A famous ball player in the decline of his career, and his lover, with no other place to have sex, arrive at a cold and dismal motel in Havana. There they will meet Pepe, an ex-con, drug addict and baseball fan. Among them will emerge a relationship marked by the disappointment of their lives and the challenge of a future filled with uncertainty.

A sweet teenage girl becomes a foul-mouthed, alcohol-drinking, drug-taking, promiscuous teen when she finds her single dad with a new girlfriend. Just how far will she take her personal rebellion?

Three independent stories linked by a main thread: the room of an author experiencing writer’s block, where very different people go to tell stories hoping to become soap opera themes or characters. Singular narrations in which there is an interlinking of sensuality, double entendre and erotic explosion, recreated by the amazing Italian narrator Giovanni Boccaccio, in the city atmosphere of Havana.

Helen has always dreamt of singing at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe. With only a few weeks left to live, she sets off for Nashville but lands instead in Jamaica. Helen ends up in the hands of Rosie, who helps her make it to Montego Bay, but she soon has no money left to leave the island. She has no better luck singing for her supper: a German woman crooning country ballads isn’t what American tourists want to hear in Jamaica. With time running out, Helen begins to let go of her dream and her life, but finds an unlikely life raft in Rosie.

Three men are imprisoned during the 60’s for petty crimes, but as a result of the negligence of prison bureaucracy, they spend ten years locked up without anyone knowing of them. One day, they manage to escape using as their only weapons, a drum, an accordion and a percussion instrument called a scratcher (güira), to go in search of their families to let them know that they are well.

When Christopher confronts his own violent temper, which threatens the life of his wife and children, he flies home to Jamaica and engages in an exorcism of the spirit. This act causes memories to surface of his abusive, philandering, and hard-living father, Henry, whose name for his only son was "Runt".

A young peasant girl decides to head to town to work as a housekeeper in the home of a rich family. There she begins to learn what truly hides behind the aspirations of many girls who, like her, wish to have a career as a singer.

A market vendor's daughter falls in love, only to find things do not turn out quite as she plans. This powerful and disturbing story about the rape of a child explores the devastating effects of sexual violence, and the healing power of love.

The dramatic events occurring in the Dominican Republic between 1966 and 1974, during the regime of President Joaquín Balaguer.

Calypsonians have told the story of slavery, freedom, world wars, independence, emigration, love, humor and sex. In "Calypso at Dirty Jim’s", some of the genre's last great stars are still alive to tell tales, but times have changed and a new generation of performers that include Soca singers and Rapso poets are taking their place. "Calypso at Dirty Jim’s" is the coming together of this divergent generation of artists to share their stories.

Documentary on the history of baseball during a very specific time, at the end of the 50’s, when racism was prevalent. The testimonies of Juan Marichal, Osvaldo Virgil, Rico Carty, Manuel Mota, Jesús, Mateo and Felipe Alou, Sammy Sosa, Alex Rodríguez, Pedro Martínez, Manuel Tejeda, Winston Llenas, Alfonso Soriano and Stanley Javier, reveal their origins, battles and triumphs throughout their professional careers.

A young man with certain limitations when it comes to taking risks, is suddenly appointed manager of an important bank. From that moment, and due to naïve confusion, his life will change with the perks of his new job, but without knowing that later on the problems will appear.

Reggie is a thirty-something, second-generation, black British West Londoner. He likes to live on the fly, slowing down only to "cherps" (chat up) women. But Reggie's wild days are numbered when his longtime baby-mother, Sandra, puts the clamps on him, and demands he settles down and stops running with his homeboys.

In Santo Domingo traffic, a drive-by assassin shoots the son of a Dominican-Spanish couple. The young couple decides to hatch a plot that would allow the husband to be incarcerated and enter the La Victoria prison, where their son’s killer is supposedly locked up, so as to avenge his death. However, La Victoria is not a regular prison and executing their plans will prove extremely difficult.

"Tek Dem Out" tells the tale of a gang that wants to take over and run the streets. However, this task will prove difficult because Inspector Batson and Do Good are on the trail, Villon and Skull are out for revenge, and it is all going to collide in a deadly battle.

Fr. Cardona constantly curses the Town before being struck by lightning and scorched to death. Father Gerónimo is sent as his replacement without imagining what awaits him. He will have to fight against the supposed curses left by his predecessor in that town and against his human nature when he meets a beautiful young girl by the name of Flor.

This film explores the origins and beliefs of the Mennonites in Belize, a fundamentalist Christian group that has been there since the 1950s. Although some sections of the 7000-member community reject modern technology such as electricity, others are among the most successful entrepreneurs and businessmen in the country.

A girl attends her grandfather’s funeral and discovers that the cross on her mother’s tomb has been stolen. She innocently takes one belonging to another tomb to replace the stolen one. This event triggers a huge conflict, since the spirit imprisoned in the grave where the cross is removed rises up to claim what belongings to it and to exact old revenge.

Benny Moré straddled mambo, son, cha-cha-cha, and Afro-Cuban jazz, becoming one of Cuba’s most popular vocalists ever. He is the subject of "El Benny", a dynamic, musically rich tribute that follows the conventions of most music biography films—Moré scuffles early in his career, before he gets a few breaks and becomes a star. However, his self-destructive behavior (drink in Moré’s case) threatens to derail his career, as he hurts those he loves the most. In spite of Moré’s escapades, he remains true to his music, lovingly recreated here by some of Cuba’s finest musicians, including the great Chucho Valdés.

A group of wives, tired of being deceived by their husbands and of always being submissive women, decides to cast a spell on their partners, switching roles and transforming them into hard working men at home.

Clara meets John at a vulnerable time in her life and she quickly becomes blinded by love. Their intense relationship soon becomes violent and Clara must take drastic action to protect herself and her son, Chris.

A story that simultaneously addresses migration, tourism and the desire for a better life. It focuses on the life of Genaro, who can no longer endure the financial situation being suffered by his mother and himself. Inspired by a friend, he leaves it all behind and sets off for a hotel to become a sanky panky.

"Rainbow Raani" is the story of a musical band called The Rainbows—a quartet, composed of an African, an Indian, a Caucasian and a Chinese player, and their lives and loves. The Rainbows believe that their band's true potential can only blossom in America. As a quick fix, they feel that Raaja, their leader, should arrange a sham marriage for a US visa, but romantic complications ensue.

In an intricate international operation involving the Spanish Secret Service, the Spanish Consulate and Politur, efforts are taken to prevent a Dominican from selling the formula for an ultrasonic weapon to be used for destructive purposes in Spain. To accomplish this, they send the Dominican agent Landa who, together with lieutenant Neke of the Dominican Politur, are responsible for executing the operation.

Young Jessica lives a quiet life in Port-au-Prince until her father’s death in the US changes everything. Now homeless, she goes to live with her friend, Johanne, who prostitutes herself for a living. Will Jessica be forced to do the same?

Having won a scholarship, Juan Pérez García, alias Yuniol, has the chance to study at the same university as Juan Alberto Ríos de la Piedra, known by his friends as Junior. One born with a silver spoon in his mouth, the other in a rough neighbourhood in the upper region. These two characters begin a special friendship in a story with an interesting social focus.

Dao, “president” of the Compas music scene, lives a life of sex, drugs and alcohol, but he can no longer hide his illness, which is threatening to derail his career. Despite pressure from his manager, he refuses to get tested for AIDS, turning instead to rituals, spells, and the church. He meets Nina and rescues her from Larieux, the wealthy businessman her mother wants her to marry. As romance blossoms between Dao and Nina, Larieux plans his revenge.

Film inspired by the Mirabal sisters, who participated actively in the anti-Trujillo complot of 1960 and their impact as heroines within the dictatorship of Rafael Leónidas Trujillo.

In the neighbourhood of Cité Soleil, President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's most loyal supporters rule as kings. Five gang leaders control heavily armed young men, the Chiméres, Aristide's secret army. "Ghosts of Cité Soleil" tells the story of Billy and Haitian 2Pac, brothers, and two of the leaders of the Chiméres.

Bruno deals with his students’ lack of discipline and respect on a daily basis. Having decided to give his daughter a better education, he takes on a second job as the driver of a securities transport company. Bruno and his buddy Biembo are used as guinea pigs by Octavio -a senior executive of the company- to carry out a car robbery, but their astuteness and Bruno’s skill at the wheel help them to escape.

This film is based on the true-life rags-to-riches story of Montego Bay hotelier Gloria Minto. From selling oranges she ended up owning her own grand hotel, but not before overcoming enormous setbacks. "Glory to Gloriana" is a triumph of determination and resilience and the power of women to succeed with or without their baby-fathers.

A serial rapist has appeared in Santo Domingo. Before attacking his victims, he gives them gifts. He drugs the women and if they don’t resist, he lets them live. He prefers to act at the stroke of midnight, hence his name. He dresses impeccably in black, uses a mask, gloves, a walking stick and a top hat. From the very beginning he lives with us, but it’s impossible to determine his identity.

"High Grade" tells the tale of Georgie, a gangster who owes the rough and tumble Choppa a lot of money realises he can’t pay him back, so he organises some of his thugs to steal cars to clear the balance of his debt. In the ensuing melee things go wrong and Owayne, whose son is killed during one of the robberies, looks to seek revenge with the aid of his undercover agent friend, Cross.

Eddie lives a double life: he’s a Christian in church and an aspiring bad boy outside. He conceals his faith to appear more “modern”, trying to enjoy the fun that his religion forbids. When he meets Débora, Eddy intensifies his lies, resulting in an entertaining and enlightening chain of knots, whose untangling completely changes his faith and way of life.

Three high school students, Casper, Mark and Preston, plan a special evening to celebrate their last day of high school. They decide to check out an upscale gentleman's club to see the internationally acclaimed pole dancer, Crystal Peaks. When one boy gets too close for the security guard's comfort, they are thrown out, but a shady cart vendor convinces them to go to another club. The three friends head out to find what the Candy Shop might have to offer—and get a lot more than they bargained for!

Marcos is a fan and seller of discs in a large store in the city of Santo Domingo, Tommy, a mechanic, is an expert in repairing old vehicles and Carlitos, a conventional, diligent young man, works in his mother’s bookshop and is learning cello on a scholarship at the National Conservatory of Music. The lives of these three characters become intertwined when they are given the opportunity to form a bachata group and develop a music career together. Therein lie the conflicts, problems and vicissitudes experienced by anyone seeking to fulfil the dream of becoming famous.

Filmed in the country where dancehall began, this film incorporates the best of Jamaican dancehall selectors, DJs and dancers. All the key figures of dancehall describe the style, history, and language of the culture. "It's All About Dancing" gets to the essence of dancehall through candid interviews inter-spliced with dance sequences that can teach anyone the basics of this phenomenon.

Modesto and Manuel are two friends who win the lottery and whose lives are thrown into social chaos. Both of their families experience financial difficulties, depicted in a film of family comedy, arguments, tricks and lots of laughter. Lotto man is the true story of the architect Martín Díaz Bello.

The only source of happiness in Ana’s life is her son Amaurys. His best friend has involved him in a world of drugs that ends in his death. Ana will have to confront a corrupt system in order for justice to be served.

When Susan, a film producer from New York City, goes to Jamaica to shoot a shampoo commercial, she finds herself, through a series of unforeseen circumstances, drifting further and further away from the world she knows and into the life of the island, a strange alternative reality that turns many of her previously held assumptions upside down. "No Place Like Home" is Perry Henzell's long lost sequel to his Jamaican classic, "The Harder they Come." A print was discovered in a New Jersey warehouse that had long since been thought to have perished. Under Perry's guidance prior to his death he outlined the changes and direction for the film to follow given the elements that had re-emerged.

Doris is a hardworking and honest woman, divorced and mother of two teenagers whom she adores but doesn’t understand. After a bad relationship with her husband, she no longer trusts men. She lives only for her children, but they’re living their own lives. One day, Doris learns that things can get better.

"Roots Time" is the story of Jah Bull and Baboo, two Rastafarians that sell LP records in an old colourful car in the countryside towns of Jamaica. By chance their favourite and well known radio broadcaster "Farmer Roots" picks them up hitchhiking in an emergency while trying to take his sick girlfriend to a hospital. Jah Bull and Baboo believe in traditional medicine and convince Farmer Roots to take his girlfriend to a well known herbal doctor call Bongo-Hu. Getting to the herbal doctor turns out to be much more difficult and intrepid experience than what they expected. Adventure ensues.

A reporter is separated from her husband for ideological reasons. He has kidnapped their son and left Puerto Rico. A story of love and suspense in a modern and technological Puerto Rico.

SistaGod is the first film of a trilogy telling of the future coming of a black female messiah during a period known as the Apocalypso—a global holocaust that she alone survives. The main character, Mari, emerges on a Caribbean island, the child of a black West Indian woman and an American Marine sniper, wounded in the first Gulf War. But she is born a "throwblack"—darker than expected, and her white father disowns her. Her mother goes mad and blames Mari, who she’s convinced is possessed by the devil, for the loss of her man.

A taxi driver, a gigolo, three girlfriends seeking men, a young girl who wants to lose her virginity and a reporter. They all meet in a story that develops in 12 hours.

A CIA operative named Skye Gold is sent to Trinidad to hide out after breaking up a large illegal arms smuggling operation. Soon after she arrives on the island, Skye discovers that her superiors at the CIA are not the only ones who know her whereabouts. It’s a deadly race against time as Skye must stay one step ahead of two hired assassins and rogue agents while running through the island’s streets during Carnival.

Three stories that delve deeply into issues such as human solidarity, infidelity and social conflicts in contemporary Puerto Rico.

Known for his lively performances and humourous, provocative and playful compositions, James Brewster, aka “Jamesie”, is a 79-year old musician from St. Croix, the king of scratch band music, also known as Quelbe. This film includes performances by Jamesie at various venues worldwide, and includes scenes of Jamesie talking with other musicians about the historical significance of scratch music.

There’s been a terrible massacre at a successful insurance company in Puerto Rico. The owners, a married couple, have been killed together with their employees. While the police are investigating, Isabelo, a private investigator, is hired. The investigation takes place in an underworld of frayed relationships and horrendous connections, which will reveal unpredictable secrets.

A cautionary tale about friendship, greed and redemption, "Bashment" addresses the many complexities and pitfalls that Jamaican and Caribbean immigrants face on the quest for the elusive American dream. When Cymbal and his friends Job, Tubby and Rupert linkup with Son-Son, an incorrigible bad boy who believes that choice is an illusion and that the gun is the only thing that matters, they find themselves dealing with more drama than they are willing to take on.

The daily life of a couple in a coastal town in Puerto Rico changes upon the arrival of an old friend whom they believed had perished in Vietnam. A writer moves into the town and upsets everyone’s routine.

Jamal loves flying kites but his stepfather’s physical abuse drives him into the fold of a sadistic gang leader. When Jamal's girlfriend is kidnapped, matters reach crisis point.

Olga is a young Cuban girl who arrived in Spain to pursue her studies under a scholarship, with the hope that it would be the start of a better life. In the end, she’s just an illegal immigrant suffering the ups and downs of marginalisation. She can’t return home and must make it work. Mari Jo is a young Valencian girl from Ribera Alta, born into a family full of problems and whose destiny has been marked for life. These women fight to survive in this society of prosperity and great opportunities, where they desperately seek what they have lost.

"Franchi", a teenager who, despite suffering a rare hearing condition, leads a normal life until an unexpected event destroys the relationship between her parents.

Shots ring out one winter night and a bullet meant for a local dealer kills a child. In the aftermath of shock, Gene, a 40-something social worker starts a Black men's support group at the local Caribbean Takeaway Restaurant.

Xavier del Monte, a circus clown in the town of Guayama, leaves his circus family behind in pursuit of success in San Juan. After an outstanding advertising audition, the agency selects him as the corporate clown for a fast food campaign for hot dogs. This allows him to enter a world of money and commodities which was unknown to him until then. But when he reaches the peak of his advertising success, Xavier experiences a tremendous existential emptiness. The only thing that fills the void is the new love of his life, the publicist Perla Sofía.

The Dominican Republic is known for its tourist-attracting white sand beaches and sparkling turquoise waters. Yet a few miles inland exists a troubling secret: the bateys, camps where Haitians who work on sugar plantations live in the most squalid conditions. This film, narrated by Paul Newman, goes inside the bateys with Father Christopher Hartley, a priest determined to expose the injustices meted out to the Haitians and improve their way of life.

Three stories revolving around drug trafficking and corruption affecting different families with different social status in Puerto Rico, a nation which, given its geographic location has become a port of entry for drugs into the North American territory.

Set in Guyana, this is the tale of how two friends tragically fail to overcome romantic betrayal. Based on Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet", "Karma" explores how love can turn to hatred, and the human need for revenge.

The team responsible for building the roadway linking Brasilia to Fortaleza is abandoned in a desolate region in the centre of the country. They have provisions and every month they are visited by the most beautiful prostitutes of the region. One night, the radio breaks the news of the military coup. Time passes and their situation worsens. Dying from hunger and thirst, they witness the impact of a meteorite that causes an underground source of water to come to the surface. They establish a town, give it the name Meteor and are living happily until one day, a Brazilian air force helicopter arrives.

Beginning with nearly seven minutes of aerial shots traveling from the shore to a plantation in Haiti’s rugged interior, the narrative framework of "Eat, For This is My Body" moves from an elderly, bedridden white matriarch, conflicted about her allegiances, to her daughter Madame and a younger woman's cat-and-mouse relationship with a group of feisty native boys. This film is a surreal, largely non-narrative commentary on Haiti as it is today and as it is (or perhaps once was) imagined.

Ángel, a corrupt policeman, is involved in the story of professor Mariano Farías, who spent 16 years in prison for committing terrorist acts, a case he alleges was fabricated.

Harry Daniel is the greatest panman St Maarten has ever seen. Not only is he a star, he is passionate about passing on his love for the pan to the youth. Yet, as hip-hop becomes more popular among the youth their interest in pan fades, and with it, Harry’s fame. His family life also dramatically shatters, and soon he becomes dangerously ill. It falls to one of his former students, Jacko, to help bring Harry back from the brink and redeem himself.

A boy’s first kiss; a man who doesn’t accept rejection; a love triangle among elderly people. Passion obliterates all reason again and again in this comedy of black humour on the masochistic search for love.

Violently kidnapped from their home, a young couple arrives on a Caribbean island to be sold together as slaves. Despite all the pain in his body and soul, Marcos resists slavery and after several failed attempts to escape and having endured the resulting punishment, he finally succeeds, thanks to the advice of a wise and mystical slave on the estate, becoming one of the most sought after runaway slaves of his time, for fighting for his freedom, that of his wife and that of their family.

Based on true events and shot entirely on location in Trinidad, "The Ghost of Hing King Estate" recreates the dramatic tale of mysterious deaths among workers on a local estate. Prior to these events, Hing King was a peaceful, scenic place, although not without its share of life’s usual dramas. But in May 2006, as the deaths started to occur, the relatively peaceful estate changed forever. Carmelle, the plantation overseer’s wife, became vilified as people from nearby villages began to suspect that she was responsible for the untimely deaths. Amidst mounting tensions, facades are broken down, relationships are tested, and friendships destroyed.

It’s December, but the people of San Juan aren’t feeling the Christmas spirit. A serial killer has snuffed the life out of some of the most renowned bachelors. A doctor, a dentist, a social columnist and a university professor are the most recent victims of the “The Angel of the Bachelors", a handsome young man who captivates closet homosexuals and stabs them to death following a sexual encounter with them.

When Rain's beloved grandmother dies she is forced to trade her simple but happy life on Ragged Island for the uncertainties of living in the capital with her mother, Glory, who abandoned her while a baby. Home becomes a two-room Nassau shack and Glory proves unfit for parental duties, being a drug addict, a prostitute, and quite possibly HIV positive. Rain seems destined for a bleak future, but for one thing: she is a promising sprinter. Her school’s track teacher, the Trinidadian Ms Adams, becomes coach and mother figure to Rain, who is determined, almost literally, to outrun her fate.

Gaby and his friends decide to spend the summer at a summer house. He’s desperately in love with Amanda, a Puerto Rican model, but she hasn’t taken any notice of him. In his attempts to win her over, Gaby finds himself in crazy and outlandish situations and interacts with likeable characters who will make this the best summer ever.

Laura is a university professor researching the legendary Cuban pimp, Alberto Yarini y Ponce de León. His murder at the hands of French rivals who controlled prostitution in Havana in the early 20th century made him a folk hero. Delving into the city’s underworld, Laura finds striking parallels between the Havana of today and the past—a city of intrigue, violence and illicit sex. She also finds Yarini reincarnated in the form of two underworld figures, whose rivalry and love for the same woman will have tragic consequences.

A middleclass, family man, drowning in debt, resorts to piracy to get out of the red, but he must decide between his family and his ambitions before it’s too late.

Bernardo is a simple Cuban factory worker. When news reaches his town that every resident with his surname could stand to inherit millions of dollars, Bernardo, his family, and the entire town go crazy over the thought of striking it rich. Humanity’s basest instincts are exposed, and everyone is set to learn a hard lesson, not least of all poor Bernardo.

A few women arrive at an escort agency to choose the men who will accompany them at their events. They aren’t all there for the same reason. One of them mistakes the office for that of a gynaecologist, while two prostitutes seeking a change in profession want to learn how to be more refined and respectable. Others are indeed looking for an escort for events, where they must portray an image of personal success despite being single.

"Almendron Mi Corazon" is a celebration of Cuba’s “American beauties”—over 60,000 vintage cars that are still driven on the island’s streets and country roads. These US-built cars were all bought before the Revolution of 1959, and their longevity is considered a symbol of the resilience and ingenuity of the Cuban people.

Having been bitten by the "La Lupe bug", Yolanda wants to be a singer like she is. She will shed her skin if necessary, nothing and no one will get in her way. If she has to oppose her father in order to accomplish that, better yet, she prefers it over staying in her town and being one more of those women who marry, get fat and have lots of children.

Jacques Roumain (1907–1944) is considered one of the most prominent and influential writers in Haitian literature. He was active in the struggle against US occupation, founding the Haitian Communist Party in 1934. Due to his political activities, he was routinely arrested and incarcerated, and eventually exiled, leaving behind his beloved wife and children. During exile he traveled to the US, and developed ties with Langston Hughes and other Pan-African authors. With an almost frenetic pace, this documentary chronicles Roumain’s 37 years through reenactments, interviews, and archival footage and, consequently, vividly portrays turbulent life in Haiti during the first half of the 20th century.

The magical friendship that a twelve year old deaf-mute girl, of divorced parents, shares with a dragon turtle helps her to overcome her limitations and be accepted by the other children and the community. An exciting adventure on the road to new family happiness.

To some, rara music represents all that is negative and unwholesome about Haitian culture, with links to Vodou practices, especially animal sacrifice. To others, rara is “the mouthpiece of the poor”, a form of music born out of the hardship of a people, Haiti’s blues. This film is the story of Dja-Rara, a top rara band from Brooklyn, from its spontaneous formation in the early 1990s—synchronous with Jean-Bertrand Aristide’s first presidency—to the present day, through changes in its line-up and sound, mirroring the political changes back in Haiti. Featuring excellent archival and often poignant observational footage, "The Other Side of the Water" is a finely crafted celebration of the spirit of a people who persevere in keeping their culture alive, though they happen to be separated from that culture, lot bo dlo—on the other side of the water.

Henry is a shy and introverted young man whose life oscillates between the reality and fantasy of an urban society that isn’t always what it seems. His life will change when he meets bold Paula, a girl who will ignite his passions, and the attractive Diff, a young man who will show him another side of life.

At once concert tribute, Marley family travelogue and humanitarian documentary, "Africa Unite" commemorates Bob Marley's 60th birthday, and centers on the Marleys' first-ever family trip to Ethiopia in 2005. There, in Addis Ababa, three generations of Marleys take part in a landmark, weeklong event that includes an unprecedented, 12-hour concert, attended by 350,000 people from around the world.

A young Puerto Rican boy abandons his university studies and his family to join the United States army. Among all the military, media and religious propaganda, he becomes a torturer and loses his mind...

In 1802, Napoleon Bonaparte prepares to seize power in Paris, but first, he plans to re-assert France’s authority over Saint-Domingue against Toussaint Louverture, and in Guadeloupe against the “Provisional Council” set up by Magliore Pélage, who was elected after Governor Lacrosse was sent back by the island’s inhabitants. Bonaparte decides to send an army, commanded by young General Antoine Richepance. From the moment he arrives and makes his first move, Colonel Louis Delgres, commander of the troops in Basse Terre, understands that this expedition has been mandated to impose “new” politics by force. This policy can only be a return to slavery. Led by Delgrès, a formidable popular movement goes into action. This marks the beginning of “1802, the saga of Guadeloupe”.

"Made in Jamaica" is framed by the story of the demise of Bogle, the dancehall icon who was shot on the street during a dance night in January 2005. But the story is also about the history of reggae music, which is inextricably bound to the history of oppression, violence and slavery. The film introduces a host of musicians who discuss their roots in the streets of Kingston, and about the ubiquitous music and what it stands for.

It the midst of his worst love crisis, Manuel will have to transform himself into the boyfriend of his friend Coca, who is confronting her conservative family with a pregnancy resulting from a one night stand. Hidden identities, misunderstandings and the tension between two friends who are trying to be something they’re not, produce one comical situation after another, until Manuel decides to settle the matter once and for all.

Patrick is a diligent but limited man. In the West Indies he is a brilliant pupil, who at the age of ten, is sent by his mother to pursue his studies in France. Thirty years later, he becomes a proud and reputable historian. Learning that his mother is at death’s door, he rushes to her side in Martinique during the carnival season. He spends three days with his irrepressible friend Zamba, and is swept up in a whirlwind of madness, emotion and humour. This is a journey of initiation, set to the rhythm, ambiance and colour of carnival.

A neo-romantic poet, Trefossa (Henri de Ziel, 1916–1975) wrote primarily about the beauty of his native country, and did so, famously, in Sranan, Suriname’s colloquial language that was considered “Negro-speak” and banned from schools’ curricula in favour of Dutch. In 1957, Trefossa published Trotji, a collection of 19 poems in an edition of just 100—a volume that proved influential to generations of Surinamese writers that followed, but he is perhaps best known for writing Sranan stanzas of Suriname’s national anthem in the mid-1940s. Through interviews with Trefossa’s colleagues, family, and former students, this intimate documentary creates a compelling picture of a somewhat enigmatic man, whose patriotism never ebbed, even after he moved to the Netherlands, where he married late in life.

Solimar, a Puerto Rican living in New York, is obsessed with the sexual practices of her Caribbean neighbours Roberto and Perpetue. While Perpetue is away, Solimar and Roberto engage in a wild love affair. Everything seems to be going well until a woman’s body is found in the river and awakens her suspicions. In love, what may be a threat has turned into an uncontrollable desire, impossible to resist. She will have to decide between living with the terrible suspicion or ultimately confronting Roberto.

In the first of a series of films on Caribbean filmmakers, Edmund Attong takes a look at the work of one of Trinidad and Tobago’s foremost directors, Yao Ramesar. Footage from Ramesar’s various films—from his debut feature, SistaGod, to his various documentaries—is shown, while Ramesar himself explains his methodology and his cinematic philosophy, and discusses the next steps of his career.

In a small, seemingly idyllic Caribbean town, América’s life is nothing close to peaceful. Her abusive lover unleashes his fury on her when their daughter runs away with her boyfriend. América leaves it all behind and escapes to New York in search of a new life. With the help of her new friends and her family in the Bronx, América decides to search for her daughter. But her past follows her. América will have to confront her terror in order to protect her dream.

Film-maker Arnold Antonin profiles six Haitian women - educator and writer Odette Roy Fombrum, pianist Micheline Laudun Denis, dancer and choreographer Viviane Gauthier, singer/actress Emerante De Pradines, actress, writer and teacher Paulette Poujol Oriol and Madeleine Desrosiers Tizo. These women have all made an outstanding contribution to cultural and social life in their country, Haiti.

In this revealing and often intimate documentary, we get up close with four of Trinidad and Tobago's hottest soca talents—Machel Montano, Bunji Garlin, Fay-Ann Lyons and Isaac Blackman—as they explain what soca is, and what it means to them. We follow the artists backstage, in the rehearsal room and out on the streets as they meet and mingle with their fans.

"Detective Cojines" tells the story of a university professor obsessed with detective novels who, following an accident, becomes a private investigator patterned after the movies and novels of the 40’s. Among the cases of infidelity that he investigates, three will come to him that will reveal a full range of intrigue and bizarre secrets.

When Sir Vidia Naipaul agreed to have a film made about him he said he wanted it to be “as personal as possible.” This documentary portrait presents the 2001 Nobel Laureate for Literature in the three places that have been most influential to his writing career: his native Trinidad, his ancestral home of India, and Wiltshire in England, where he has lived for many years. Interwoven throughout the film are readings from some of Naipaul’s best-known works, including "Miguel Street", and his opus, "A House for Mr Biswas".

A group of spirited elderly men, Rafael, Anselmo and Pablo, embark on an adventure with Rafael’s grandson, Carlos, to prove that life does not stop because of age.

An artistic crossing from Africa to the Americas, filmed during the Vibrations Caraïbes Festival, with musicians and artists from the Caribbean, Africa and the United States of America serving as guides.

In the late 1950s a country boy went to Kingston with dreams of making it in the music industry. Over the next few decades, Lee “Scratch” Perry revolutionised Jamaican music, first helping to develop reggae, and then almost single-handedly inventing dub. In this candid account of his life, Perry recalls mentoring a young Bob Marley and setting up the Black Ark studio where he made his greatest work. “The Upsetter” features some of Perry’s best-loved songs and interviews with a host of music stars and is as much a history of 30 years of Jamaican music as it is an extraordinary portrait of a true genius.

Unexpected changes befall Jorge due to the economic crisis. His wife is diagnosed with a heart condition and the doctors have recommended a costly surgery, but it would save her life. Jorge can’t afford to pay for the surgery, so he concocts a plan inspired by bank robbery movies. With such inspiration, what could go wrong?

Referred to by the Amerindian name “Kytangomingo Ema”, the “Karisko” Association achieved the incredible feat of rowing from the island of Grenada to Martinique, aboard an exact replica of a Caribbean pirogue.

A CIA assassin attempts to break out of the contract killing business to try to lead a normal life. But when the system tracks her down and frames her for the death of her husband, she embarks on a path of revenge that leads her back into the life she tried so hard to abandon.

In 2008, a group of Puerto Rican activists joined forces to fight the Concurrent Resolution 99, promoted by the religious right, which sought to amend the Constitution to prevent any future approval of same sex marriage. It chronicles the events that occurred until the defeat of the resolution.

During the 1980s, a popular musical ideology emerged out of a group of persevering men and women, whose instruments resonate in time and space to denounce contemporary social realities. Meet “Akiyo”, a typical Guadeloupean carnival musical group.

Mikisha thought that love was all she needed and meets Troy, a young man ready for life. In her pursuit of love and her desire to have a good time, she has made some bad turns in life, and is now faced with a momentous choice which could either take her off course or put her life back on track.

A reality film that gives an account of the lives of a group of 28 persons who risk it all in their pursuit of financial improvement and who persevere in their endeavour to reach the so-called “Island of Enchantment”, braving the perilous waters of the Caribbean Sea.

Travel to the heart of French Guiana and experience the music rooted in the history of the Amerindian, African and creole peoples. This music has been passed on through the generations, and today it has become very dynamic, with a new generation of musicians who attract the public to discover them over and over again, through their contemporary work.

Jonny is a young Bahamian, a promising painter on scholarship at an arts college in Nassau. Lena is the wife of a rabidly homophobic pastor. Jonny is troubled: guilt-stricken over his sexuality, the recurring target of attacks by a gang, and alienated from his alcoholic father. Meanwhile, Lena’s apparently perfect family life seems about to fall apart. To try and reconnect with his artistic gift Jonny heads to picturesque Eleuthera, while Lena goes there to collect signatures for an anti-gay rights petition. On Eleuthera Jonny meets the charming Romeo, as Lena is drawn to the soft-spoken, compassionate Reverend Clyde. Through these life-shifting encounters, Jonny and Lena find themselves coming to a fuller understanding of who they are, a realisation that will have unsettling consequences.

A chronicle of the most important achievement of the Dominican woman in the early 20th century, following the formation of the Republic in 1844 when, after many struggles, she was able to achieve the status of citizen.

Horace, the mayor of Marie-Galante, refuses to give town land to a formidable businesswoman to build a huge building complex. Since in business the aim is always to succeed in achieving one’s goal, the best thing would be to kidnap Lucia, Horace’s wife during a visit to Paris. Horace and his two sons pack up and leave for the capital to find her. They go to Commander Herman and the entire West Indian community to intercept the culprits.

"Hush 2" is a drama that looks into a family ravaged by an undercurrent of drugs, violence and abuse. Life for 15-year-old Mikisha has been tough since she became pregnant for her boyfriend. Her mother, Darlene, is a single mom with financial problems and her boyfriend’s life continues on a downward spiral into drugs. But then she meets her wealthy father and her sister. Are they the answer to her dreams or her worst nightmare?

Biography of a remarkable human being, Norman de Castro, a prominent Dominican doctor, recognised father of Dominican haematology who, after returning from the United States in the early 60’s, dedicates himself to the less fortunate of his country, caring in particular for those suffering with AIDS.

The hardest barriers to overcome are not those placed in our way, but those we impose ourselves, because of prejudice, intolerance, distrust of others and an under- or over-developed self-esteem. In this story, love is intermingled with prejudice and notions of social class.

"Sons of Cuba" is the story of three students at the world-renowned Havana Boxing Academy, as they prepare for Cuba’s national championships. More than athletes, these young men are symbols of pride—the standard bearers of the Revolution, according to Fidel Castro. As they train, however, crisis strikes: Castro falls seriously ill, and a number of the country’s Olympic boxing heroes defect to the USA. As Cuba finds itself at a crossroads, the boys contemplate a changing world.

Based on the Novel The Llenas Tragedy, by Angel Lockward, it relates the story of one of the most publicised crimes that moved the Dominican society: that of twelve year old José Rafael Llenas Aybar, which occurred on May 3, 1996.

It is the end of the 19th century in Martinique. Leaving the plantation where they work, Hermansia and Tiquitaque, two musicians, decide to settle in Saint-Pierre, at a time when the town is the cultural focus of the Caribbean. But they quickly become disenchanted. Western music is all people want to hear, and their “folk music” from the plantation is rejected. Thus begins a long saga, in which they learn these new sounds from other places. Their talent eventually leads to the creation of the Biguine, a distant cousin of jazz, a mixed creation, full of vitality, which becomes the symbol of Saint-Pierre.

"La Soga" is an action-packed thriller set in the Dominican Republic and New York City. In a poor neighbourhood where the streets are run by deported drug dealers, a hard-working butcher struggles to raise his 10-year-old son, Luisito. When Luisito witnesses the murder of his father, his life changes forever. Twenty years later, he becomes chief henchman for General Colon, head of the Dominican secret police, who keeps him in control by promising to deliver his father’s killer. Into Luisito’s world enters Jenny, a childhood sweetheart who left for New York shortly before his family tragedy. Unaware of his occupation, Jenny falls for Luisito and the love she shows him stirs the conscience that had lain dormant since his childhood. This, however, turns him against the ruthless General Colon and his death squad.

The final moments of the Rafael Leónidas Trujillo dictatorship in the Dominican Republic seen through the eyes of three decisive characters in the fight for freedom in their country; the politician and writer Juan Bosch, the national poet Pedro Mir and the heroine and martyr Minerva Mirabal.

“Bonjour la Rézoné” is a corrupted form of “Bonjour la maisonnée”, a greeting meaning “Good morning to all at home”. It is shouted from house to house on the first day of the year, the same date as Haiti’s proclamation of independence in 1804. It is also pumpkin soup day “Soup Joumou”. Why do Haitians drink pumpkin soup on New Year’s Day? Why has Haiti’s image been constantly demonized? These two questions are linked, as we will see in this “journey” to Haitian households in the Ile de France region in Paris.

High up in the mountains of northern Haiti is the towering Citadelle, from where the nation’s autocratic though “democratically” elected president, Jean de Dieu, reigns. Styling himself as an imperial monarch, the president keeps a paranoid eye on the television news and a lascivious one on his maidservant. All the while he ruthlessly stamps out opposition to his regime and enforces the rules with a chilling, erratic terror. On the day that the president is set to welcome a host of foreign dignitaries in celebration of Haiti’s bicentennial, an uprising breaks out in the streets. As the uprising grows and his guests cancel on him one by one, the president comes undone, mumbling to himself like a mad Shakespearean king as fate closes in. Part elegant chamber drama, part absurdist political satire, "Moloch Tropical" is a scathing critique of absolute power and the corrupt legacy of colonial rule.

A documented chronicle on the enduring legacy of the First Ladies of the Dominican Republic, their humanitarian work and service to others, from the Third Republic (1924) to the new lights of the 21st century.

At the crossroads of two cultures - Europe and Africa, MAS defends the true creole identity in Guadeloupe’s carnival of past and present.

Revealing insight into popular Dominican religiosity, through the most significant famous sanctuaries in the country. It presents the different reasons and types of palos festivals: vigils, worship of saints, burial of brothers, end of year celebrations and promises.

In February 1974, the victory march of a hundred striking farm workers was brought to a bloody end in Chalvet, in the north of Martinique. It is suspected that they were being led by leftists seeking to destabilize the country’s economy. Emotional witnesses reveal how the protagonists of this last major strike sought to hold on to their dignity in resistance and solidarity.

"Aliker" is a drama based on the true story of André Aliker, who was the editor of a socialist newspaper in 1930s Martinique. Aliker is determined to speak out against injustice and to champion the rights of working people. For his ideals and fearlessness, he gets on the wrong side of the most powerful in society. With a script by renowned Martinican novelist Patrick Chamoiseau.

Analysis of what the Dominican film industry has been up to today, based on the opinions of filmmakers, artists and film critics of the Dominican Republic.

Juana Calfunao, a Mapuche chief of the Juan Paillalef community, is considered internationally to be an ardent human rights activist. In February 2006, Juana was awarded the Chico Mendes Medal of Resistance in Brazil. However, upon returning home to Chile, Juana is treated as a criminal. She is imprisoned for several years, and must deal with a corrupt justice system that responds to the claims of the Mapuche by throwing them behind bars.

If Trinidad and Tobago were one big Carnival production, mas man, Peter Minshall (b. 1941), would be King of the Band. "Mas Man" is an intimate portrayal of Minshall’s life in art—specifically his counteraction of the conformity and conservatism of Carnival in the 1970s. After studying at the Central School of Art in London, Minshall returned home and began reinventing “mas” as a tool to enlighten spectators about the complexities of life—a bold move that, in time, influenced global awareness of Carnival, Trinidad and Tobago’s principal cultural export. Similar to a large-scale costume, this documentary is comprised of multiple threads, including Minshall’s 26-year “masography”; his design and stage acumen (documented in the 2006 presentation “The Sacred Heart”); and his contribution to the artistic direction of the opening ceremonies for three Olympic Games.

Los Van Van (The Go Go’s) tell their original musical story. Between Miami and Havana, between the protest that escalates to violence and the Grammy party, the happiness produced by the group most representative of popular Cuban music.

Nyls dreams of becoming a professional athlete, but he also wishes to pursue his studies and obtain his qualifications like many of today’s sportsmen. In France, it can sometimes be complicated to combine sports and studies. For Nyls, the only solution is to Uncle Sam, like Marie-José Pérec and Martial Mbandjock, two internationally renowned Caribbean athletes whom he meets at an ACSA meeting in Guadeloupe.

The sequel in a trilogy, "SistaGod 2: Her Second Coming", finds the black female messiah and her progeny battling for survival in a post-apocalyptic world, void of human life. Haunted by the memory of those lost, she summons the spirit of Father Devine, her suspected child-father, who has transformed himself into El Dorado, a golden masquerader, after his fall from grace with his flock. In spite of her own transition to a new guise that makes her vulnerable to sunlight and predators, Sistagod negotiates this new world with the knowledge that she is the last hope for the continuation of the human race amidst mounting evidence of the rapid extinction of other life forms.

Subjective and personal story of Rita Montaner (1900-1958), mixture and synthesis of Cubanness, who sums-up the history and cultural essence of Cuba in her birth and maturity during the first 50 years of the Republic.

Five years after his daughter Julia is killed, Franck Cardonat, a dignitary from a Caribbean island, kills in cold blood the person who had plunged his child into the darkness of crack.

Cuban, man of colour, devotee, homosexual, pro-revolutionary and above all, musician, Bola de Nieve is one of the Latin American legends of the 20th Century, but Ignacio Villa also triumphed in Europe, Asia and the United States. His images bring us closer to the intricacies of a unique figure in his time and of whom there are few references, except in the memory of the many who loved him.

Guadeloupe has all the appearance of a paradise, but behind the postcard image, lurks unemployment and social exclusion. One in every four members of the workforce is out of a job. Take a plunge into the world behind the façade, the opposite of the tropical cliché.

The musical talent of Trinidad and Tobago is prodigious, not to mention diverse. In 2009, three young local musicians embarked on a tour to take their music to the world, and fly the flag of T&T high. Filmed across three weeks in Europe, "Live from Trinidad and Tobago" is a behind-the-scenes view of the Caribbean Invasion tour featuring Maximus Dan, Marlon Asher and Jah Melody. The film follows the artists as they perform in various underground reggae/soca clubs, and shows just how far the phenomenon of Caribbean music has spread. Through candid interviews with the musicians, we get closer to the root of their passion, an understanding of what inspires and drives them, and a taste of where their careers are heading.

Reencounter by the group Habana abierta with their home town, after spending several years in Madrid and producing their music outside Cuba. This documentary chronicles a concert presented at the legendary Salón Rosado de La Tropical and the escapades of the group through the streets of the capital.

In a country where talk of homosexuality is still taboo, voodoo becomes a liberating space, where everyone can find protection and comfort. The characters are sensitive and endearing. Viewers are drawn gradually into a complex and fascinating spiritual world.

Seventeen-year-old Mandy is a talented high school footballer intent on making her life a success. Her dreams are thwarted, however, when she is forced to leave Trinidad to go and live with her estranged father in Tobago. Mandy must find a way to excel in this new life, even as her personal struggles are intertwined with those of her new family.

Overview of a city in which the multiplicity of faces and places intertwine with the memories of anonymous characters. Highly peculiar beings who represent a curious diversity of social groups living in present day Havana.

Several characters meet in a small family guest house, in the middle of nowhere. Mentally, they are in a state of weightlessness, disconnected from everything, where each of them, alone with themselves, tries to understand his or her own destiny. All these characters are trapped in their past, and like shadows moving towards the light, must find the reason for their existence.

Hundreds of years ago in Suriname, enslaved Africans escaped captivity and became Maroons, setting up villages in the Dutch colony’s forested interior. This film traces the journey of two unnamed brothers, who venture from the outskirts of Paramaribo, Suriname’s capital, over land and rapids, to a Maroon village on the Upper Suriname River. In so doing, they re-enact a voyage undertaken by their ancestors, following a path whose changing topography bespeaks a history of forced migration.

First chapter in the series Cuba: Revolutionary Roads. Reveals the intense and passionate life of the Argentine-Cuban revolutionary, killed in Bolivia in 1967, at the age of 39. Compilation of unedited images that draw us closer to this extraordinary man who, up to today, is a symbol of the capacity of sacrifice, courage and tenderness.

In Brazil, a festival celebrates artistic expression through works imagined and created by black artists from around the world – music, dance, street theatre. This is a journey that pays tribute to the talents of Joby Bernabé, singer of the négritude movement.

A young man overcomes extreme poverty, a dysfunctional home, peer ridicule, and death in his family to embark on an epic journey that takes him to England on an island scholarship.

Third chapter in the series Cuba: Revolutionary Roads. On the first four years of the Cuban revolution and the October crisis.

On the 26th of May 1999, the “Toyota conflict” began in Martinique. It was a conflict that would disrupt life on the island for several months, and forever leave its mark on people’s memories. It all began with a strike at the CCIE company, a Toyota dealership. A lack of dialogue between bosses and trade unionists quickly added fuel to the fire, unleashing a cycle of rage. “Fureurs et Silences” (Anger and silence) takes a cold look at this affair. The camera feels out past occurrences, stopping to highlight their full extent and the excesses that are hidden or avoided today. It explores the words of the main players after the conflict, thus drawing attention to elements such as reflection and introspection, which were swept aside by the urgency of the situation.

This film is a story of a group of persons infected with the AIDS virus. How they think and dream and how they have managed to overcome their destiny.

An unusual, yet deeply touching love story between historian Georges Corvington and the Haitian capital.

A young married couple, Michael and Lisa, are about to lose their home, when their luck changes dramatically. While on a photo shoot at an historic site, Michael discovers an ancient vase and sells it to an antique dealer. But strange things begin to happen, and they soon discover from a mystic that the relic was not a blessing, but a curse.

Testimony of a fair and acceptable war; that which is waged against hunger, the lack of medical care and for the preservation of the life of those most in need, Cuban men and women, driven by profound sentiments of love.

Gérard Gourgue, Haitian lawyer and professor, a candidate in the presidential elections and potential winner in the aborted elections of 29th November 1987. The portrait of a man who could have changed the course of history.

"Andros" explores the natural resources of the largest island in The Bahamas, and the issues faced by the people who live there. A land of great beauty and contrasts, Andros has both fresh and saltwater ecosystems and the third-largest barrier reef in the world. The island has the potential to become an international eco-sanctuary. However, its future is yet to be written.

Seven women relate the unexpected events of a trip that is also the journey of their lives. They are migrants for love. From the former USSR to the island of Cuba, the sea is the border between utopia and the reality that destiny has shaped for them.

This film, addressed to Haitian society, pays tribute to students of the Faculty of Human Sciences, who spearheaded the mobilization against Aristide’s dictatorial power. The images captured during the protests in operation GNB are projected and accompanied by witness accounts by students of the Faculty of Human Sciences, the bastion of resistance in Lavalas.

When Charlene's husband, Lionel, seems to lose interest in her, she seeks ways to revive the flames of passion between them. Along the way, her girlfriends share their views and give her their dubious advice on romance, dating, and the (largely material) obligations of men to their women. This sets Charlene on a course for disaster. A riotous relationship comedy that would make Tyler Perry blush.

A small group of filmmakers embarks on a journey through Cuba, in search of what the Cuban author Alejo Carpentier called «a surreal event in a pure state ». On their journey, they reveal those aspects (natural and social) that make the country an unusual island, a space given to the supernatural.

The beat of Gwoka drums has resounded in Guadeloupe since the first slaves arrived on the island. Rooted in the island’s rural history, this musical tradition that had long been rejected today symbolizes the people’s reconquest of their deep identity. An increasingly wider segment of the population finds their way to the soirées lèwoz, and they are captivated by the challenges thrown out during the night by the drummers, singers and dancers.

Justice is a black teenage girl living in Chicago. When her father accepts a job in The Bahamas, they move there against her will. The family is given membership at the exclusive yacht club, but not everyone is happy with the new American imports. Despite attempts to intimidate her, Justice begins to learns how to sail. She joins the annual children’s regatta, determined to win—and to prove true the motto “One Bahamas”.

A journey through the films, thinking and fundamental commitment of Tomás Gutiérrez Alea, Titón (1928-1996) is one of the most significant names in the contemporary film industry, with accounts by the director himself, by family members and colleagues. As the leitmotif, an indispensable and emotional perspective, that of the actress Mirtha Ibarra, director of the documentary and Titón’s partner during his last 23 years.

Mario Delatour questions youth in Cité Soleil and large business owners in Port au Prince, in an attempt to understand the source of violence in Haiti. Filmed in Cité Soleil, as well as in the nicer neighbourhoods, kidnapping victims, presumed killers, gang leaders and industrialists all talk about their lives.

The story of the Party of Independent People of Colour, the first party of black citizens in America, outside Haiti, and the massacre of thousands of their members in 1912.

Eunice, a teenage girl running away from her incestuous father, meets Alejandro, a rebellious rocker who has also left home. They decide to travel together, and escape to Havana, hoping to find paradise. Instead, they encounter hardship—it is the early 1990s, the “Special Period” of deprivation in Cuba—and begin to contemplate the unthinkable: infecting themselves with the HIV virus so they can be admitted to an AIDS hospice. An unforgettable tale of youth, love, sadness, and, ultimately, hope.

An introspective journey of a Cuban transsexual who, twenty years after his gender reassignment surgery, questions the way in which he has shaped his femininity based on the stereotypes and prejudices of the male chauvinistic, patriarchal and hegemonic society in which he lives.

Michiko, a Japanese musician, is a jazz pianist fascinated with Azor’s sublime music. This leads her on a musical quest, in the heart of traditional Haitian culture and music.

Little is known of the childhood and youth of the great 19th-century Cuban liberator, José Martí. This robust biopic imagines his early years. The son of a magistrate, the precocious Martí — “Pepe” to family and friends — takes an early interest in justice. Gradually he enters the nascent independence movement and, not yet 18, is arrested for sedition. Respectful, yet not worshipful, this is a portrait of the revolutionary as a young man, and a stirring drama besides.

Alfredo Guevara, Guillermo Jiménez, Nelson Ramírez and Luidmila V. Patrulina, Elizabeth Mirabal and Carlos Velazco are the voices relating, commenting, but also assessing from very personal perspectives, Cuban politics and culture, thereby creating the story of an era (1959 - 2009).

Made during the bicentenary of the Haitian Revolution, this film puts into perspective Haiti’s burning and tragic situation today, against the backdrop of its unique history. Slaves are freed from the yoke of their masters, and found the world’s first black republic. This is a moment that seems to have been a catalyst for the movement opposing President Aristide and precipitating his departure.

A portrait of continuing efforts to restore and preserve the rich architectural inheritance of Willemstad, Curaçao’s capital city. Using archival footage, aerial and detailed footage, this documentary explores the urban design of the city dating from the 17th century and some of the 765 listed historic buildings that have made Willemstad a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After a life of conducting choirs, Digna Guerra wants to reveal old secrets. Withdrawn into herself, her family accompanies her on a journey where her name is uttered without fear. The music makes her dignified (translation of her first name “Digna”), but her life is a war (translation of her last name “Guerra”).

This is a retrospective of the life of Herby Widmaier, who recorded musicians and orchestras for almost 40 years in Haiti, and who himself played with several national and international groups. We discover popular urban Haitian dance music, as well as its relation to latino and jazz music.

It's the eigth year running that Curaçao’s young baseball heroes have qualified for the Little League World Series. In order to reach that far, the team from the tiny Caribbean island have had to defeat regional giants like Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. But they are up against their nemesis, the powerful Team Japan. Manager Vernon Isabella must use all his talent as a coach and counsellor to prepare the underdogs for their big day.

The story of the Sound Experimentation Group of the ICAIC defined in the social, historical and political context of the era.

Hervé Le Lu is a musician who plays bombarde. Born in Brittany, France, he has a passion for celtic music. In 1984, Jean Marie, his first son was born with a disability. In 1986, two years after this painful experience, Hervé decided to devote himself to music, and to make it his career. From that point on, he would live for his passion, bombarde.

When he loses his job as a French teacher, Jean, a gentle, middle-aged Haitian living alone in Santo Domingo, is evicted from his apartment. He searches unsuccessfully for a new job and a new place to stay. Frustrated, he leaves the city for the countryside, where his quest increasingly takes on a spiritual dimension. Jean’s mission becomes nothing less than the search for a reason for being in a seemingly indifferent world.

A dynamic journey through the life and work of Samuel Feijóo via the visual and conceptual universe of the magazine Signos (Signs). A journey through places and forms inspired by the magazine that takes us deep into the popular culture of the central region of Cuba, where we meet the legendary Samuel, who still lives on as part of that region.

On 20th January, an unprecedented social conflict was beginning in Guadeloupe. Two weeks later, Martinique would itself enter into what was left of one of the major crises in the history of the French Caribbean. There were protests against the high cost of living, excessive profit-making (in creole, la Pwofitasyon), demands for wage increases, and there were so many claims made, that for over 40 days, the population came out into the streets. However, in addition to a social conflict, this crisis comes about because it highlights inequality and abuse, and it reveals a deep malaise related to identity, which has to a great extent been inherited from history.

Rod, a native of French Guiana, lives in Paris with his mother. When he receives news that his older brother Myrtho, a gold prospector, has allegedly been shot and killed in the rainforest, Rod returns to the land of his birth for the first time since he left as a boy. Along with his buddy, Gonz, he heads via river into the forest, determined to discover the truth about Myrtho’s disappearance. Arriving at a resort town, Rod and Gonz have a falling out. Gonz joins some gold prospectors, while Myrtho’s former girlfriend, Yann, decides to help Rod in his quest. After an encounter with a shaman, Rod and Yann head further upriver, where they are captured by illegal prospectors and taken to their camp. Here they discover Gonz being held captive, and what really happened to Myrtho. An audacious escape plan is hatched, but will the gold forest have the last word?

Story of the Haitian cane cutters in Cuba, from their arrival in the 30’s – under unfair contracts with the North American companies that owned the sugar factories - , up to their subsequent reshipment or deportation in 1937, during the Government of President Ramón Grau San Martín.

The area of Jarry, in the town of Baie-Mahault, has become an economic engine in Guadeloupe. However, this economic development has been detrimental to the environment. From 800 hectares in the 1950’s, the swamp forest has now shrunk to 200. When the town was built, no attention was paid to the mangrove or the swamp forest. Moreover, the area holds great significance, since it was a refuge for former slaves, not to mention that it was used by the Arawak tribe for agriculture.

This documentary looks at the life of Dr Walter Rodney, one of the region’s great intellectuals and activists, whose reach extended far beyond his native Guyana. Author of "How Europe Underdeveloped Africa", Rodney was a fearless champion of justice all over the world. His assassination in 1980 shocked the Caribbean and brought into focus the work he was doing. The story is told through archival footage and interviews with contemporaries and family members.

In 2010, a musical journey begins toward the heart of Cuba. After two years, the experiences gained allow an invisible map of Cuba to be drawn, whose complexity is revealed through the voices of those taking part in the film.

According to the dictionary definition, to immigrate is to settle in a foreign country. The history of immigration by Caribbean people in metropolitan France is particularly interesting, because it has taken place over three generations. What motivated them to do this? What dreams did they nurture? What kind of welcome did they receive? How did they see themselves over time? And now, what’s next? On paper, Caribbean immigrants are French citizens, but in the host country they are seen as foreign, because of the colour of their skin, and also the seven thousand kilometres separating the little Caribbean islands from the large French territory. This documentary uses personal accounts to address this complex history.

Born in Guyana and raised in New York, Reshma struggles to navigate a broken relationship with her mother, while memories of her absent father continue to haunt her. After receiving some shocking news, she returns to her native land to discover the truth about her family’s past. Weaving between a politically volatile Guyana in the late 1970s and the US in the early 1990s, this is a searching drama about exile, loss, and the ties that bind.

Chronicle of the battle against the presence of the United States military forces in Vieques, Puerto Rico, documenting the process of consensus among the people, its advocates, its obstructers and its detractors. It depicts the unity of the fight of Vieques in political, religious and civil diversity.

Two hundred years after the Karukéra* revolt, a Freedom statue is given by Guadeloupe to the island of Gorée. Guadeloupe wanted to present this gift in the presence of two hundred travellers. Is this meant to link the people of Guadeloupe to the history of mankind? After the trauma of slavery and the African slave trade, are Caribbean people still part of history, this haemorrhage from which Africa cannot find healing? (*) the name given by the Amerindians (the island’s first inhabitants) to Guadeloupe before the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1493. In the Carib language, Karukéra means “emerald island”.

In Kingston, Jamaica, in the late 1970s, the two main political parties enlist the support of gangs to enforce their policies and advance their political agenda. Young Ricky is a community leader whose gang is aligned to one party. One day he meets Kamala, who belongs to a community controlled by the other party, and the two instantly connect. Will their love triumph, or will bigger forces win the day? Based on true events.

Life and achievements of Armando Cepeda "Peruchín", a man who, in spite of having grown up in extreme poverty, managed to overcome countless obstacles in order to become one of the greatest ball players of all time.

From Angola to Côte d’Ivoire, from Brazil to Japan, from the United States to Canada and Russia, there are few countries that have not known the hurricane that is Kassav, the inventor of zouk music. To understand this phenomenon, producer Michel Traoré met with several Caribbean personalities - historian Camille Chauvet, actress Firmine Richard, writers Ernest Pépin and Raphaël Confiant, footballer Luc Sonor, artists Philippe Lavil, Admiral T and Medy Custos.

Long before Bob Marley sang about the divinity of Haile Selassie and the sacredness of ganja, Leonard Percival “Gong” Howell preached that heady gospel. This documentary tells the story of the man whom some claim as the founding father of Rastafarianism, from his days in Harlem as a Marcus Garvey disciple, to the time he spent leading the self-reliant Pinnacle community in Jamaica’s Maroon country. Music by the Abyssinians and others round out this revealing film.

The story of a man who, after the death of his wife, begins to display signs of Alzheimer’s. This film portrays how each family member reacts to this event and how this man feels as if his life is returning to a road already travelled.

In Guadeloupe, the challenge with construction lies in low energy consumption, the use of local materials and earthquake and typhoon resistance. A new way of seeing housing has begun to emerge.

An emotionally charged portrait of a woman losing herself for the first time, and a married couple’s struggle to find a way back to each other.

A Norweigan woman and her children join her husband in 1970s Trinidad, where he is stationed as an engineer in the oilfields. Sonia soon begins to feel like a stranger in a place where she’s not allowed to be herself but instead has to live the idle life of an expat wife. When she discovers her husband is involved with a Trinidadian woman, Sonia’s world falls apart and she must find a way to mend it.

Glimpse into the car phenomenon, in Puerto Rico, from the arrival of new cars on cargo ships, up to the moment when they are converted to scrap metal. A small island that is home to an exorbitant number of automobiles and their integration into the popular culture.

From the time of Amerindian Ayiti to the war of liberation leading to Haiti’s independence, many battles were fought to free this land from the yoke of servitude. From Caonabo to Toussaint Louverture, and beyond the struggles of race or colour, these men have led the fight for freedom and equality.

Chronicle of the untold story of the Puerto Rican 65th Infantry Regiment, the only unit made up entirely of Hispanics in the history of the United States Army. After participating with recognition in the Korean war, the Puerto Rican soldiers of the 65th Regiment had to face their greatest challenge in the fall of 1952, when more than 100 soldiers were detained.

Revenge runs through the three segments making up this feature. In "The Midnite Affair", an American folklorist named Kevin comes to Trinidad with his girlfriend, Jessica. When the two get separated during Carnival, Kevin meets a seductive lounge singer named Charlie. Yet things aren’t as they seem, and Kevin discovers the stories he’s read about local folklore characters aren’t simply harmless legends. "Sweet T&T" tells the story of Sherry, an Englishwoman on vacation with her Trinidadian boyfriend, Anton. After Sherry goes missing, Anton receives a call demanding a ransom for her return. With the help of a friend he sets out to recover Sherry. Little does Anton know, however, the shock that awaits him. Finally, in "Radica", a fishing village is thrown into turmoil after a series of suicides. Superstitious residents blame a murdered young woman whose unavenged spirit they claim is not at rest. A psychiatrist comes to the village to get to the bottom of the matter, but has the terror only just begun?

The letters of an historian that appear in the story Seva: Account of the first North American invasion of the island of Puerto Rico in May 1898, published in 1983, present evidence that the United States did not enter Puerto Rico in June, peacefully, as recorded in the history, but instead, they invaded a town called Seva, massacring its people, and to conceal this, they changed the name of the town to Ceiba, the name it has today.

In 1963, poverty is rampant in the French Caribbean islands, and social movements shake up the region as it faces an acute economic crisis. France is in urgent need of unskilled labour. It organizes a massive immigration drive from the Caribbean to the mainland. This is the era of BUMIDOM (French Immigration office), and for the next 20 years, it provides postal workers, customs employees, public transit workers, cleaning women, etc. Today, these French Caribbean people hold French identification cards, but it is odd that they are still associated with immigrants.Exiles speak about struggles, success and failure, their hopes and the difficulty of being both French and black, in other words, an outsider.

The story of Oso Blanco, sadly the most famous prison in the Caribbean, through the eyes of Ángel Feliciano, known as El Jíbaro, incarcerated since 1957 and César Flores, imprisoned 20 years ago and El Jíbaro’s best friend.

Eva dreams of leaving the Havana factory in which she toils, opening her own dress shop and getting married to her loving but unambitious boyfriend. One day she meets a sophisticated Venezuelan-Cuban photographer and agrees to be his guide to the city. She falls in love and imagines a whole new life with him. But things are not as they seem, and Eva is caught between two men and two worlds. Whom will she choose?

The Puerto Rican police, with support from the FBI, spied on and persecuted those who disagreed with the Government for decades. The information obtained was kept in records referred to as «the files». This documentary tells the story of the victims and agents involved in this political persecution. Their testimonies reveal the scope of that persecution and the consequences that impacted their lives. Through their personal stories, the documentary describes a collective story. Drawing on the past as an example, it will outline the present. Do such practices still continue today? Who are the new victims?

On 5 February 2009, after passing through French Guiana and Guadeloupe, a strike movement began to take shape in Martinique. It was unusual because of both its size and its duration. One of the main things demanded in this conflict was a 20% reduction in the prices of a list of essential goods. Speaking of equal rights, does this include the right to consume? Does society need to re-examine itself? Apart from the cost of living issue, this shopping list raises serious questions with regard to identity. Today, more than ever, what people consume is synonymous with who they are.

The tradition of building sailboats goes back centuries in Anguilla, and is indelibly linked with this tiny, arid, seaward-looking island’s history of struggle and survival. Today Anguillans celebrate their love of the sea and sailing with enthralling, fiercely competitive sailboat races. Nuttin Bafflin—the term means no bad winds are ahead—is not only the fascinating story of the famed Anguilla sailboat, but also the story of the resilience, creativity and determination of a people.

The life, social, educational and conservationist efforts of Inés María Mendoza, a woman who was born in Puerto Rico, trapped between the transition of two empires: the declining Spanish empire and the imperialist aspirations of the United States. We see Ms. Inés as the little girl who read minds, the passionate schoolteacher, defender of the Spanish language, the suffragist, the First Lady of Puerto Rico and her ground-breaking proposals for the social, cultural and educational development of the island.

This is a moving portrait of Moune de Rivel, the internationally renknowned artiste who was known in the USA, Finland, Africa and particularly in Martinique, French Guiana and Guadeloupe for his songs in creole. Generations of men and women have grown up with Moune de Rivel, who has influenced several artistes.

"Redemption of Paradise" is a movie about vigilante justice set on the island of Paradise—a once a safe and pleasurable island that has become plagued with violence, drugs, and gangs. Tired of the corruption that has infested her hometown, one citizen decides to take a stand. Millie forms a community watch group, which amongst other things encourages the local businessmen to stop paying protection money and to deter the corrupt efforts of Paradise’s drug kingpin.

From 1960-1962, the CIA and the Catholic Church launched OPERATION PETER PAN, through which 14,048 children were taken from Cuba to Miami, after which in Cuba, they began to circulate a false law on Parental Rights.

It is the 60s and Martinique, a former colony that became a French overseas department in 1946, is slipping into an “unwavering attachment to France”, while a wave of independence movements sweeps the world. The Algerian war that is brought to French territory forces a position and a commitment. In the early hours of 23rd December 1962, a flyer “Martinique for Martiniquans” is distributed throughout the island.

The late Lynden Pindling is regarded as the father of The Bahamas, and was that country’s first prime minister. This comprehensive documentary is an examination of his life and times. In particular, it looks at a period in the1980s when Pindling stood implicated of being in league with Panamanian leader Manuel Noreiga and Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, to allow The Bahamas to be used as a trans-shipment point for US-bound cocaine.

From the 1940’s, Vieques lands were used for military exercises for the naval institute. Following opposition and pressure from the Puerto Rican people, the Navy was compelled to abandon Isla Nena. In 2003, it was withdrawn under executive order by President Bill Clinton, but still the battle remains unfinished. The people of Vieques allege that their lands continue to be polluted and they denounce the control that the United States Federal Government maintains over a large portion of it.

Young Mayito, the son of a wealthy jazz musician, imagines all Cubans live as he does, eating chicken every day and playing video games on their Sony PlayStations. When he finds himself lost in a poor neighbourhood one May Day, however, Mayito quickly realises this is far from the truth. A daring dramatisation of the class differences that exist in modern-day Cuba, "Habanastation" is also the touching story of one boy’s vivid awakening to those differences.

A documentary on the Puerto Rican revolutionary Ramón Emeterio Betances and his time in 21st century Puerto Rico.

This film follows the life of Sara Loyson Gomis born in 1910 in Moule, Guadeloupe.

Fifty years after the revolution, what is life like in Cuba? This assured, penetrating documentary goes beyond the clichés to paint a portrait of the island not often seen. From the single mother seeking to pay for her daughter’s “coming-out” birthday party to the elderly woman who once dreamed of being a ballerina, "Motherland or Death" succeeds at getting ordinary Cubans to candidly testify to their hopes, struggles and fears, presenting everyday life as they live it.

Jean-Gabriel, a married father of three children, lives by doing odd jobs and spends his time in the PMU corner bar. One day, to please his daughter, he promises to take the entire family on a skiing holiday. The only problem is that if he does not keep his promise this time, his wife will leave him. He will have to use his imagination to make it happen.

Juan is a survivor. For decades he has ridden the waves of Cuba’s ups and downs, remaining resilient and refusing to leave the island. So, when a horde of zombies threatens to overrun Havana, he gets creative, and along with a rag-tag crew starts up a zombie destruction service. Equal parts bloody horror-fest and cheeky political satire, "Juan of the Dead" is a gory, funny and wildly entertaining Cuban take on the classic zombie film.

In 2006, Périgord, France and the whole world celebrate the centennial of Josephine Baker’s birth. This international star, or as some would call her, the first black star in history, lived several lives, since one life was not enough for her to fulfill her destiny. Her many lives were shared between music halls and personal engagements, the Resistance when the war began, fighting racism, and starting a family “from every country in the world”, her “rainbow tribe”, in the heart of Périgord.

As a child, María was a simple and sensitive young girl with the strange habit of putting ladybugs in her mouth. After her mother dies in an accident, 18‐year‐old María decides to look for the father she has never met. María travels to a picturesque and supersticious little town in the Dominican Republic. María finds her father Joaquín living in a dark old house located in the middle of an abandoned banana plantation, which the locals claim to be haunted by spirits. He lives there with an enigmatic Haitian as his only companion. Having no one else in the world, she has no option but to stay with this drunken and recently widowed old man in this house where she will have to deal with the ghosts of the past that haunt them. The arrival of a mysterios and attractive young man from Puerto Rico will also get in the way of their reconciliation.

Produced by Steve and Stéphanie James, this documentary presents the life of Chevalier de Saint Georges (1745–1799) – a composer, violinist and orchestra leader from Guadeloupe, the son of a slave and her master. The story is told through a week of cultural activities dedicated to him in Cuba.

A single mother in Paris, Bernadette tried hard to give her daughters everything. She is thrilled when her eldest, Elza, the first college graduate in the family, completes her master's degree summa cum laude. But, Elza breaks her mother's heart by running away to their native Guadeloupe in search of a distant childhood memory: the father she barely remembers. This feature debut by writer/director Mariette Monpierre offers an unusual insider's view of lush island culture as she captures the passion and contradictions of this family.

A European slave ship leaves Senegal with hundreds of captives aboard. Men, women and children were snatched from their villages, put in chains and piled into dark holds. For the 18 months of the ocean crossing, the future slaves suffer disasters, despair and heroism.

Returning to the island that his father left 50 years earlier, the filmmaker goes back in time to retrace the history of his name. During this initiatory journey to his father’s childhood home, his quest takes us back to the time of slavery. In the archives, in creole gardens or the ruins of sugar factories, living memories cross paths, showing the vision of a country where narratives, bodies and music speak forcefully of a history that continues to resonate.

For six decades Haiti’s most famous band, Septentrional, has thrilled tens of thousands with their lively, infectious songs. This documentary chronicles the history of the band and blends archival footage with anecdotes from former and current band members. Despite natural disasters, dictatorships and revolutions “Septen” has persevered, and continues to inspire and uplift Haiti. Its story is a testimony of triumph and hope amid harsh realities.

I am from a country where figures have no meaning. Bill Gates is worth 90 billion euros, Haiti’s GDP for the next 30 years. There are countries where the poor sell their organs to the highest bidder, where people sell their children, and sometimes their vote. There are others where people put a value to their consciences the way prices are quoted on the stock exchange. Who says the economy serves man? I come from a country that technically does not exist, like two-thirds of a planet, sold for a fistful of dollars. - From Port-à-Piment, Raoul Peck begins to reflect on the notion of profit at a time of globalization.

The story of the Haitian Revolution is given the cinematic treatment in this fittingly two-part epic drama, starring celebrated Haitian actor Jimmy Jean-Louis as Toussaint L’Ouverture. The film tells the story of the man who led the greatest—and only successful—slave revolt in history, from his life as a coachman on the Breda plantation to his final days, imprisoned by Napoleon Bonaparte in a tiny cell in the icy Jura mountains of France.

For the 29 years of Duvalier’s rule, mass crimes were committed against people of all social categories, and religious and political persuasions. When Jean-Clause Duvalier is called before the courts, will justice rule in favour of the victims? More than fifty state and defence witnesses meet in a hard-hitting face-to-face discussion.

"Bad Friday" focuses on a community of Rastafarians in the Montego Bay area of Jamaica who annually commemorate the 1963 Coral Gardens “incident”, when the Jamaican government rounded up, jailed and tortured hundreds of Rastafarians. Using the testimony of survivors, the film chronicles the history of violence in Jamaica through the eyes of its most iconic community, and shows how people use their recollections of past traumas to imagine new possibilities for the future.

Ten months after the earthquake struck Haiti on 12th January 2010, Nesken, from the town of Léogane, plans to start a construction business. Returning home after spending five years in Guadeloupe, the young entrepreneur marshalls all his energy to bring to life his dream of helping with Haiti’s reconstruction and renewal. Nesken’s dream for Haiti is that of a new era of rebirth.

Derrick is an inner-city teenager who dreams of being Jamaica’s next world boxing champion. However, it is an election year and politics divides the country and Derrick’s community. His father, a loyal party supporter, and Sin, the community’s no-nonsense don, forbid Derrick from going to the boxing gym, as to do so he has to cross party lines. Derrick defiantly follows his heart—and is confronted with the serious repercussions of his decision.

In 1948, there is a strike on a sugar plantation in Martinique, and a young manager, a white creole, is murdered, chopped 36 times with a cutlass. After a manhunt lasting several weeks, 16 black cane cutters are arrested and detained for three years. In 1951 their trial is held in Bordeaux, a former slave port, with the assurance that the verdict will be used as an example. This becomes the first trial in French colonial history that is held before their “pères” (fathers).

The entire country is suddenly tuned into what seems to be a new soap opera. A runaway zombie tells the press about his misadventures, but especially about his love for a woman. A female journalist follows the case closely and we find out the intentions of a group of politicians who decide to exploit the zombie’s popularity.

Josephine is raising her daughter, Tamika, in the Negril ghetto in Jamaica and falls on the worst of times, which prompts her mother, a middle class woman with strong principles, to come in and take her daughter from her. In an effort to help her find a better life, a friend, Peaches, tells Josephine about a street dance where she may dance her way to the US. In the meantime, her younger brother Lloyd, who never gets the same attention from their mother, has fallen in with the wrong crowd. Bubblin’ is the story of stories, emotions, and events that lie beneath the surface, and the inevitable tension and catharsis that arise when they surface.

Here we call them the holidaymakers. Every year they fly in at the end of June, and the much-awaited vacation in the country begins. This had been a dream for three or four years. It is how two months of cohabitation begin between residents and holidaymakers – exiled French West Indians called les bonifiés (the better-offs). In the film we see two families on their “bonifiés” vacations in Guadeloupe and Martinique.

After a turn of unfortunate events in Jamaica, Everton leaves his home to make it big in the music business in America. But everything is not what it seems in Hollywood, but with struggles and perseverance he finds love and success, only to have it all threatened when the Don of LA wants his dues.

1915-1957. The History of Haiti, from the first half of the twentieth century until François Duvalier’s rise to power. Witness accounts and archived documents are punctuated by period music, and offer a plural image of Haiti through literature, dance and painting.

Jamaica has a notorious reputation for homophobia and violence against gays. This groundbreaking documentary goes beyond the headlines to look at what life is like for Jamaica’s LGBT community, and the origins of the country’s attitudes towards homosexuality. Interviews with gay and lesbian Jamaicans, both on the island and in the diaspora, as well as gay-rights activists and prominent Jamaicans, form the basis of this brave, important film.

Although the “béké” minority, made up of the descendants of former slave-owners, comprise just one per cent of the population in Martinique, they own 90% of the agro-processing industry, and just over 50% of agricultural land. In spite of this obvious domination, they reject any idea of inequality that might be to their advantage, and argue that they have no involvement in politics. But economics and politics are often connected.

Waldemar is a young Surinamese man attending university in Amsterdam in the 1930s. He becomes a boarder in the house of Rika, a Dutch woman almost twice his age, who is separated from her two-timing husband. Rika and Waldemar fall in love, and when Rika becomes pregnant, her husband takes their four children away from her. With war approaching, her and Waldemar’s problems are only just beginning. Adapted from a novel based on true events.

Most churches have been rebuilt, renovated, repaired, or re-designed, and what we see is usually the second or third version of the original. This is typical in Caribbean history. It is inevitable, given the corrosive force of nature in the Carbbean. Churches are transitory and temporary, having to withstand tropical cyclones and earthquakes. It is precisely this constant destruction that parishes are fighting to counteract.

Born and raised in a rural village on the north-eastern coast of Trinidad, Chris Dennis has a dream: to become a world-recognised surfer. His considerable talent has taken him far, but to become one of the top 100 in his sport, this young man of modest means will need more than just his natural ability. Does Chris have what it takes to go all the way, or is he fated to remain between worlds?

Fifty-one families live in Les Orchidées, some of which have lived for 44 years in one of the oldest public housing developments built in Martinique during the sixties. Today, the building is falling into ruin, and no longer meets current seismic standards. In the coming months, most of the tenants will be relocated to Lauriers, a new residence less than two kilometres away, and Les Orchidées will be destroyed. Between destruction and deliverance, leaving after forty years can never be easy.

"To Be King" is the story of Tyrone King, the down-and-out son of a professional boxer. After he loses his family, Tyrone crosses paths with the man who trained his father, and led him to his death in the underground fighting world. Tyrone finds faith in himself to stand up, fall in love and, against all odds, become a champion.

Caribbean forts and fortresses were the only form of defence for Caribbean islands against invasions by the English, French, Dutch and Spanish over the centuries. Whether they are known or unknown, in ruins or still proudly standing on their towers, each of these fortresses has a history, and resonates with its glorious past. Enter a mysterious world that will share some of its secrets.

Six friends head to a quiet fishing village to make an investigative documentary. What starts out as a routine film shoot in a supposed paradise quickly turns to hell, however, as the friends find themselves preyed upon by a demented family of sadists. Blending classic Hollywood genre conventions with Caribbean folklore, "3 Line" delivers a shocking cinematic experience.

Gilbert, a craftsman, is about to close down his business when he finds letters from his grandmother Amalia, who recounts events that marked her life. As he reads, Gilbert realizes that each story is connected to an object. So he imagines the work that each craftsman does to make or repair these objects. Amalia’s Memories is a journey to the heart of Caribbean tradition, and a plea for the preservation of a wide range of craft heritage.

Inward Hunger reveals Eric Williams in unprecedented depth: the world that shaped him, the forces to which he at times succumbed, and those he fought to change.

"Inward Hunger" follows the life of Dr Eric Williams, the first prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago, charting his career from professor to politician, right up to his disturbing death. Including interviews with family members and former colleagues, this documentary shows Williams’s strengths and weaknesses, and also shows him as a man of great humour and devoted friendships, a man of loneliness and longing – in short, a fellow human being.

Calypso Rose, born McArtha Lewis, is the calypso queen of the world. This is her extraordinary story, a moving tale of triumph over great adversity. We follow Rose from Paris, where she is recording an album, to her native Tobago and Trinidad, then to New York where she lives, and finally to her ancestral homeland, Africa. Along the way we see many facets of Rose and come closer to understanding the woman behind the public persona.

Wonderfully archived, and told with remarkable intimacy and panache, this inspiring documentary surveys the life and times of singer/actor/activist Harry Belafonte. He recalls his childhood in Jamaica, where he first heard the folk songs that he would later make famous, and then his controversial crossover into Hollywood. The film focuses on the decades he spent as a globe-crossing social activist, and shows Belafonte, now in his 80s, to be as tenacious as ever, as he continues to ask, “What do we do now?”

Partice Lumumba, the hero of Congo’s independence is just thirty years old when the first tremors of failed decolonization drive him to the forefront of the international political scene. From being a local public servant at the Stanleyville post office, to serving several prison terms in the space of a few years (1957-1960), the most vilified man of the cold war period. As prime minister of the richest country in Africa, his fate as a tragic hero is mapped out.

Set on the island of Barbados, two innocent young girls, Mikisha and Claire have experienced paradoxically everything in life but paradise. Raped and physically abused by their drug dealer father Morris, Mikisha is pregnant at 15 years old, Claire has been motherless and brokenhearted since the age of 10, and are both at the brink of emotional disaster. These two women struggle with life, redemption, and the possibilities of happiness.

The group Malavoi is the living tradition of the music born out of the meeting of two worlds – that of the sugar cane planter colonists and that of their slaves, who provided the labour. Who are the members of this iconic group? What was their starting point? Where did their inspiration come from?

Everything in the Gomez family seems perfect, but appearances are deceiving. Kenneth and his wife Teresa are deaf, and this isolates them. There is also a communication breakdown that prevents the family from having genuine relationships with each other. It is Melissa, the youngest of three hearing children, who embarks on a journey of discovery, exploring delicate subjects never before discussed. Through difficult confrontations and unexpected revelations, Melissa is ultimately forced to ask herself: Are some secrets best left hidden?

The sandman has passed through. You sleep and dream that someone is making love to you. At daybreak you realize with horror that this is not an erotic dream. What happened? Was it a spirit that visited you in the night? In Burkina Faso as in Martinique this is what some women say has happened, when they are unhappy in love or they are unable to have children. Apart from shared beliefs, Maris de nuit examines the relationship between men and women. What is the importance of the man in a couple? What is his place?

Ten-year-old Chrissy lives on the rough side of town in deplorable conditions with her two siblings and their sick, bedridden mother. Chrissy becomes a target for teasing and discrimination from her fellow students at Redemption Primary. She then meets a new student at her school, Melissa, who is rich, and begins an unexpected friendship. Will Chrissy ride this gift horse to the top? Or will her intellect be enough to help elevate her and her family out of their poverty-stricken life?

Sainte-Marie is a town nestled in the north of Martinique, with fields near the water, and was once dotted with sugar cane arrows and plantations. Here on the northern Atlantic coast, rural bélè music, was born and brought by great men, most of whom are no longer around. Emile Casérus, called Ti-Emile, was one of the masters of this dance. On the bélè route, a father and son meet. One asks questions and the other is the “answerer”. The first searches for what the second has found and has no time to convey it before he dies. Ti Emile Pòkò Mò is the story of Jean-Michel Casérus “on the voice” of his father Ti Emile (1928–1992).

This is the story of three Jamaicans, strangers to each other, whose lives collide in unexpected ways when each is deported to their native Jamaica and forced to start anew on the punishing, gritty, and unforgiving streets of Kingston. Marva, a single mother from Toronto, struggles to cope with being unwillingly separated from her children. Everton, an irresponsible British teen, anxiously awaits word of his court appeal, and Dunston, a New Yorker, tries to escape his criminal past.

Trinidadian Calypso Rose, Martiniquan Jocelyne Bérard, Haitian Emeline Michel, Guadeloupean Stevy Mahy and French/Beninois Mina Agossi, Bahamian Diana Hamilton, Cuban Martha Galarraga and other Amazons with Caribbean voices.

In the town of Melaza the sugarcane industry is at a standstill and work is hard to come by. Monica, receptionist at the sugar mill, still goes to the factory daily, although it has been shuttered for a year. Her husband, Aldo, teaches swimming in a pool with no water. To make extra money, they engage in a lucrative but illegal venture. When the police discover their scheme they charge the couple a hefty fine. To get out of their predicament, Monica and Aldo must consider doing the unthinkable.

Maryse Condé is a writer from Guadeloupe and a personality in the literary world who has obtained numerous distinctions for many of her novels. This documentary examines her life and work, which are closely linked, and, in fact, intertwined. It seeks to discover one of the greatest Caribbean novelists known throughout the world, and particularly in the United States.

Ana is an actress who can’t seem to do better than land limiting parts in lurid historical soap operas. One day she impetuously announces to her family that she has won the lead role in a major film, which will enable her to buy the household a new refrigerator. Yet, to actually make the money, Ana will have to take on a rather different role—she must pretend to be a prostitute for a foreign feature documentary about Havana’s streetwalkers.

Fanm doubout ! - Women stand up. “Musiciennes en Guadeloupe” – “Female musicians in Guadeloupe” is a classical music festival mostly for women, and it pays tribute to Caribbean composer Teresa Carreno (1853-1917).

Havana teenagers Raul and Elio, fed up with ekeing out a living serving wealthy foreign tourists, decide to escape Cuba by crossing the “river” to Miami under the cover of darkness. When Raul’s twin sister, Lila, discovers their plan, she insists on joining them aboard their dangerously makeshift raft. Bold, visually stunning, this is a film made with urgency and skill, about young people in desperate circumstances and the lengths to which they will go to survive.

In the Lesser Antilles, in the early 2000s, in a popular neighbourhood, Josua and Silex are two young childhood friends in crisis. They both come from a ruptured social and family background, and live a carefree life, but violence on the island and an escalation of disturbances puts their friendship to the test.

Esteban, an ex-professional swimmer and now instructor, waits for his students to arrive. The four teenagers have one thing in common: their physical disabilities have made outsiders of them all. Diana is bossy; Rodrigo is weak-willed; Dany is an innocent; and Oscar flatly refuses to speak. As one languid, carefree day at the pool runs its course, conflict within the group slowly arises, until the idyllic scene is filled with animosity, rivalries, power games and an unspoken mutual longing for love.

In August 2008, the Caribbean street artist group “4 kouleurs Grafik” organizes a trip to New York, the mecca of hip-hop culture, with graffiti as their main goal. They meet living legends such as James Top and T-kid in the Bronx and Harlem. They discover the magic of these places and the controversy surrounding this form of artistic expression.

Chocolate is a sweet treat with an often-bitter story—much of the world’s supply is made from cocoa harvested by child-slave labour. In Grenada, however, a revolution is taking place. This inspiring film looks at the remarkable Grenada Chocolate Company, a co-operative of cocoa farmers who make organic, ethical chocolate. Narrated by Susan Sarandon, "Nothing Like Chocolate" is a celebration of ordinary people building a better future for themselves, one chocolate bar at a time.

From Cayenne to Kourou, St Laurent and Apatou on the other side of the Maroni river, this film explores today’s French Guiana, retracing the journey across the country by Guianais poet Léon-Gontran Damas in 1938. Essential phrases from his phenomenal “Retour de Guyane” are combined with the producer’s notes and observations. Revisiting these upheavals reveal the social and economic malaise that pervaded the country for many years, as it was haunted by the ghosts of the labour prisons and disrupted by the emergence of the European space centre.

Muscle raises fighting cocks and races songbirds in Georgetown, Guyana. His mother, Mary, drinks and recites poetry to escape her traumatic past. Whenever Mary attempts to sneak away, Muscle is forced to confine her to her room. Sensitive and profound, tragic and life-affirming, this is a searching film about family, and a son’s flawed but brave attempts to care for his mother.

In 2006, Mourad Merzouki, choreographer of the celebrated KAFIG hip-hop dance company visited French Guiana to adapt one of his creations. He auditioned nine dancers to perform in the “Mourad Merzouki” production created in Algeria. The project was renamed “Pa gen problem”. For the creation to be successful, there must be talent, a rigorous approach and a lot of hard work.

At the Hope orphanage in Guyana, Kenneth Finlayson and his staff face a formidable challenge. Many of the children have serious behavioural problems, which nothing seems to alleviate. Enter five young therapists from Texas eager to help. At first their methods fail. Over time, however, they build one-on-one relationships with the children, and hope, however fragile, appears. This is an inspiring film about people dedicated to making a difference, and the children whose lives they transform.

In order to receive a wonderful inheritance, Pierre Mombin and his friend Bruce come up with an unusual strategy in which Pierre must marry one of his exes, but which one?

A steadfast friendship binds Mickenson, Pierre and Vitaleme, three 12-year-old boys living in a children’s home in Port-au-Prince. When an earthquake devastates the city, the lads escape to seek their fortune on the streets. Mickenson and Pierre then have an accident, and are placed in care. This separates them from Vitaleme, who refuses to accept the new situation. "Three Kids"—Twa Timoun in Haitian Creole—is a moving portrait of three boys’ attempt at survival; it also shows their exuberance in the midst of a devastated city where life must go on.

During the Second World War, following an appeal made by General de Gaulle on 18th June, 1940, very young French West Indians left on shaky boats to join the campaign, to save the mother country. In many cases they went to the United States, Morocco and Italy on their way to France. They have been forgotten by history, and the time has come to let them recount this saga to us.

Yannick (the writer Edwidge Danticat), a journalist, is forced to move to her sister Micheline’s home to escape the violence in their native Haiti. Ronald and Vita, a married couple, have also fled the country. And Gerald, a political activist, gets an unwelcomed visit from his father, who was an enforcer with the Duvalier regime. All six must learn to heal from the trauma of the past in this poignant, haunting film.

After the social events of February 2009 in Martinique which led to 28 days of general strike, the producers decided to examine the events in an old house in Trois îlets, Martinique. Different people who do not know one another have an opportunity to have a discussion against the backdrop of protests in the streets of Fort de France.

“Out of many, one people” is Jamaica’s national motto. And out of eight short films this one feature-length film about life in modern-day Jamaica, made by the New Caribbean Cinema filmmakers’ collective, was born. Moving from the majestic Blue Mountains to the gritty ghetto to the stunning north coast, and spinning stories funny, suspenseful, thrilling and poignant, this is a cinematic mosaic as diverse and complex as the island that inspired it.

What is a Caribbean town? How can we identify it? How do we speak about it? These are the questions that have been asked through the experience and sensibility of ten Caribbean authors and artists. “Pas” is the result of an account written with several voices and several tones. Through the ins and outs of our particular history, how do we understand and decode the subtle and complex links between Caribbean people and the towns they build.

"Her Spirit Was for Dancing" chronicles the death rituals performed for Phyllis Gordon, a 92-year-old Etu member and Yoruba descendant, who appeared in the film "Etu & Nago: The Yoruba Connection". The deceased is honored with a Christian funeral in addition to age-old African celebrations that involve the community. The film is an intimate look into the coexistence of Christian and African traditions.

Mr. Piwouli has just bought Mrs. Piwouli a new car. While out driving, she meets Zenglendo who kidnaps her. This is the story of a tropical Madame Bovary and her husband Piwouli (lollipop), a former tonton macoute.

After spending several years in Los Angeles, Carlos, a budding filmmaker, returns to his native Puerto Rico with plans to make a movie, Hollywood style. There are just a few small complications: he has no script, no money and no discernible talent. Yet along with his producer and only believer, Joa, Carlos is determined to make his dream a reality. This is a hilarious satire on the filmmaking process, by turns both savage and affectionate.

Édouard Glissant, a Martiniquan philosopher and novelist, has been generously contributing his thoughts to antillais and Caribbean literature for half a century, and this has made a considerable echo throughout the world. In Taiwan, Venezuela, South Africa, the United States, his concepts such as the creolisation of cultures, partnership as a means of bringing together differences, the entire world is a rampart against the homogenising effects of globalization, find a sizeable audience.

Every year the fishing village of Cedros in south Trinidad observes the Shia Muslim ritual of Muharram, known locally as Hosay. Through a collage of beautiful images, revealing interviews and poetic narration, this film documents the history of Hosay in Cedros. In particular, it tells of the unity among the early Indian labourers who lived on Cedros’s coconut plantations and who transcended religion, caste and gender to come together to commemorate this sacred event.

Inhabitants of Port au Prince talk about their disconcerting city. This chaotic megopolis, also a surrealist city is visited by writers Breton and Malraux. It is a canvas on which the tremendous artistic creativity of its inhabitants dictates its relationship with the world. What will become of Port au Prince and its inhabitants? Ths is a metaphor of third world cites, a vast urban landscape trying to show us the issues related to urbanization. This film was shot during the city’s bicentennial, and is a must-see.

Bill is a troubled art teacher with a tragic past. After he confiscates a mysterious pendant from an orphaned student, Georgie-Boy, visions of a spectre in white plague Bill’s fitful sleep, eventually making the terrifying transition from the world of dreams into reality. When he realises the importance of the pendant Bill must return it to its rightful resting place.

Olivier has grown up in Guadeloupe. After his baccalaureate, he travels to France to pursue his studies. He returns home every year for the long vacation until he decides to come home for good. Upon his arrival, the hero exclaims. “Ah, my country is like a picture postcard!” this postcard seems to defy time, and the first days he spends in this overseas department prove him right.

When Keshorn Walcott threw his javelin to gold-medal-winning lengths at the 2012 Olympic Games, he joined a distinguished group of athletes who have won a medal for Trinidad and Tobago at the world’s premier sporting event. This film documents the history of T&T’s participation at the Olympics, from the country’s first medal in 1948, right up to the finest overall performance ever in 2012 in London. Narrated by four-time Olympic medallist Ato Boldon, the film features interviews with the likes of Hasely Crawford, Richard Thompson and Kelly Ann Baptiste.

During the Second World War, twenty young men are called in by a politician, Albert Darnal, President of the General Council, to join their force fighting to liberate France. Most of them sign up hoping to become pilots.

Set on the island of Trinidad in the West Indies, this film captures the gritty, passionate, and sometimes unpleasant realities of sex, love, and relationships between men and women in the southern Caribbean. The story is a reflection of the local narrative of Trinidad whereby picong (to insult in a jesting manner) and bacchanal (arguments and confusion) reign supreme.

A miserable vagrant in the streets of Cap-Haïtien dreams of an imaginary kingdom. He fancies himself a king, Christophe, the first sovereign of the New World, former slave and liberator of Haiti in 1804. Chased out of town, king “Chacha” as he is called, hides out in the grandiose ruins of the Sans Souci castle with Toimothée, a street urchin that he has taken under his wing. There he assembles his “court” and reigns over an absurd kingdom.

"I'm Santana" is a Trinidadian comedic drama based on the popular series and character Santana the puppet, a young man who battles his own demons and the nefarious actions of others in his community whilst pursuing the love of his life Janice.

In 2009, Guadeloupe is burdened with the high cost of living. The poorest are caught in the stranglehold of brutal capitalism. Grumblings lead to a 44-day general strike. During this movement, the scale of which had never been seen, a chant written by Jacky Richard emerges and spreads. The refrain “La Gwadloup sé tan nou, la Gwadloup sé pa ta yo” – Guadeloupe is ours, Guadeloupe is not theirs, quickly becomes an anthem to pull together and galvanize angry crowds and travels around the world.

Raúl is a comic-book artist living in New York. One night in a bar he meets María, a young Puerto Rican woman visiting the city. When a fight breaks out they find themselves suddenly separated. Having been struck by love at first sight, Raúl travels to Puerto Rico in search of Maria, and winds up having the adventure of his life. This is a romantic comedy with plenty of charm and a winning spirit.

Henry Kissinger (no relation), a Jamaican-born American cop, returns to his homeland for a vacation and becomes aware of a violent plot by an American hotel tycoon to seize control of a lucrative waterfront resort. To get to the bottom of it all, he’ll have to learn to play by a whole new set of rules – and rediscover the heritage he’s denied all his life.

Arturo is in love with Cecilia and together they start learning if love is possible in a Havana that is marked by economic adversity.

40 years later - Roussan Camille looks back at the compelling days and nights in Haiti and Cuba during the 50s. Roussan Camille is a humanist, indigenist afro-Caribbean poet, born in Jacmel. He is seen at different stages of life. Through enlightening characters, this documentary retraces the glory days of Port-au-Prince, where Haitian heads of state meet Cuban revolutionaries, and the great movements of pan-Africanism, francophonie, poetry and indigenous literature intermix.

The beat of Gwoka drums has resounded in Guadeloupe since the first slaves arrived on the island. Rooted in the island’s rural history, this musical tradition that had long been rejected today symbolizes the people’s reconquest of their deep identity. An increasingly wider segment of the population finds their way to the soirées lèwoz, and they are captivated by the challenges thrown out during the night by the drummers, singers and dancers.

Archie Redman is chasing a fading dream. In his obsession to hold on to his failing business he has sacrificed everything. His marriage is broken, his debts have risen beyond his reach and he has a severely damaged relationship with his father. Thousands of miles away, Archie’s son Jay faces worries of his own. Recently graduated from university, Jay is penniless in a cold, unforgiving city, unable to work until his father pays his school debts. Suddenly, an opportunity to secure his future presents itself, but to take it he must commit the ultimate act of betrayal.

Documentary pilot following the stories of three young men connected by a prison based debate team.

“The Forgotten Boys” follows the stories of three strangers, Darrem, Cornelius and Jahmai, who collectively depict the realities and struggles of the various stages of incarceration. Each journey is an exploration of the intergenerational impacts of mass incarceration. The common thread between these young men is a prison-based English class and debate team taught and developed by Trinidadian journalist, Debbie Jacob. Restorative justice programs within the prison tend to be a safe haven, providing remandees and inmates with a sense of purpose. This film will take you behind and beyond the bars seeking to humanize a sector of society that is often isolated. The overall mission is to challenge stigmas, empower the misrepresented and influence social change. Highlighting universal human experience and adversity from a Caribbean perspective.

When a video of an unknown creature went viral in Barbados,a young journalist and her team embark on a journey to seek out the truth about it,she ends up uncovering a bigger story than just a video.

When a video of an unknown creature went viral in Barbados,a young journalist and her team embark on a journey to seek out the truth about it,she ends up uncovering a bigger story than just a video.

Discover Trinidad & Tobago through the eyes of the Young Explorers

The Young Explorers, a group of children aged 10 -15yrs take us on a journey through Trinidad & Tobago, discovering the lifestyle of children in different areas and in their natural environment. The children in the community we visit, act as the hosts and present to the Young Explorers their life styles with pride and enthusiasm.

A hustler’s journey into chaos to steal a car and his lady friends dream for peace from a painting, forces a crime that changes their lives dramatically, forever.

In an off-beat nuanced film, Rocksy, a small-time hustler, journeys into chaos to steal a car while his lady friend Rosie hangs a watercolor painting in their modest room and dreams of peace. The fight to survive their broken dreams and aspirations forces them to commit a crime that changes their lives forever. Shot on the streets of Kingston where poverty, beauty and desperation collide, this Jamaican story transcends its Island locale to become a universal story of people whose poverty seems to trap them in a life where reckless acts appear the only road to an elusive better life.

A guru resurrects an ancient Indian festival in the Caribbean island of Trinidad to preserve the religious traditions of his migrant ancestors.

Ganga Dhaara is a one-day pilgrimage of Hindus at the Marianne River along the north coast of Trinidad. Established in 1993, it continues to this day. Inspired by Ganga Dussehra, a Hindu festival in India which commemorates the descent of the Ganges River from the Heavens to Earth, it became a ‘space’ to conduct a range of Hindu activities. This documentary examines how and why the Ganga Dhaara festival came to be based on accounts from the key founders and participants. It addresses issues of organizational continuity and religious and cultural retention in the context of modernization. The importance of ‘space’ and how space is constituted, shared, used and made sacred is also explored. Attention is drawn to how deeper philosophical and cosmological beliefs echo in other religious systems. In that regard, similarities in viewpoints with the Trinidad Orisha, a syncretic religion of Caribbean origin originally from West Africa, is also examined. The film also seeks to make the connection between spirituality and sustainable use of the environment and posits the question: how can our improved understanding of the parameters which underlie the sacredness of spaces be applied to improve the sustainable use of secular spaces?

Sometimes you find a way. Sometimes the way finds you. A 12-year-old orphan feels determined to have a say in her destiny, despite life's sudden changes.

12-year-old Sally is at risk of being sent to an orphanage when her grandmother falls ill. Determined to have a say in her own life, Sally’s perseverance pays off.She learns that she can make things happen if she takes action when inspiration strikes. The value of community support also becomes clear and, for the first time ever, she and Granny enjoy pipe borne water at the small, hillside hut they call home. Sally shows young audiences that a self-determining attitude, even more than circumstance, makes our way in life.

When a pregnant young woman discovers she is HIV positive, her world comes crashing down.

Alicia meets Marvin and quickly falls for him. They decide to take the next step and become intimate. Soon after, Alicia realizes that she is pregnant. The couple takes a routine HIV test and the results are positive. Alicia becomes severely depressed and consumed by guilt. She evaluates her life, decisions, and the possibilities for her unborn child.

Disenchanted by the modern world, filmmaker Michael Lees heads into the forest of Dominica with some basic survival gear, religious texts and a camera.

Disenchanted by the modern world, filmmaker Michael Lees heads into the forest of Dominica with some basic survival gear, religious texts, and a camera. “Why did man ever leave the forest? And what makes for a good life?” Just as he starts to acclimatize to his new life, the catastrophic Category 5 Hurricane Maria (one of the top ten strongest Atlantic hurricanes in history) makes a direct landfall on Dominica. Michael is caught out in the open in a palm leaf and bamboo hut. With the nation in ruins, the forest destroyed, and essential services knocked out islandwide, the entire country must now return to a past way of life if they hope to survive.

After his son is kidnapped, a Trinidadian fisherman brokers a drug deal with a Venezuelan refugee to traffic cocaine to rescue his son and save his village from a corrupt government official, in exchange for helping her find asylum for her family.

Joseph Marcel; a Trinidadian fisherman on a hunger strike, leads villagers in failed protest of Anita Maraj; a corrupt politician bent on constructing a Petro-Chemical plant that will displace villagers off their land. But when Joseph’s son is kidnapped by pirates, he brokers a deal with a mysterious Venezuelan refugee named Maria ‘Shane’ Valez, to traffic cocaine between Venezuela and Trinidad to pay the ransom and to bribe the politician to get off his land, in exchange for helping Shane bring her family to safety. Now deeply enmeshed in a drug cartel that has brought the pall of loss and bloodshed to the village, Joseph must confront his enemies and face himself in order to deliver his home from the brink of annihilation.

Haunted by the ghostly image of a woman, a young man suffers a nervous breakdown.

A discharged soldier tries to come to terms with his grief by maintaining a strict daily routine of medication and meditation but a apparition from the past threatens to throw him off the deep end.

Following on from A Story about Wendy (2012), when she was dumped by her fiancé and sought to get her life back together, Wendy Phillips returns in the second chapter of her adventures.

Following on from A Story about Wendy (2012), when she was dumped by her fiancé and sought to get her life back together, Wendy Phillips returns in the second chapter of her adventures. Excited to start work at Quirky TV as Simone Davies’ personal assistant, Wendy proves that she is dedicated and efficient. But when she inadvertently discovers information that reveals what really happened to Simone’s previous assistants, Wendy realises that her life is in danger.

Wendy Phillips' life spirals out of control after the sudden departure of her fiance .

Wendy Phillips’ life spirals out of control after the sudden departure of her fiance . Forced to move back in with her parents, Wendy’s Mother and childhood best friend, Giselle are concerned that Wendy is hanging out with a deviant, Sylvia. Wendy hopes that landing a job with Television Presenter Simone Davies, will help get her back on her feet, but Simone has other plans for Wendy.

A four-part documentary series, ''1990: before, during and after'' is an in-depth exploration of the 1990 coup attempt in Trinidad and Tobago.

In Development For six days in July and August 1990, the people of Trinidad and Tobago watched in fear and disbelief as the single most deadly – and arguably the most shocking – event in the modern history of the country unfolded. During the attempted coup of 1990, members of the Jamaat Al Muslimeen, a local radical Islamic group, raided the Parliament, bombed the police headquarters, commandeered the national television station, TTT, and killed several people (the exact number is still not known). In the four-part documentary series, ‘1990’, award-winning filmmaker and television producer, Mariel Brown, will explore the issues that gave rise to the 1990 coup attempt; take an in depth look at each day of the stand-off – in the Red House and Trinidad and Tobago Television, and in Port of Spain as a whole – which culminated in Abu Bakr’s surrender; examine the effect of the resulting amnesty and other court cases around the Muslimeen; and try to unravel the tangled knot of relationships, questionable criminal justice and complicity that continues, even thirty years later. .

After IRIS ends her relationship with her boyfriend FABIAN, she sees it as an opportunity for a fresh start to her life. Inner peace and self-love is the goal for herself as she moves forward. Her goals are being challenged with replicated signs of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. She struggles as she is haunted with flashbacks of her past physical abuse encounters with FABIAN. IRIS lives alone and also worries that FABIEN may return to seek unwanted closure. In an attempt to prevent this from happening she makes necessary safety arrangements. Arrangements that would then be proven to not be enough because what the heart wants, it wants, even in life and in death.

OSO is a journey through the story of a pop icon told by its own protagonists, the Tous family, the most famous jewellers in Spain.

OSO tells the history of TOUS from its beginnings, when Salvador Tous’s father began as an apprentice watchmaker, to the present day. The documentary recounts the achievements, controversies and visionary character around the milestones that have defined the success of this family business and analyzes in detail its flagship product: a bear with childish shapes, loved and hated in equal measure, which has ended up becoming a pop icon. World Premiere at the Festival de Cine de San Sebastián 2020.

In a world scourged by a terrible disease, a healthy mother-to-be must escape the clutches of an authoritarian government or risk losing her life and that of her unborn child.

In a world scourged by a terrible disease, a healthy mother-to-be must escape the clutches of an authoritarian government or risk losing her life and that of her unborn child.

A girl, her mother, a turkey and a knife.

In “Leftovers” Janine Fung’s wild narration about misunderstandings in her traditional Chinese family plays over images of her mother carving turkey.

A young West Indian nanny in New York City wants to reunite with her daughter back in Trinidad for her birthday party.

In New York City, Rajni is a homesick nanny to the upper middle class. She keeps in touch with her own daughter, Mosaic, back in Trinidad by videochatting with her. When Mosaic realizes that her mother will not be there for her birthday party, Rajni obsesses with how she can join her.

According to Caribbean folklore, the Lagahoo is a mythical, shapeshifting monster that is said to roam lonely areas at night while stalking their prey.

According to Caribbean folklore, the Lagahoo is a mythical, shapeshifting monster that is said to roam lonely areas at night while stalking their prey. Many people tell the tale of hearing the sound of heavy chains dragging in the bushes while they walked home, as the Lagahoo stalked them…

A Collection of Short FIlms by Caribbean Women

Her Shorts brings together the films of some of the most talented women directors working in the Caribbean today. From a father’s desperate search to find milk for his hungry baby, to a daughter’s heartfelt Christmas wishes and a taxi driver and his passenger’s unexpected journey into the past, these short films offer a varied and compelling glimpse into our shared human and Caribbean experience.

The documentary chronicles the life of Gary Grant - once a gangster and now a pastor - who works to help the community he once hurt.

The documentary chronicles the life of Gary Grant – once a gangster and now a pastor – who works to help the community he once hurt. Born and raised in Laventille, his troubled childhood led him down the path of crime. Abandoned by his father he found protection and power in the strength of a gang. After years of living on the wrong side of the law, doing jail time and seeing many of his friends die too young – he made the choice to turn his life around.

Moving from victim to survivor, Camika, a single mother of seven, shares her personal story of how she got the strength and voice to stop the cycle of domestic abuse in her home.

Moving from victim to survivor, Camika, a mother of seven, shares her personal story of how she got the voice and strength to stop the cycle of domestic abuse in her home. Abandoned by her father and hurt by men now she works hard to help other victims of domestic abuse while she still struggles trying to repair the impact of the years of abuse in front of her children.

Trying to be a part of the solution, Onika works hard to build trust in her role as a police officer.

Mother of three, Onika James has had a life filled with challenges, obstacles and heartache. Through this documentary, we see how her difficult past only made her stronger and lit a fire in her to reach for a different life, one in which she could help her community. Taking great pride in the work that she does, we see how she is driven by the desire to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. Her three children are the centre of her life and a new husband gives her strength. But she still faces challenges of raising a teen son in an area known for crime and must work hard to build trust in her role as a police officer.

Three British born artists living in Trinidad, the United States and England, linked by their relationships with the St. Ives School, discuss their use of text in making the visual image.

Disconnected from galleries and access to a viewership other than virtual formats, this is a collaboration to show work to a larger public in the time of COVID, 2020. Each artist contributes video footage and still images of their work shot in their own studios with each artist based in a different geographical location: Rex Dixon from Trinidad in the Caribbean, Vivian Pedley from Cornwall, England and Adrian Frost from Arkansas, USA. The connections between the artists and the St. Ives school are foundational in their development as artists and have influenced their various stylistic progressions. The showcasing of text and image in their past and current work links back to the earliest forms of human communication as in signs and symbols of cave painting and illuminated manuscripts and brings out the poet in each artist in the placement of words on or against their image.

“Code” explores the struggle between the old ways of Rastafari livity and modern day technology.

“Code” explores the struggle between the old ways of Rastafari livity and modern day technology. It is also about a boy who defies a father he loves and respects to prove his manhood.

Leonard Smith has been an affable, ubiquitous figure on the streets of Kingston for the last 30 years, a maker and seller of one product: pillows. This film is a meditation on the man behind the smile.

Leonard Smith has been an affable, ubiquitous figure on the streets of Kingston for the last 30 years, a maker and seller of one product: pillows. This film is a meditation on the man behind the smile.

Chrissy is a sheltered teenager from a loving home, whose world flips upside down when she is raped by three men. Based on a true story, Unravelled explores the trauma experienced by Chrissy and her family, and her determination to get revenge.

Three women. About slavery and freedom.

From late 16th century until 1863, the Dutch sold an estimated 600,000 African people into slavery. This documentary follows three women who are each involved in the heritage of slavery in their respective roles. When researcher Ellen-Rose Kambel discovers a photograph of a man who owned her ancestors in slavery, she decides to locate his descendants.

In the award-winning documentary ‘Amsterdam. Traces of sugar’, TV personality Noraly Beyer and rapper Typhoon (Glenn de Randamie) unravel their family histories, marked by slavery, while artist Patricia Kaersenhout, encourages her audience to reflect on slavery.

In the award-winning documentary ‘Amsterdam. Traces of sugar’, TV personality Noraly Beyer and rapper Typhoon (Glenn de Randamie) unravel their family histories, marked by slavery, while artist Patricia Kaersenhout, encourages her audience to reflect on slavery. As a teenager, Noraly Beyer was surprised by the fact that her maiden name Oostvriesland is written on the façade of an Amsterdam warehouse on the Damrak. In ancient archives in Surinam, she discovers the origin of the name. Patricia Kaersenhout has discovered that sugar and blood have a lot to do with each other. She turned this into a gripping work of art. Typhoon discovers a special story in his family tree. The rapper feels a deep emotional bond with his ancestors and expresses that in his music. Amsterdam had an important role in the administration of the colonies and in the trade of enslaved Africans through the WIC (West India Company). The urban landscape has many tangible traces that lead back to this period. The Black Heritage Tours guides the audience to these places. With these personal stories, the documentary examines the shared history of Surinam and the Netherlands. How are the transatlantic slave trade and slavery encoded in Dutch memory? How does the past affect our present?

The Misadventures of Brian and Sachin is a 35-minute buddy adventure comedy which sees two 14-year-old boys journey into the jungle to track down a mysterious local eccentric after he takes off with one’s prized cricket ball.

This thought provoking documentary produced jointly by Oyetayo Raymond Ojoade and criminologist Professor Onwubiko Agozino questions power and social control through exposing the central conflict between Euro-centric and Afro-centric religions.

A young girl from an impoverished community betrays her mother’s wish to not sing soca music.

The Cuatro Man is a portrait of Robert Munro, a virtuoso Trinidad and Tobago musician. Regarded as a legend in his own music community, he faces a relative lack of recognition in mainstream culture alongside his four-stringed musical instrument.

Sorf Hair explores the natural-hair experience in T+T.

People with kinky/curly hair have been the butt of every hair joke for centuries. From discrimination to lost opportunities, these issues tend to take a toll on the lives of “naturals” around the globe. Sorf Hair explores the natural-hair experience in T+T as people from all walks of life and with different hair textures reveal their stories and challenges.

A young widower haunted by the death of his wife has an en unexpected visitor from his past, which forces him to face his present.

A young widower lives in self imposed exile deep in the country, haunted by the death of his wife. An unexpected visitor from his past forces him to confront his shattered life.

The Insatiable Season is a fun and intimate look at the creations, crises and passion of the Mac Farlane camp as they produce a beautiful costumed band for Trinidad’s Carnival.

So we meet the characters one at a time. Bogart is grumbling about everything being so late. Robby has been in a state of sustained carnival wonder since the early 80s. Paul is jammin’ in Trinidad with Mac Farlane for the first time, lookin’ forward to the party. Jhawhan is a folk dancer with dreams of being the king of carnival. Brian is ambitious and determined and Jenette is a first-time costume maker with stars in her eyes and memories of the good old days of playing carnival. What happens when all of these people come together is nothing short of wonderful. At times it is hilarious. At times it is nothing but stress. Always, it is suffused with the knowledge that wearable and mobile works of art are being made. And towards the end of the season, the monotony of having to produce yet another costume is starting to weigh on everyone. But into this mix comes the drive to produce a beautiful carnival king costume for Jhawhan to wear. And for a while, everyone’s energies are diverted, heightened and focused on making this magnificent king. When it comes time to perform, Jhawhan wears the costume well and everyone’s spirits are soaring, which makes the disappointment of his loss far greater. But the news gets worse. Because everyone’s energies have been so diverted, they’ve lost sight of the need to produce the carnival band, and so it’s a mad and frantic dash to what everyone is hoping will be a stunning finish line: Carnival Tuesday.

Conversations with Trinidad and Tobago's creative thinkers and makers.

The series features conversations with Trinidad and Tobago’s creative thinkers and makers. We delve into their processes and what drives them to execute continuslly as creative individuals.

The rise of Tubal Uriah Butler and his contribution to the development of the Labour Movement in Trinidad and Tobago.

Prepared to Fight. This documentary is an exploration of the history of the Labour Movement in Trinidad and Tobago from Cipriani and Butler to the MSJ in the People’s Partnership. It looks at the influence of Marcus Garvey on the consciousness of Caribbean citizenry that gave rise to the labour revolts in Trinidad and Guyana; the rise of Tubal Uriah Butler and his contribution to the development of the Labour Movement in Trinidad and Tobago.

Fires of Hope' was filmed to commemorating the Independence of Trinidad and Tobago.

Artists, bankers, businessmen, fishermen and agriculturalists, economists, workers—citizens all—from Port of Spain to Charlotteville, reveal their hopes and criticisms of Trinidad and Tobago after many years of Independence. Seen against the expectations expressed through our national anthem and contextualized in the push for separation from the British Empire and the physical reality of the islands, with the music of our people ringing throughout.

An intimate portrait of Derek Walcott, set in his beloved native island St. Lucia.

Derek Walcott, Literature Nobel Laureate travelled the world while remaining closely connected to his beloved island St. Lucia. As a poet, playwright, painter and even filmmaker, Derek Walcott hymned the Caribbean for over 60 years. This documentary presents an intimate portrait of him, set in his beloved native island St. Lucia. The place he always longed for, when he was taken to far away places by his universally acclaimed work. What moved and inspired this great poet? Who are the people whose lives became poetry through his writings? And how did they experience the gift of language of their friend, their mentor, and their father? This film explores the poetry of Derek Walcott, the landscapes and people that inspired it. It observes Walcott in places essential to his work and life, and gathers the thoughts of some of his closest childhood friends. Most importantly, this documentary is a celebration of the greatest gift Walcott has given the world: his poetry.

Trinidadian Donald 'Jackie' Hinkson talks about his life's work and demonstrates his techniques.

Trinidadian Donald ‘Jackie’ Hinkson, in his 70th year and on the occasion of a massive retrospective in four exhibition spaces talks about his life’s work and demonstrates his techniques in expressing his intention while creating a watercolor from the blank page to completion and work on a number of sculptures, public murals and drawings. His obvious skill expressed with candor and humility imbue this uniquely structured film with charm and ease while stunning the viewer with an unusual insight into the creative process of one of the country’s greatest living artists.

The search for descendants of an ancestor who left Barbados in the early 1900s to build the Panama Canal.

Panama Dreams transports the viewer on filmmaker Alison Saunders’ modern-day search for descendants of an ancestor who left Barbados in the early 1900s to build the Panama Canal – one of the seven wonders of the modern world. After five years of creating compelling re-enactments and collecting archival film and photos, as well as contemporary images and interviews, she tells a larger, poignant story of strength, endurance and sacrifice and uncovers troubling issues of race, class and power that face descendants of those canal workers in Panama, the West Indies, the USA and Cuba today.

Have you ever asked a Trini for Directions?

In this documentary a number of persons are asked to give directions to a well-known Port of Spain landmark, with unsurprisingly hilarious, uniquely Trinidadian results.

Looking at the aftermath of the surprise attempted coup on the Caribbean island by a small Islamic group in 1990.

An impreessionistic 22-minute documentary from Trinidad & Tobago looking at the aftermath of the surprise attempted coup on the Caribbean island by a small Islamic group in 1990. Calypso music is interspersed throughout to comment on the poltical situation in Trinidad.

Examining the phenomenon of “chutney soca”, a musical hybrid from Trinidad & Tobago.

An arts documentary examining the phenomenon of “chutney soca”, a musical hybrid from Trinidad & Tobago which blends thee traditions of the islands’ two biggest ethnic groups- Indian and African. As much politicaal as musical, “chutney soca” seems to offer a way for the two cultures, often perceived as being mutually antagonistic, to come together in a new exciting fusion of sounds.

The documentary also recounts the Army’s ferocious counter-attack against the Muslimeen in Trinidad and Tobago

“Siege” recounts the terror and courage of TTT employees as they re-live their days held captive under the gun barrels of 70 heavily armed Muslim insurgents. The documentary also recounts the Army’s ferocious counter-attack against the Muslimeen and how journalists and technical staff trapped inside the Television Station survived the blasts from rocket launchers and over 1 million rounds of ammunition. Created by Andrew-Lett, Dion Boucaud and Francesca Hawkins as part of the UWI film programme, this documentary produced in May 2008, will give anyone interested in the events of 1990.

Dance is the story of the ballerina Dai Ailian (1916–2006), who was born and raised in Trinidad before emigrating to China. Considered China’s mother of modern dance, she was the first person to bring western ballet to the country, in 1940, and would go on to co-found the National Ballet of China and the Beijing Dance Academy.

Farmers suffer great loss of topsoil and property owing to erosion and slippage.

In this hillside agricultural village of Paramin, farmers suffer great loss of topsoil and property owing to erosion and slippage. This documentary captures the return to Paramin of ‘metiver’- an invaluable plant to a hillside farming community, which was lost over generations because of the overuse of weedicides.

To promote a viable recycling programme.

Disposable is a short documentary exploring the work being done by organizations and private citizens as they attempt to promote a viable recycling programme in Trinidad & Tobago. From recycling plant workers to participating community members, Disposable highlights the desire, viability and necessity for the recycling call to action.

Peter Minshall returns to mas....

After ten years, internationally acclaimed mas artist, Peter Minshall, reinterprets Mikhail Fokine’s classic ballet The Dying Swan for a ‘Moko Jumbie’ (a stilt dancer) in drag. This film chronicles the assemblage and performance of this mas at the King of Carnival competition in February 2016.

The district of Paramin, at Carnival time sheds its rural languor and erupts into an inferno of bluepainted ‘jabs’ or devils.

Isolated in the mountains of Trinidad, the district of Paramin, once a year at Carnival time sheds its rural languor and erupts into an inferno of bluepainted ‘jabs’ or devils. Kootoo, King Devil, prepares with his three brothers to once again win the village competition for the most convincing devil band. Known for his athletic prowess, and given to extraordinary feats like ripping up trees and scaling tall buildings, the charismatic Kootoo must still work hard with his band of devils to win the prize in the face of serious competition from a new generation of ‘jabs’.

An encounter with a successful businessman derails the plans set by his family...

18 year old Gregory is caught between repressing his true creative nature and desires and surrendering to society’s dictates of what it means to be a man. An encounter with a successful businessman derails the plans set by his family and community. Play The Devil shatters conventions of sexuality, masculinity, morality and individuality through its unapologetic multi-layered explorations of power dynamics, religion and aspirations.

Bim's violent past catches up with him....

After his father’s death, Bheem Singh is sent to live with his aunt in Port of Spain. Bullied at school and abused at home, he runs away and begins a life of petty crime. After returning to the countryside—and taking a new name, Bim—he becomes leader of the sugar workers. Bim is soon made leader of the colony’s opposition party. It won’t be long, however, before his violent past catches up with him.

In a house filled with clashing personalities, lies and deceptions, what could possibly go wrong?

Gregg Pinto, a filmmaker, invites a group of his closest friends to a getaway at a villa on Trinidad’s north coast to celebrate his fortieth birthday. This is supposed to be a memorable weekend commemorating this milestone. In a house filled with clashing personalities, lies and deceptions, what could possibly go wrong?

Race.Class. The Revoluntionary 70's in Trinidad and Tobago.

Trinidad, 1970, just before the Black Power Revolution. A poolside party with an all-white crowd is in full swing. When an unexpected guest arrives, desire leads events to take a different turn.

When getting lunch at a Trini fast food joint turns into a nightmare.

Getting lunch at a fast food restaurant is usually a simple affair. Getting lunch at a Trini fast food joint, however, can be a nightmare, as the hapless young man at the centre of this funny-because-it’s-true tale finds out. Welcome to Sweet Fries, where you’re lucky if they take your order, and even luckier if you get it!

There is always a breaking point...

Heathcliff is an unfulfilled man nearing retirement. Merlin, his wife of 35 years, is controlling and critical, especially of him. One Saturday morning as they prepare to drive to the market, Merlin begins to lay into Heathcliff. When Heathcliff finally expresses what really is on his mind, he loses more than he is prepared to handle.

Floating into Fire is a tragic magical realist love story that leads a man and his heart adrift at sea and on the brink of a psychedelic existential crisis.

Floating into Fire is a tragic magical realist love story that leads a man and his heart adrift at sea and on the brink of a psychedelic existential crisis. His journey of letting go is woven through Trinidad during the time of Carnival and it leaves the viewer dripping in Caribbean culture and mythology

A young girl is seeking - answers to questions that are relevant to her own life, as well as questions inspired by Siewdass' life.

A chronicle of the life and contribution of Siewdass Sadhu, an indentured labourer, who is regarded as a legend for building the Temple in the Sea at Waterloo, Carapichaima. The story is told through the eyes of a young girl coming to terms with her heritage and identity.

A richly textured film about identity, desire and conformity.

AFTER MAS tells the story of a love that flourishes under the cover of darkness during the festival of J’ouvert on the streets of Port-of-Spain. Shot in Trinidad in February 2013 during Carnival, we experience the charge of this bacchanalian drama before following the characters return to their separate lives. In the cold light of day, can these young lovers from very different backgrounds stay true to their desires?

Where is home when home doesn't want you

The story of a young painter from the Bahamas, Jonny Roberts, who travels to an exotic island to find inspiration but finds unexpected love and adventure in a complex and tortured Romeo.

The story of the strongest of the slaves whose will was only crushed when he loses his beloved wife.

Buchi Fil is a Caribbean legend, the strongest slave who ever lived. In this film, based on a poem by acclaimed Curaçao poet Pierre Laufferm, the plantation master becomes obsessed with breaking Buchi Fil. Only when he sells Buchi Fils’s beloved wife, Mosa Nena, does the proud slave crack. Buchi Fil’s final act shows the power of his spirit and his love.

Young and noble Maurice is a Shoe-in to be St. Lucille’s next Vice Principal, however, when the school board steps in to make changes, his alliances come into question and he’s left to make some bold decisions.

The film is meant to be a conversation piece; a door opening on little mentioned issues of civil injustice and basic human dignity; of what real friendship means, and the hypocrisy of the well-intentioned and also funny.

Sirius seeks out new adventures on his own, which leads him to meet a heavenly stranger.

Sirius, now an old man, recalls a summer of his childhood, when his best friend, Bubba, formed a close relationship with newcomer, Charlie Sand. With the perceived loss of Bubba, Sirius seeks out new adventures on his own, which leads him to meet a heavenly stranger. Shot on location in Trinidad, The Blessing of Charlie Sand is an exploration of friendship.

An American supernatural scholar finds out the hard way that the tales he’s read in books are more than just fiction when he goes to Trinidad and Tobago with his girlfriend and finds himself caught in the middle of some good old fashion voodoo bacchanal

A cultural journey into London’s Notting Hill Carnival

Ayesha, is a young British girl on a journey to find out the truth about what the Notting Hill Carnival really represents. From its genesis out of the 1958 race riots and a young man’s murder, to its contemporary perception as a Carnival of violence, Ayesha discovers the festival’s darker historical past, and the freedoms the vibrant event represents.

The discourse of Notting Hill Carnival

London’s Notting Hill Carnival is coming under increasing pressure and attacks from the British press, politicians, police and local residents who consider it an event of conflict. This is the story of the controversial event, from its inception out of the 1950s London race riots, to its present-day controversies that see it perceived as a Carnival of violence. Focusing on its arts and the darker past from which it emerged, Arts of Conflict seeks to open up the conversation about Carnival’s significance and its origins.

Crimes of retribution cannot stay secret forever.

Max is a troubled man living on the periphery of society. When he becomes the victim of a vicious knife attack by a youth, he is forced into early retirement and a period of psychological despair. Close to the edge and suicide, Max makes the alternative choice to pursue what we deem to be revenge against the youth and his friends. It is not long before Max is spying on the youths and taking clandestine photographs as he plots against them. Following the disappearance of a young girl and the youths, the police begin to take interest in Max who becomes their prime suspect. Yet as the Police investigate, some darker forces in Government office are also taking an interest in the case and seek to keep Max out of the public eye. As the police investigation focuses on Max, the young girl is found dead. Max must act quickly to escape the net and the darker forces which are closing in on him.

An arts & culture based series about the Caribbean diaspora in Europe

A tale of fashion and rebellion in paradise

Parisian crossdresser Vincent travels to his homeland the Caribbean island of St Lucia to stage what he believes will be the fashion show of his dreams. But on an island of fierce sexual politics, his arrival sparks immediate controversy with his flamboyant persona and sexuality splitting public opinion. Vincent soon begins to criticize the local fashion industry which leads to resentment from some of the islands’ elite. It is not long before he is fighting local hostilities, homophobia, and island officials. The fashion show soon becomes a direct challenge to the island’s status quo, and it isn’t long before it all starts to go wrong.

A bride-to-be discovers her abusive mother is released from prison and has trouble dealing with this news.

Carnival Messiah is a radical re-invention of Georg Freidrich Handel’s oratorio ‘Messiah’ for large scale stage and theatre.

Carnival Messiah is a radical re-invention of Georg Freidrich Handel’s oratorio ‘Messiah’ for large scale stage and theatre, featuring Caribbean and contemporary popular music and dance genres, showcased through the spectacular carnival and masquerade of Trinidad and Tobago. Carnival Messiah: The Film & Documentary presents this incredible theatrical production in full. It includes exclusive behind the scenes interviews, from then and now, with Carnival Messiah’s visionary creatives, cast members, the artistic director of the Southbank Centre, Jude Kelly, and also features additional filmed content from Danielle Dieffenthaller.

After secretly casting love spells on each other, a couple find out that digging deep into the dirt and the heart can reveal truths.

Gerald and Gina found love after magic but now the magic is gone and they both want out. Problem is leaving is easier said than done when there’s magic involved. ‘The Knot’ is based on a true story, originally retold by a priest, for the purpose of a magazine article written by Jacintha Annius-Lee. The article explored the use of Obeah in Saint Lucia, including ‘love ties’, which was further explored in the film.

Zhenzhen is smuggled to the island of Trinidad where her brother Wei works construction.

Zhenzhen is smuggled into Trinidad and is threatened upon her arrival—she has to pay more money to enter into the country. Her brother Wei, who is working on the island in construction, intervenes and promises to pay her debt. Wei finds Zhenzhen a job at a Chinese restaurant where she crosses paths with Evelyn, a well educated, upper middle class Afro-Trinidadian, who has recently moved back to Port of Spain and runs an art gallery next to the restaurant. Wei tries to get an advance from his employer, Logan, but is unsuccessful. Zhenzhen becomes desperate and asks her employer, Mrs. Liu for the money, who agrees to give her an advance, but makes Zhenzhen promise she will work it off. Help comes unexpectedly from Evelyn—but the contrast of the dark rooms above the restaurant and the white gallery walls, calls everyone’s innocence into question.

An exploration of the architectural work of Colin Laird

Through an exploration of the social, developmental and environmental aspects of design, Public Spaces links the work of architect Colin Laird to the development of post-independence Trinidad and Tobago over the past 50 years.

The Diego Family is a seemingly normal family in Belize. But a chance meeting with a slick American stranger changes everything....

The Diego’s are a representative family of Garifuna descent making a life in Belize City, Belize. Matriarch Granny Tomasa helps her niece Margret to raise her family. Margret runs a small cook shop in front of the house with hopes of owning her own restaurant. Little sister Lisani works after school as a hairdresser and has dreams of going to college. Brother Randy is a rapper-wannabe who writes a song about finding his father and falls in with school friends Juni & Luga who run with the wrong crowd. Sparks fly when Steve Castillo returns home to Belize after 18 years in the U.S. He meets Lisani through her best friend Rosanna and finds he has a long hidden connection with the Diego family.

It begins and ends with murder and it gets the staff of The Reef Hotel, their associates and guests into a big bacchanal.

The series starts with a bang- it’s a one hour action packed episode that begins and ends with murder and ties up the staff of The Reef Hotel, their associates and guests into a big bacchanal. The problem starts when surfer, Zed inadvertently discovers some misplaced “merchandise” on a beach in Tobago. Zed and his cohort, Abishek Butcher, make the wrong decision to try and sell the drugs – but boy are they out of their league! Abishek, being inexperienced in the business, tries to outsmart the middleman, Sanjay- now he has more than one person looking for him. The big question of the day is: who owns the drugs?

While struggling to make ends meet, Luke Singh must choose between looking out for himself or the man he blames for his mother's death.

Ten years after a tragic accident claims the life of his mother, Luke Singh struggles to make ends meet while working as a fisherman. Unable to take care of himself and his sick grandmother, Luke is presented with an opportunity to make a lot of money, but the decision comes at a much greater cost.

This documentary tracks dal puri’s remarkable passage across space and time, linking colonialism, migration and the globalization of tastes.

The recipe for dal puri traveled with indentured workers from India’s Gangetic plain to southern Caribbean colonies of Britain and the Netherlands in the 19th Century. In the 1960s the wrapped roti migrated from Trinidad to North America, where it is known as Caribbean or West Indian roti and is popular in cities like New York and Toronto. As the dish moved from home fire to street stall to restaurant chain, and from festival to fast food, the flatbread was radically transformed in ingredients, cooking method, ways of eating and identity. Shot in Toronto, Trinidad and India, this documentary tracks dal puri’s remarkable passage across space and time, linking colonialism, migration and the globalization of tastes. The documentary features interviews with leading food writers and scholars including Pushpesh Pant, Naomi Duguid, Brinsley Samaroo, Radhika Mongia and Patricia Mohammed.

A cricket player battles demons from his past while trying to make it to a world tournament.

‘Hit for Six’ is a captivating fictional story of a playboy West Indies cricketer who fights the demons of his past, including a match-fixing charge, and learns about love while struggling for his last chance to play in a major global tournament and earn the respect of his estranged father, a former great West Indies player. Alex Nelson, a talented but inconsistent cricketer, has been sidelined from the WI team for scuffling with his coach, Amir Misra of India. Now out of the team for three years, he pursues an unlikely quest to get back on the team for the last chance to play in the Global One Day Series. He is fueled by a burning desire to regain the respect of his estranged and critical father, a former great West Indies player, who was unfairly denied a chance to play in the first Global One Day Series.

A riveting chronicle of the Black Power uprising that took place in Trinidad and Tobago in 1970.

A revealing, riveting chronicle of the Black Power uprising that took place in Trinidad and Tobago in 1970. Featuring interviews with various activists, politicians, military officers and others who were caught up in the events, the film evokes those heady months when “Power to the people!” was the popular cry. Generous use of archive material and calypsos from the period rounds out this document of one of the most important—and most misunderstood—periods in the country’s modern history.

Plagued by dreams of a beautiful life once lived, a scrap metal collector travels out of town for a job which promises to provide a spark of hope.

Plagued by dreams of a beautiful life once lived or yet to come, a scrap metal collector living on the edge of a landfill travels out of town for a job which promises to provide a spark of hope.

A poetic reflection on the theme of identity and contemporary migration.

Dreams in Transit is a poetic documentary reflecting on the theme of identity and belonging for contemporary migrants. The filmmaker, a London-based Trinidadian, returns to the Caribbean to explore the meaning of ‘home’ and where it is that both migrants and non-migrants might be said to ‘belong’. Using a kaleidoscopic collage approach she talks to a range of people: from fishermen to artists and cultural commentators. Interwoven throughout is a meditative narration and the presence of a mysterious “Dream Woman”. Perhaps identity, as the theorist Stuart Hall suggests, is not an already accomplished fact, but rather a production, which is never complete, always in process.

Su Goldfish searches for her lost family, unearthing her father's life story on a journey that leads her from Australia to Trinidad and World War II Germany.

Manfred Goldfish tried to put a lid on the trauma that made him a refugee in 1939. When his daughter unearths Manfred’s extraordinary story, on a journey that leads her from Australia to Trinidad and World War II Germany, she finds where she belongs, and we, touch on the truth for millions of others.

This beautiful re-imagining of Shakespeare's magical fairy tale "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is set modern day, under a full moon and during a Caribbean Festival.

William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Nights Dream re imagined in Barbados. Conceived by Producer Melissa Simmonds. Written and Directed by Shakirah Bourne. The Cropover festival, lovers’ quarrels, powerful herbs…and fairies. Those are the ingredients that director and screenwriter Shakirah Bourne has brewed into a modern-day retelling of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Set in Barbados, the film mixes Shakespearean language with Barbadian dialect amid lush tropical imagery for a Caribbean take on a comic classic.

Explores 'bottom power' by offering insightful analysis of the female bottom seen through the gaze of the Caribbean man.

With wit and humour, Bottom in De Road explores ‘bottom power’ by offering insightful analysis of the female bottom seen through the gaze of the Caribbean man. Human sexuality is examined through our cultural fascination with the female bottom presenting the historical context, its role in expressing freedom and independence and its influence as a source of religious controversy.

An experimental short film that is a fusion of art, spectacle and extraterrestrial life in a Caribbean context.

‘The Visitation’ is a Trinidadian Science-Fiction Thriller-Horror film, which tells the story of a carefree artist who is not concerned with the world around her. Her male friend calls to warn her of an imminent extraterrestrial threat but she pays him no heed. This short film is a fusion of art, spectacle and extraterrestrial life in a Caribbean context.

Black and beautiful, the paradox of separation and unity.

Siparia in southern Trinidad is home to a mysterious spiritual icon: a black female statue venerated by Catholics and Hindus alike. Through interviews with devotees, pilgrims, pundits and priests, the movie explores the obscure origins of Divina Pastora or Siparee Ke Mai and her continuing relevance today.

An original comedy series following the life of Isabelle, a 22 year old aspiring actress, fresh off the plane from the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe.

An original comedy series following the life of Isabelle, a 22-year-old aspiring actress, fresh off the plane from the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe. She dreams of being rich and famous and finding love in NYC. There’s only one problem: she has no working papers and no money! As Izzy teams up with three fellow islanders for hilarious misadventures and drama, will she find what she is looking for? Flow Pilot Production Program by Caribbean Tales International The series premiered in 2017 on Flow TV Network and at Caribbean Tales Film Festival in Toronto.

An intimate exploration of the life of the Muslim Community in the French West Indies through the testimonies of women and men formerly Christians and now converted to Islam.

An intimate exploration of the life of the Muslim Community in the French West Indies through the testimonies of women and men formerly Christians and now converted to Islam. After their conversion comes the questioning of their West Indian identity. They try to live their religion and spirituality in a place where Christianity is often an integral part of the local culture and where there is no real mosque. The film is totally unexpected and peaceful. Nature is very present. The narrative is built with a beautiful distance, far from the usual clichés and media stereotypes. Watch the Full Document on Vimeo On Demand.

Johanna and Cristina, natives of the Dominican Republic, left their homeland in search of better lives in Guadeloupe.

Johanna and Cristina, natives of the Dominican Republic, left their homeland in search of better lives in Guadeloupe. Although both found greater opportunities, they were forced to leave their children behind. “Between 2 Shores” offers a poignant look at the lengths families will go to stay together and the daily battles faced by many immigrants.

Set against frank conversation about diversity in Trinidad and Tobago, 'Lifted' follows a day in the lives of a refugee family as they journey to a Moko Jumbie (stilt-walking) class.

Trinidad & Tobago is home to over 7,000 asylum-seekers and refugees—including parents who have fled to protect themselves and their children. Set against frank conversation about diversity, Lifted follows the highs and lows experienced by a refugee family as they journey through Port-of-Spain, and encounter a group of Moko Jumbies (stiltwalkers). Lifted is written and directed by award-winning filmmaker Miquel Galofré, produced by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and T&T Rocks, and features interviews with Sticks in De Yard/#1000Mokos.

Documentary about the origins and impact of Dancehall music and dances in Jamaica

Jamaican dancehall fascinates the world with its irresistible beats and raw, controversial lyrics. "Hit Me With Music" explores the roots of this unruly offspring of reggae, featuring pioneers Yellowman and the late Bogle, Elephant Man, the Gully and Gaza gods, Mavado and Vybz Kartel, and some of the current issues: warring artists, skin-bleaching and “daggering”.

Violence in Jamaica is always portrayed as drug related, this film unveils a real truth which links a culture of violence to masculinity and shooting guns.

Dudus¨ Coke, chaos reigns in his former areas of control in West Kingston, Jamaica. Bands of teenagers kill each other for any little reason. Although violence in Jamaica is always portrayed as drug related, this film unveils a real truth which links a culture of violence to masculinity and shooting guns. Most of the young people from the ghetto don´t even know why they kill each other but they are trapped in this cycle of violence. Former gangsters from Denham Town, Dudu´s previous stronghold, have become violence interrupters, a type of mediators who attempt to put an end to this nonsense situation.

Fragile is a documentary feature film that shows how the place where we are born determines our lives. In 2005 and 2006 we filmed the birth and the first year of life of four girls from four continents.

Fragile is a documentary feature film that shows how the place where we are born determines our lives. In 2005 and 2006 we filmed the birth and the first year of life of four girls from four continents (watch Una vida por delante, parts 1 and 2). All of them were born in a fragile context, mostly due to war and extreme poverty. Secret was born right after the civil war in Liberia, Noelia arrived in a indigenous family of Bolivia, Alaishri came to this world in the middle of a tough tribal conflict in Assam, India, and Daniela, daughter of a congolese undocumented immigrant, was born on the floor of a flat in Sweden. 10 years later we come back to meet them again.

Why do Jamaicans Run so Fast' reveals how athletics and music have become ways to escape from poverty and violence in Jamaica.

Jamaica, August 2008: The island is at a standstill as people’s eyes are glued to television. Led by the fastest man alive Usain Bolt, Jamaican athletes are winning the sprinting competitions at the Beijing Olympics. They break world records and challenge all logic. No world super-power can contest the victory of this small Caribbean nation. This film is the story of the six gold medals that put Jamaica at the center-stage of the world map. It is a story that reveals how athletics and music have become ways to escape from poverty and violence in Jamaica.

A Dutch painter arrives in Curaçao and finds he's not so welcome after choosing a young black woman to be his model for a painting of the Virgin Mary

In 1940s Curaçao, Gabriel Goedbloed, a charismatic painter, arrives from Holland to paint a mural of the Virgin Mary in St Anna’s Church, under the request of its parish priest. The colonial Antillean society proves less than tolerant towards the visitor, especially after he chooses Ava—a young, mixed-race teacher, who is engaged to be married, as his model for the Virgin Mary.

A mockumentary about reggae artist 'Pashan Froot' preparing to launch his new single 'Nibble on meh Naggle' at a concert in T&T

This is the hilariously true / made-up story of the mysterious dancehall singer Pashan Froot. We follow this misunderstood genius as he gets ready to launch his new single, ‘Nibble on Meh Naggle’, and hear from the people closest to him, including his producer, his slippery manager, and Pashan’s number one (and only) fan.

A young Parisian woman of Caribbean descent returns to her native island of Guadeloupe looking for the father she has never known.

Bernadette, a single mother in Paris, tries to provide her daughters with everything. She is thrilled when her eldest daughter, Elza, is the first in the family to graduate from university. But Elza breaks her mother’s heart by running away to their native Guadeloupe in search of a distant childhood memory: the father she barely remembers. Simmering with intrigue and illicit scandal, Elza is a heady melodrama about a family and its deep, dark secrets.

A former solider investigating the murder of the CEO of a major software company must decipher whether he is being framed or is succumbing to the delusions of his illness

When Luther, the CEO of a major software company, realises he has a stalker intent on doing him harm, he calls in Ryan, an old friend and former soldier. Ryan, who is battling with post-traumatic stress disorder, tracks down the stalker and is forced to kill him, but in so doing, makes a shocking discovery.

Exploring the idea of African identity in the Caribbean - has it changed?

This documentary examines the concept of African identity as it has evolved over the generations in Trinidad and Tobago. In it, the director explores her own identity, using the Emancipation Day parade and its rituals as a starting point for her journey. Interviews with African-Caribbean people and scholars define and explain some of the complexities of race in this society.

When a barrel arrives from London bearing an unwelcome parcel, a caregiver in Barbados makes a hasty decision that risks destroying her special bond with a beloved child.

“AUNTIE,” is a middle-aged seamstress and respected caregiver in her rural Barbadian community. Raising children whose parents are unwilling or unable, Auntie instills discipline, traditional values and a strong moral code. Twelve-year-old KERA is her latest ward and a special child to whom she has grown uncharacteristically close. Seven years after Kera’s mother emigrates to England in search of a better life, Auntie is confronted with the day she has long dreaded. The day the plane ticket which will reunite Kera with her mother, arrives. Unable to accept the inevitable, Auntie makes a hasty decision, which goes against everything she claims to stand for. She risks damaging the special bond between them on the eve of the child’s departure.

Carnival artist Peter Minshall tells the story of the design and construction of Paradise Lost, his first masquerade band for the Trinidad and Tobago carnival in 1976.

‘Paradise Lost’ documents Peter Minshall’s recollection of the first band he ever designed under Stephen Lee Heung. The veteran producer of masquerade bands for Trinidad Carnival, Stephen Lee Heung, invited Peter Minshall to design his presentation for 1976 Carnival in Trinidad. Paradise Lost was the band and this documentary provides a blank canvas on which Masman, Peter Minshall relates the story, from the concept to the crossing of the stage at the Queen’s Park Savannah. The legendary mas man tells the story with the aid of his beautiful drawings of the costumes and live footage as only Minshall can.

Seventeen year old Sandrine must hide her brother's illness in order to save his life.

Passage centres around a group of Haitians locked in the hold of a fishing vessel being smuggled through the Bahamas into the United States. On these vessels communicable diseases such as dysentery are deadly and if individuals get sick they are thrown overboard.

A couple get more than they bargained for in three minutes.

A couple’s three-minute wait for a pregnancy test becomes a ticking time bomb which sets off a minefield of unresolved issues in this uproariously funny comedy short.

An undocumented immigrant and his son are smuggled into London, hiding a desperate secret.

After being smuggled into the country with his young son, an illegal immigrant is forced to go on a desperate quest late at night on the gritty streets of London. Left alone and penniless, the young father is forced to go on an urgent quest in the dead of night. When his luck goes from bad to worse in the gritty neighbourhood, he is forced into an act of quiet desperation.

A homeless Jamaican boy, struggling to find his identity, encounters a life-changing crash incident.

Kinto lives on the streets of Kingston, Jamaica, wiping the windscreens of passing cars at stoplight intersections to earn money. Ambushed and beaten by a group of other street boys, a desolate Kinto embraces his identity when he makes an unexpected act of kindness.

Disaster strikes when a young, Afro-Caribbean high Priestess goes against her intuition.

On a Caribbean island inhabited by the survivors of a slave shipwreck, a young priestess must overcome her insecurity, defy tradition and step into her power to save her people from impending danger.

Flor Marie remembers tragic events that changed her life 50 years ago.

As Flor Marie reflects on the last time she saw her lover, her niece rummages through her stuff to find the last gift he gave her. He was one of the construction workers who died in the Juliana Bridge disaster in Curaçao on November 06, 1967.

Set in Trinidad, a weekend getaway turns to horror as a young woman finds herself in the grasp of a disturbed abductor.

Inspired by true events, THE CUTLASS is a dramatic thriller set in the tropical wilderness of Trinidad and tells the story of a young woman who falls into the grasp of a dangerous sociopath. She finds herself isolated and musters the courage to emotionally battle the unsettled mind of her abductor.

Small Change is a short Caribbean based documentary about climate change shot entirely in Trinidad & Tobago.

Small Change takes the conversation forward on climate change entirely within the context of Trinidad & Tobago, with focus on the present state of our country’s local economy, and moves which can be made in the grassroots, private and public sectors to improve the existing state of our environment while having significant social and economic benefits for the country and people of T&T as well.

Mervyn, a Trinidadian fisherman gets mixed up with a drug lord and past demons come back to haunt him and a sacrifice must be made.

When a peaceful fisherman is guilted by his drug-dealing friend into helping him deliver some “packages” for a well-known drug lord to an isolated island in the Caribbean Sea, he is forced to overcome a distressing situation and make some scarring choices in order to survive.

In Trinidad and Tobago, a six-year-old dreams of being a superhero.

‘Captain T&T’ tells the story of six year old ‘Thin Foot’ as he strives to become the hero of his own life.

While drinking at the village bar, Lenroy becomes a little ill. His friends try to help him, but end up falling out with each other in the process.

While liming with his friends, Lenroy becomes a zombie. His friends deal with his zombification, but fall out with each other in the process.

A man attempts an exorcism after suspecting his niece of bringing evil spirits into his house.

When a superstitious Jamaican man suspects his niece, Jasmine of bringing evil spirits ‘duppies’ into his house, he attempts to remedy the situation through an improvised exorcism. But the exorcism amounts to nothing more than a violent attack on the child and the said ‘duppies’ must rescue her from her uncle’s abusive hands.

At Christmas, a young street food vendor in Trinidad learns that his estranged father is seriously ill.

Doubles with Slight Pepper is a dramatic film set in Trinidad during Christmas. It’s a coming of age story centered around Dhani, a young street food vendor, who must decide if he will help save his estranged Father from dying.

The point-of-view of a street dog in relation to the world around her, she runs into adversity and forms alliances.

Pothound tells the point-of-view of a stray dog as she transverses the streets of modern Trinidad and Tobago. She retrieves a lost purse for an older woman but is chased away, gives her only bone to a struggling essential oils vendor, but is met with scorn and helps a young girl carry drinking water home, only to be scolded. Her attempts to help people on her travels are continuously misunderstood. When Pothound saves a young boy from being bullied she narrowly escapes injury. Pothound’s adventures take her from the beach and back home where an encounter with the cook from the Chinese restaurant where she stole the aforementioned bone from, changes her life forever.

Got horned? Get even.

Lizzie, a distraught bride-to-be, is comforted by three of her girlfriends who offer irreverent advice on sex, love, money and revenge.

Nang has lived outside the box, born in a Trinidadian village in the 1920's she survived by defying convention.

Nang is a true survivor at 93. She was born in a rural village in Moruga, Trinidad in the 1920s to Chinese/French/ African and Amerindian parents. She has had many roles – dancer, model, singer, maid, nurse and even cinema operator. Director Richard Fung lovingly documents his second cousin as she retraces her steps to the many highlights and heartbreaks of her life along her journey from Port of Spain to Caracas to New York and New Mexico.

When a tempered rock icon is confronted with an unlikely souvenir from his outrageous past, he is enticed to return to his true nature.

When a tempered rock icon is confronted with an unlikely souvenir from his wild past, he is enticed to return to his true nature.

It’s 2049 and a druglord owns the streets of The Burn. Young Ti-Jeanne must choose between her fear of dying like her mother, or harnessing the power of the Caribbean spirits to save her people.

It’s 2049 and Toronto the Good has been taken over by the wealthy. A wall has been built around the city and the poor are expelled to an island off the coast, known as The Burn. The segregated Burndwellers have been forced to scrape out a living by bartering, recycling, and farming. Mami is the unspoken leader of the Burn, sharing her Caribbean herb lore and leading her followers in an ancient spiritual practice. Ti-Jeanne turns 19 and the time has come for her to succeed her grandmother and become a Priestess. When Mami tries to prepare her to take part in the same possession ritual that killed her mother, Ti-Jeanne refuses. She flees with her young love Tony to the other side of the Burn in hopes of leaving the spirit business behind. Until – out of the ashes of The Burn, a drug lord rises to take control of the remaining population and uses his right hand, Crack, to torment the Burn dwellers and prepare them for sale to mainlanders as smart slaves. When Crack begins torturing the children of the Burn, Ti-Jeanne can no longer refuse her other-worldly powers as a priestess. She is the only hope to save them. Can Ti-Jeanne handle the power of the spirits she has been so afraid of and save her people, or will her fear kill her?

Venus is a happy pup, who like many other dogs, loves to run and play. However, Venus is a Doggess of love, who proves that no matter how different we are, we can still be friends. One day, Magnet comes into her life and an unlikely bond develops.

Still struggling with loss, a caring father and his daughter are moved by the Christmas spirit to connect with their Puerto Rican roots by reaching out to victims of the hurricane.

A father and his eight-year-old daughter, Billie, decorate their Christmas tree for the first time since the loss of Billie’s mother. The news on the radio serves as a further reminder that it won’t be a merry Christmas for everyone. Weeks after the 2017 hurricane in Puerto Rico, residents still struggle with basic needs. Billie worries about her Puerto Rican family, her father manages to reassure her temporarily. Billie leaves a note for Santa before she goes to bed. At midnight, on Christmas Eve, Billie’s father carefully arranges her presents under the tree and reads her note to Santa. Billie has asked Santa to send her presents to the children of Puerto Rico. Her kind-hearted gesture brings her father to tears. Her inclination to help, reminds him of the last time he spent time with his late wife, a U.S. Marine, before she left to serve. As he dozes off, she visits him in his sleep. On Christmas morning Billie awakens to find that “Santa” has written her back a letter. Her presents will indeed go to children in Puerto Rico.

A 9-year old selectively mute Mayan boy guards a nest of Yellow-Headed Parrots in Belize's pine savannah. His older brother, in debt, turns to poaching...

Yochi, an 9 year-old selectively mute Mayan boy, guards a nest of yellow headed parrot chicks on sacred land entrusted to him by his grandfather. When Yochi discovers his beloved older brother Itza is poaching in order to pay his debts, Yochi’s loyalties are put to the test. When Itza realizes he has poached Yochi’s nest, he is faced with a dangerous sacrifice.

Sent abroad by his mother to 'grow up', Sean quickly realizes how much he has depended on her when he is faced with the prospect of making his first meal.

Sean is a spoilt young man that has been coddled and cared for by his mother for far too long. He is sent to the UK by his now fed up mother, forcing him to take responsibility for himself. Basic life skills prove to be a challenge, especially the prospect of cooking his first meal. Spurred on by his mutinous stomach and hankering for a taste of home, Sean embarks on the journey to making his first cooked meal. His impatient and impetuous attitude must change in order to complete this mammoth task.

Joebell catching hell in Trinidad so he make up his mind to go. The place he choose is America...

The self confident gambler Joebell, in an attempt to escape the drudgery of life in Trinidad, schemes to find his way to the promise and fantasy of America. Each step of his journey uncovers him to himself and his island he had never really seen. A poignant tale of love, ambition and self-discovery.

Julia and Joyce: Two Stories of Two Dance Pioneers, marks important dance heritage of Trinidad and Tobago and the world, as told through the fascinating histories of two Trinidad and Tobago dance pioneers, now in their seventies. Both Julia Edwards and Joyce Kirton tell their respective stories, full of challenges, humour and triumphs.

The dance history of Trinidad and Tobago often remains in the memories of those who executed it, and when they pass on, there is precious little left behind. This film looks at aspects of the local dance world and its impact through the eyes of two dance legends, Julia Edwards and Joyce Kirton, in an attempt to capture some of this history. Now in their seventies, Julia and Joyce have together contributed over 100 years of dedicated work to the local dance community. They have been instrumental in the preservation of and innovation in countless traditional dance forms, and their commitment is echoed in the accomplishments of the dancers and choreographers who have come after them. This loving portrait is as much a tribute to these two pioneering women as it is a history of dance in T&T.

Set in the clearing of a Caribbean rain forest full of lively characters and quirky songs, “Avocado and Zaboca” explores the themes of conflict resolution, tolerance and friendship, all while teaching very young children the alphabet.

Sans Souci is a drama about a group of childhood friends brought back together under tragic circumstances then riven by differences in opinion around the 9/11 attacks in New York. All of the action of the film takes place at a house at Sans Souci on Trinidad’s north coast, the beautiful, isolated location becoming a crucible for the characters, their emotional experiences contrasting sharply with the name of the place (sans souci, without a care or worry).

A man goes in search of something mysterious in the Trinidadian mangroves, unraveling a supernatural world as he races back to safety, before the sun sets.

A desperate man embarks on a journey into the intimidating mangroves in search of something mysterious. Lost and hopeless he’s not sure where to go. While there he faces surprises that cause him to question his surroundings, and he soon learns that he must race back to safety before sundown or risk encountering the terror that lurks in the mangroves at night.

When parang was born in Trinidad, it was played by workers in the cocoa plantations as entertainment for their families and friends after a hard day’s labour. "Salt of the Earth" explores this ancient music tradition called parang and the ones who made it survive.

‘Salt of the Earth’ explores one facet of Trinidad’s culture through the music tradition of parang and the performers responsible for its survival—the parranderos as well as beloved television presenter, Holly Betaudier. The music sets the pace for the discovery of the island’s beauty, its history, its landscape and its people. This is a journey into Trinidad’s past to better understand how an English-speaking country has managed to keep and continue a centuries-old Spanish tradition.

"Mystic Fighters" is the contemplative journey of a warrior paced by the beat of Trinidadian drums and rituals.

“Mystic Fighters” is a documentary-based story on the ritual of stick fighting in Trinidad & Tobago and the power of the ancestral drum. Mystic Fighters takes the spectator to the heart of Trinidad’s African heritage with testimonies of respected elders and well-established artists. The film’s tension revolves around the stick-fighting competition, the preparation, the fights leading to the finals where the winner is declared. The history behind the tradition is the story of Trinidad brushed over the past century and also portrayed by the reconstruction of the burning of the sugar canes from which the Canboulay celebrations were born. The rhythm of the film is constructed around the ‘chantuel’ and the calinda songs with drum being one of the main characters of the film; how its spirit is mastered is key to stick-fighting and transforming the sport into a ritual.

The Cool Boys is a twenty seven minute short film, using narrative fiction, and established around a flow of events that involve three young men still in their teenage years. The main protagonist Alpha, one of the three, has just turned 18 and finds himself in trouble. He is called upon to make an ethical decision that itself challenges the conventional definitions of being cool.

Doc and Zoe are just hired for the night to deliver an unknown package. At a crossroad, they stumble upon a dog. In Haiti, each crossroad requires a sacrifice.

Port-au-Prince by night. Doc and Zoe are just hired to deliver an unknown package. Their job comes with three essential rules: never stop the car, never roll down the windows, never open the trunk. At a crossroad, they stumble upon a dog. Each crossroad requires a sacrifice. Their decision will change their path irreversibly.

Studio Archives is a docu-series that takes you inside the studios of prominent Caribbean Artists while exploring their artistic journey and philosophy.

Jackie Hinkson: Jackie Hinkson talks about how he developed an affinity for the light and landscape of Trinidad and his first encounter with watercolour paintings. Shalini Seereeram: Shalini Seereeram’s use of found objects is absolutely singular! She talks about how she developed this talent and the significance of the figures in her paintings. Che Lovelace: Che Lovelace loves to experiment with his work and always keeps it on the edge, even if it means cutting up old paintings to make new ones out of the scraps. Sundiata: Sundiata is most interested in responding to his environment through the use of paints, charcoal, pastels and sculpture. He talks about how a lack of resources led him to a career as an artist. Edward Bowen: For Edward Bowen building a house and making an exhibition aren’t so different. He gives some insight into his latest big project. LeRoy Clarke: “I am moving towards something that awaits me to complete it” Arguably one of the most prominent figures in Trinidadian art, LeRoy Clarke talks about his work and spiritual influences.

Once upon a time there was Snake, this is how his life changed in a matter of minutes

A noir, fantasy crime drama unfolds when ruthless Trinidadian gang member, Snake, kills his leader, Mr. Tiger. Shortly afterwards, Snake receives a message that someone named Anansi Spider is going to “take care of him.” Following a near-death experience at the hands of a wicked woman, Snake receives a call from Anansi Spider, warning him that his life is in danger. Snake grapples with whether or not to trust this mysterious man, and, ultimately, makes a deadly decision.

A teenage girl finds that becoming a glamorous soca-music dancer is a lot harder than she first reckoned.

Sparkle is a teenager on the brink of adulthood with few prospects, friends or motivation after graduating from high school.

A young Bahamian girl, Rain, boards a local mail boat from Ragged Island and sets sail for Nassau. Stranded in an unfamiliar environment that fills her with dread and confronted by a mother she has never known, Rain searches desperately to find her own place in the world.

When Rain’s beloved grandmother dies she is forced to trade her simple but happy life on Ragged Island for the uncertainties of living in the capital with her mother, Glory, who abandoned her while a baby. Home becomes a two-room Nassau shack and Glory proves unfit for parental duties, being a drug addict, a prostitute, and quite possibly HIV positive. Rain seems destined for a bleak future, but for one thing: she is a promising sprinter. Her school’s track teacher, Trinidadian Ms Adams, becomes coach and mother figure to Rain, who is determined, almost literally, to outrun her fate.

Spoken-word poet Muhammad Muwakil narrates one of his compositions, about life in the Belmont suburb of Port of Spain. Arresting images of the streets of Belmont during the early hours of the morning accompany his recital.

“It’s 4 am. Amen. I still alive. Belmont didn’t take my life last night.” Against the tranquillity that precedes a bustling dawn, Trinidadian spoken word poet Muhammad Muwakil conjures a powerful picture of life in a suburb of Port of Spain, Trinidad. His evocative depictions of the dangers that linger around every corner help define this dynamic neighbourhood.

Three friends on vacation on a Caribbean island are seduced by a wealthy stranger, and become pawns in a deadly game.

George, Penn and Nadia are best of friends. While on vacation on an idyllic Caribbean island, they find themselves being seduced by a stranger’s wealth and charm. When the stranger’s true motives are revealed, the three friends realise that they are pawns in a deadly game.

City on the Hill is a look at the history of the communities erected on the hillside slopes of Laventille. The film examines the evolution of the chequered relationship between the landscape and its inhabitants, as well as selected aspects of Laventille’s architecture.

‘City on a Hill’ is a documentary film capturing the built and cultural heritage of East Port of Spain and exploring how the contributions made by this urban settlement may be harnessed for economic growth. Through archival research, interviews with residents, and historical markings on the landscape, the film captures the proud identity of the people of the districts on the eastern fringe of the city of Port of Spain that are collectively called Laventille. It examines it’s past and present history, its rich built and cultural heritage through testimonies of creativity and survival of its citizens young and old.

Papa Jah, a humble Haitian gardener, has lived in the Bahamas for 40 years. As his marginalized community, faces a strict new deportation policy and growing xenophobia in the Bahamas, he returns to Haiti, to reunite with his 103 years old father and the land he left behind.

My Father’s Land is a feature documentary exploring the life of Papa Jah, a humble Haitian Gardener, whom has spent the last forty years in the Bahamas, building a life for himself and his children, while living in a marginalised Haitian community nicknamed the Mud. When news arrives of his 103 year old Father taking ill back in Haiti, Papa Jah fears he may not see him before he passes. He then sets out on an adventure, traveling back though Haiti, to his families small village on the island La Tortue, to reunite with his Father; hopefully before its too late. Juxtaposed against the strikingly rich visual texture of the Caribbean, this travel adventure story entertains through humor, intimate cultural spaces and vivid landscapes, while touching on socio-economic complexities of immigration, culture and identity.

The struggles of having black hair.

The beauty industry hails the European standard of beauty. But one model, Gabriella Bernard, is challenging that.

A story of two very different brothers.

This film is the story of two very different brothers. Willy’s the difficult one consumed by his own impatience and Tito is the tireless believer and visionary. Despite their differences, Willy and Tito agreed on one thing: that their quest in life is to use their music to help the down-and-outers, the lonely and the broken to accept themselves during what some consider to be the loneliest and most vulnerable time of the year… Christmas.

Venezuelan refugees move to Trinidad and Tobago with hopes of bettering their own lives and that of their families, only to find an unwelcoming environment and the uncertainty of their future while caught in a legal limbo.

Since 2015, at least 16,000 Venezuelans are confirmed to have fled to Trinidad and Tobago. The twin-island republic is of one of the most economically viable options for asylum seekers, yet many are unaware of the reality that is to welcome them. Nearest Neighbours interweaves the stories of four main sets of characters: a journalist; a couple with three young children and their abuela; a woman who is living in a horse stable among other refugees; and a computer engineer turned construction worker and his family. The film explores how these refugees and asylum-seekers navigate their environments daily and work to move their lives forward amidst many unexpected challenges, including rampant xenophobia and a lack of legal rights due to the absence of local refugee legislation.

Shan Fernandez is a Trinidadian dancer, trained in the art of Limbo dance. She performs in front of international audiences three times daily as a member of the Universal circus.

This documentary looks in on Shan’s journey while following her in front and behind the stage. We experience the hopes, dreams and fears of a young woman living away from home for the first time. While she moves onto a broader more international stage, she copes with feelings of isolation and separation.

In her work the controversial Jamaican artist Laura Facey explores the indescribable cruelty of slavery, but also the resilient nature of the human being.

‘Paddlin’ Spirit’ is a short documentary film about the controversial Jamaican artist Laura Facey, whose work explores the indescribable cruelty of slavery but also the resilient nature of the human being. Loved and hated in equal parts in her country of origin due to the explicitness of her work, Laura Facey stands out for denouncing women’s abuse past, present and future and for healing from her own traumatic experiences.

Quiet Revolution follows a group of everyday heroes who aim to give voice to permaculture ("the quiet revolution") in Trinidad and Tobago

Erle “the crazy runner” is a farmer, an adventure racer and barefoot ultra-marathoner, and now a major advocate for Permaculture in T&T. He was raised in non-farming African and Canadian urban settings, with no prior knowledge of the Caribbean landscape. Armed only with an old photocopy of a permaculture (“permanent agriculture/ culture”) manual, Erle set out to regenerate the land. Against a land history of fire damage, herbicide and pesticide use, his permaculture farm, Wa Samaki Ecosystems, is a hub for ecological farming and learning.

A visual and sonic Caribbean feast featuring British born painter Rex Dixon and Trinidadian sitarist Mungal Patasar.

Seventeen Colours and a Sitar is a riveting explosion of paint and music. In this beautifully crafted film, British born painter Rex Dixon and Trinidadian musician Mungal Patasar explore musical interpretations of colour and visual imagery that deal specifically with the journey between India and the Caribbean. Dixon produced a series of paintings based on a trip to India in 2010 and the India trained classical sitarist Patasar writes original music that is inspired by these paintings. The film features original pieces created on-screen by both Dixon and Patasar who discover common threads in their work. The film is shot in an experimental art documentary style, ‘Seventeen Colours and a Sitar’ and gives a one of a kind opportunity for viewers to see two artists from two seemingly opposed genres (a western abstract expressionist artist and an oriental trained classical sitarist) explore the similarities and differences in their processes of making their art, and to demonstrate the fusion between two disparate art movements before the camera. The Caribbean landscape provides a canvas and sounding board for their explorations of colour and tonality and explodes on film as a marriage between intuitive and experimental ways of working. Filmed in high definition, with dreamscape appearance by the 3 Canal musical trio who join Dixon in his studio to put their song to painting, the film engages with the creolized identities that emerge from the Caribbean landscape which offers a diverse palette that feeds their intuitive and experimental ways of working.

An experimental documentary exploring the aesthetics of an Indo-Caribbean population through colour, song and dance.

Coolie Pink and Green is an experimental documentary, referencing Bollywood which takes the form of a narrative. Despite the significant presence of East Indians in the Caribbean, Indian culture has yet to be seen as being truly indigenous. This film projects a new way of seeing Caribbean Indian culture, through the story of a young Hindu girl who is learning the beauty of her culture, even as an elder in her community attempts to hold her in a traditional mould. While the girl is sympathetic to the elder’s views, she already lives in a hybrid culture and must celebrate both.

Intimate conversations with homeless people in the streets of Port of Spain, capital of the Caribbean island of Trinidad and Tobago. with Sketch and Yankee.

Green & Yellow features intimate conversations with Sketch and Yankee—two homeless people in Port of Spain, Trinidad. The film shows the homeless as a neglected part of the social environment, separated from society, and attempts to bridge that barrier.

An elderly man gets mistaken for a taxi driver while on a drive through the busy streets of Port-of-Spain. What follows is a long day of reckoning with memories, friendships and revelations.

Bartholomew, a retired civil servant, takes a leisurely drive downtown, where Shanice mistakes his car for a taxi. After much resistance, he agrees to take her to her destination. Along the way, they encounter a wide diversity of Trinidadian characters, from cross-dresser Hott Pepper to gang member Tan Tan. What follows is a long day of reckoning with memories, friendships and revelations.

The past can lead to an old rift...

The city streets of Port of Spain, and its varied cast of characters are the backdrop for this Trini-style-neo noir. Philo, an expat detective turns to his previous partner Monique for help in solving a current kidnapping case. But where this leads them is to the past, and an old rift between them regarding the disappearance of her brother, which Philo seeks to mend.

Riding Bull Cart captures a time-capsule moment, and depicts a symbiotic and pure relationship of human and animal (non-human) working together.

‘Riding Bull Cart’ is a portrait of a farmer, Boylie. Boylie carries us on his daily journey to cut grass for his cattle, taking us against the ebb and flow of the quickening pace of modernisation, into a grassy haven where we find refuge from the maddening heat, haze and pollution The film is a reflection on happiness and personal choice. It confronts a stereotype head-first and overturns it, and pays homage to the path less traveled.

Art Connect reveals how creativity has inspired and changed the lives of "at risk" kids living in the disenfranchised and volatile area of Laventille, in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

Art Connect is told by the children, who had access to different forms of art-making with which to express themselves, including film making. The children were given small video cameras so they could film their own stories about their lives. Through their talking, painting, singing, filming and dancing, we are allowed into their world.

When the rug is pulled from under his feet, a savvy old salt, must navigate the stormy waters of his relationship with his estranged son.

Mortimer Wilfred has arrived reluctantly to live with his estranged son Darian, after the tragic death of his friend and employer Albert. Evicted from his island home, Mortimer must navigate the challenges of living on the mainland with a son who’d rather send him to live in a retirement home than have anything to do with him.

A young country boy has an encounter with a mythical creature in the woods.

Ten-year-old Johnny is a bright but naughty boy living in a small country village in Trinidad. From terrorizing his brother to stealing mangoes from the neighbours, he causes his mother no end of trouble. Left alone to look after his brother one day, Johnny’s true nature is revealed when he encounters some douens – mischievous spirits of lost children that haunt the forest.

Songs of Redemption' captures the moving story of redemption and rehabilitation of inmates of the General Penitentiary in Kingston, Jamaica.

Songs of Redemption reveals a stream of consciousness as told by Kingston prisoners incarcerated for crimes ranging from ‘illegal possession of firearm’ to ‘murder.’ The prison, once a concrete holding area for African slaves, is devoid of basic human necessities and reflects a reality of unimaginable consequence. The movie opens with a glimpse of city dogs living free in the streets with no means of support, while human counterparts behind the walls are imprisoned with the same lack of support, compounded by total loss of personal freedom. Interviews by inmates reveal sincere regret for the actions that led to a life of incarceration. The critical turning point is ignited through a growing a sense of self pride and identity, a channel to musically express remorse and the ability to warn the next youth from destructive behavior. The simplicity and complexity of freedom is captured throughout the film as birds fly in and out of the prison grounds only to fly freely away into the blue sky. As one inmate clearly states, redemption comes when the criminal moves from a very dark hopeless place into the light, the light of life and forgiveness.~ Sista Irie, Austin, Texas

Forged from the love of... money.

PLAIN SIGHT is based on the complex relationship between two bright and ambitious people who grew up together only to become rivals: James, a ruthless underground figure, and Sarah, a shrewd forensic detective. Both are fighting for their communities, but one’s method is lawful and the other’s is not. James is disillusioned by government policies, sociological prejudice and economic inequalities, and through him we are introduced to a cast of shady characters who straddle several socio-economic groups. The detective, Sarah, is a highly educated woman – an international scholarship winner who, after a tumultuous childhood (and with some prodding from her father) left Trinidad and barely looked back. Snatched up by the Montreal CSI, she is well on her way to success when she receives a phone call from Trinidad that her sister has been murdered. From that moment, the focus of her life shifts forever and puts her on a direct collision course with James. The series moves toward its dramatic climax where Sarah must choose between James and her sense of morality, loyalty and justice. Set against the backdrop of an idyllic island where danger lurks just beneath the surface, and criminals hide in plain sight.

The discovery of a secret diary draws a drug addicted security guard into a world of demons and a struggle for inner redemption.

A security guard who works the night shift finds himself stealing from the storage containers he should be guarding. His friend coerces him into taking something from his missing brother’s container, which leads to devilish complications.

Two internationally certified, multi-disciplined, Trinidadian martial artists re-discover their roots in the unique Trinidadian martial art of Kalinda or Stickfighting, and are accepted for mentorship by living legends of the art, as they enter the potentially lethal arena of the Gayelle which to them is a ring of liberation!

Keegan Taylor is in his 20s. He has been a frontline soca singer in the biggest soca bands from Trinidad & Tobago, worked in the oil industry, graduated from university and won multiple medals internationally in karate. Benjamin Rondel is in his 30s, has trained and achieved rank in over 19 martial arts, worked in the oil industry in South and Central America and travelled the world as a certified instructor in martial arts and weapons training. He is the national coach of one of the most successful Mixed Martial Arts & SAMBO teams in the Caribbean. These are rediscovering their roots in the unique Trinidadian martial art of stickfighting, or Kalinda, and have been accepted for mentorship by living legends of the art. No Bois Man No Fraid is their story, and the contemporary retelling of what Benji describes as: “This maybe over 2000 year old art, handed down generation by generation to ensure the survival and protection of the village… for me, the greatest living martial artists I have ever met, who understand tactics, strategy, doctrine, improvised weapons, weaponised combat, blades, stick… Trinidad does have its own martial art.” Follow Keegan and Benji as they enter the potentially lethal arena of the Gayelle, which to them, is a ring of liberation, “where I am a human being and I deserve to be alive and anybody in this circle I respect because they understand the value of life.”

A filmmaker daughter connects to her writer father through his words, which transcend his death and help her find a way back to herself.

A filmmaker daughter and her writer father navigate the conflicting issues of their relationship: race and art, adoration and disappointment, success and failure. Until he dies and in her grief, she discovers that his poetry and prose transcend death, allowing her to hear his voice again and find a way back to herself.

The Solitary Alchemist is a moving and intimate portrait of a life in art in the Caribbean.

What happens when talent isn’t enough? When, in spite of a life of work, you look around in the autumn of your life and discover that your world is not what you thought it would be. This is where we meet Trinidadian jeweller, Barbie Jardine. Trained at England’s prestigious Royal College of Art, Jardine moved back to her native Trinidad in 1974 where she developed new techniques in working with traditional and indigenous materials, and evolved a personal narrative style for making wearable works of art. But 30 years on from returning to the Caribbean, and in spite of having her work purchased by a major metropolitan museum, there are nagging questions she just can’t shake: Why isn’t my work more recognised? Have I made a crucial mistake? She is resentful and angry. And she wants something more. An opportunity to create a new piece for an exhibition in Scotland presents itself and Barbie is both nervous and hopeful. Will this be the chance to finally carve out her own space in the world?

Smallman is Richard Mark Rawlins’ personal exploration of the real and imagined worlds that his father, Kenwyn, made, in the workshop beneath their house.

John Ambrose Kenwyn Rawlins was an ordinary man of modest means. He was a good father, grandfather and husband; an obedient public servant. Yet the most vivid part of his life was lived in was a small workshop beneath his house. In there, at the end of his workday, he made things. From simple push toys to elaborate 1/16th scale waterline battle ship models and dockyards, miniature furniture and dolls houses, he painstakingly constructed everything from scratch, sometimes spending upwards of a year on a single model. Smallman is an exploration of the worlds, both real and imagined, that Kenwyn Rawlins made, as told by his son Richard.

Blackmail, murder, adultery and... cross-dressing!

Westwood Park weaves the story of the Dusoleil and Gunn-Munroe families, whose affluent lifestyles and picture-perfect smiles become less than idyllic on closer inspection. The manipulative and power-hungry Herbert dominates the Gunn-Munroe clan, while the conscientious and upstanding Jonathan heads the Dusoleil family. Set in lush and luxurious locations rarely seen in Caribbean dramas, Westwood Park is driven by the universal topics of love, hate, power, lust, greed, corruption, romance, heartbreak and the strive for social justice and consciousness.

Michelle Costa and Ayanna St. Clair move into their new upscale apartment. Their plans are foiled by the arrival of Ayanna’s troubled cousin, Janelle.

1986 Calypso monarch, Young King and road march champion, David Rudder, travels to Bahia in Brazil in search of the ‘Bahia Gyal’ the subject of his winning road march. The programme examines African roots and traditions shared by Brazilians, Trinidadians and Tobagonians and most New World people.

A Story about Wendy Wendy Phillips’ life spirals out of control after the sudden departure of her fiance. Forced to move back in with her parents, Wendy’s Mother and childhood best friend, Giselle are concerned that Wendy is hanging out with a deviant, Sylvia. Wendy hopes that landing a job with Television Presenter Simone Davies, will help get her back on her feet, but Simone has other plans for Wendy. A Story about Wendy 2 Following on from A Story about Wendy (2012), when she was dumped by her fiancé and sought to get her life back together, Wendy Phillips returns in this hilarious second chapter of her adventures. Excited to start work at Quirky TV as Simone Davies’ personal assistant, Wendy proves that she is dedicated and efficient. But when she inadvertently discovers information that reveals what really happened to Simone’s previous assistants, Wendy realises that her life is in danger.

A little girl is drawn to the inside of a chestnut tree where she embarks on a mystical voyage through the imaginarium of Trás-os-Montes. Her curiosity guides the viewer between rituals, geographies and customs specific to each one of Trás-os-Montes’ phases of life, like the baptism in Mizarela or the disquieting rite of passage of the “caretos”. Between fantasy and ethnography, emerges an affecting portrait of a people and their land.

I must apply for the emergency artist relief fund.

An actress and her director make a scene.

They’re part of our everyday lives and even though we can talk to them, they can’t directly converse with us. However, if we could understand them, what stories would they have to tell? We went to the fields to find out what they had to say.

“Sisters” is a short film that shows the inner workings of a frustrated and grieving young music composer. When she tries to finish composing a specific song from her past, she is flooded with memories of a day she’d rather forget – the day she lost her sister.

A hybrid blend of documentary and experimental film, “To Shake and Disturb and Bring Us Back To Ourselves” is a spiritual exploration of connection to one’s ancestors, environment and by extension one another. Guided by voices, the activism for Black liberation becomes increasingly intertwined with aspects of the Spirit.

A budding documentary filmmaker struggles to find the right interviewee for her film school project.

In Martinique, three women survivors of incest are trying to rebuild their lives. Confronted by strong taboos on the island, they dare to speak out to break the silence around these crimes and explore their deep wounds. “Scolopendres et papillons” is an intimate look at the womens’ resilience: Fabienne, association manager, Agnès, artist and Daniely, actress and director. Like butterflies, bruised by ferocious centipede bites, each tries to spread their wings again…

After six people mysteriously die over a five-month period on the Hing King Estate in Las Cuevas, Trinidad, all fingers point to the plantation owner’s wife, Carmelle Dauphin. This supernatural thriller is based on actual events.

In his first film, Horace Ové directs a striking, verité snapshot of writer, James Baldwin, at his sharp-witted best: conversing with civil rights activist, Dick Gregory, as they address a group of radical Caribbean students in 1960s London. The two discuss the Civil Rights Movement and black experience and identity in both Britain and the USA.

“Pick Up The Wind” follows Anthony, a young child from the small, rural town of San Antonio de los Baños, Cuba. We experience the quotidien rituals of his daily life. While Anthony displays contradictory traits of creativity, destruction, rigidity, and tenderness, a story emerges from the multidimensionality of Anthony’s layered personality.

A spoof documentary, made as part of the BBC2 “World About” series, ‘Black Safari’ tells the story of an expedition to deepest, darkest Lancashire (UK), “the black man’s grave”, by a group of black African explorers and anthropologists in an attempt to locate the centre of Britain “whose whereabouts are still to be determined”. Ové narrates the film and appears onscreen as a member of the expedition.

In the 1920s, the golden age of Mexican art, romance brews between the painters and writers Dr. Atl and Nahui Olin. José Vasconcelos has founded the Ministry of Education and called on every intellectual in the country to support his project. President Álvaro Obregón, devoted to intellectuals, allows one of the most important cultural crusades in Mexican history. During this transition stage, in which a liberal atmosphere allows acceptance of homosexuality, divorce and women’s sufferage, love affairs blossom in a whirl of ideas, passions, politics and ideology.

From the visionary Creative Director of The Lost Tribe, LAVWAY is an experimental film based on traditions of Trinidad’s unique Carnival. The film harnesses the energy of the mas and is a rousing ode to the origins and rituals of the festival; awash in mysticism, vibrant colour and pulsating soca music.

For some, this past year has been the hardest of their lives. Stuck indoors, no contact with friends, constant sanitizing with the fear of the virus always present. So many things we take for granted that we normally forget, but we must always remember to ask ourselves the question: What are we thankful for?

Filmmaker Christophe Yanuwana Pierre’s journey to Talwakem (“the one who reflects” in the Wayana language) was a search for his identity. One of the Kali’na people, he grew up on the banks of the Maroni river in French Guiana. From Yalimapo beach, the place of the first meeting between his people and Europeans, to Tumuc Humac, which remains the home of Kaïlawa, a great Wayana warrior, his journey highlights his people’s connection to these lands.

“This Ain’t Normal” follows the lives of gang-involved youth and young adults in the high impact crime neighborhoods of inner city Boston, the youth advocacy street and social workers tasked with helping transform their lives, and the organisations attempting to provide the bridges to opportunity. Told primarily through the point of view of gang involved youth/young adults, entangled in the intractable violence of inner city Boston, the film examines the individual motives behind those perpetrating violence, the culture and circumstances that precipitate these behaviors and the staff of StreetSafe Boston, who are on the frontline, delivering interventions in an effort to prevent violence and ultimately provide opportunities that stabilize the lives of the young men responsible for the majority of the gun violence.

A young domestic worker has to raise money to improve her father’s health, while she is forced to endure all kinds of sexual harassment from her boss’s son.

“Grief”, loosely based on real life experiences, explores a character’s journey to closure.

In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic made its way to Trinidad and Tobago, causing panic and forcing us into isolation. “Going Knowhere” is an experimental record of this time which references the diary I kept and footage collected from my home. It is a study of the effects of isolation on the mind and soul.

Ever wondered what it may feel like for a bipolar patient who is going through a manic episode? “Clash” combines several creative elements in order to explore that reality. The idea itself was born out of the understanding that there is so much stigma around mental health conditions in the West Indies and there ought to be ways in which these conversations can be sparked.

Illegal poaching was once a major threat to the survival of turtles. Today, incidental bycatch by fishermen has taken over as the largest threat to sea turtles globally. Yet the two are more related than we might think. “Caught in the Net” jumps into the heart of Trinidad and Tobago, following the people who protect the endangered turtles—and those who kill them.

Although Suriname’s Civil War (1986-1992) was a modern conflict, it has largely evaded the grasp of filmmakers and storytellers worldwide. And of the Civil War stories that permeate South America’s smallest country, few focus on the everyday Maroon foot-soldiers who fought, tooth-and-nail, against Suriname’s Marxist regime. “Suriname Veteran” captures the transformation that occurred when Romeo donned his red beret and became a Corporal once again.

“Rhythms of Trinidad” is made of a found archive in collaboration with the National Archive of Trinidad and Tobago. It is a study of history through movement and production of space.

The Dadaists embodied absurdity. Absurdity in the context of art exploration has the close ‘pumpkin vine’ cousins humour, ritual, repetition, play, endurance, failure, irony, sarcasm and of course, rebellion and resistance. How long will I be able to brush this patch of hair with its natural curl? How long will it take for me to get its point straight or rather get straight to the point that it (my little Tintin coiff) has a mind of its own and won’t become straight?

Moscow, cold as her gaze. A girl recounts her life and how she grew up around the ideal of being beautiful to be perfect.

The idea for this project came to me when I was criticised for my hair and my overall image – the CFO of the company I used to work for asked: “Aren’t you afraid opportunities will pass you because of the way you look?” At the time my head was wrapped in a turban. I proceeded to let him know how I looked had nothing to do with my work ethic. This behavior wasn’t new to me because I have also been rejected for jobs because of my hair. I’ve always wondered what the true meaning of freedom is.

On her way to meet her dad, a woman reflects on her life. Along the way, the country looks empty to her and, slowly, memories of past lives are coming back to her. Is it real? Or is it only a dream?

A video narrative made in the isolated months of the first London Lockdown, “Flight Path” is a work that interrogates the notion of ‘reaching’ – of attainment and accomplishment – in regards to both the physical act of movement and attempting to advance oneself, and in examination of the concessions and negotiations involved in making advancements towards one’s final destination.

“Errantry” is a multi-channel video installation that centres the polyphonic rhythms of the coastal space, the surrounding Caribbean Sea, and the life sustained by them. Shot on location on the south coast of Jamaica with Fisherman and Painter, Tommy Wong.

“Entre Puerto Rico y Richmond” is a dance film that combines biography, poetry, and ritual with the energy of live performance to bridge stories of resistance and liberation between Puerto Rico and Richmond, VA, USA. The film honours Black women tobacco workers in Richmond and Puerto Rican tobacco factory, readers and activists, Dominga de La Cruz Becerril (1909-1981) and Luisa Capetillo (1879-1922).

“digital love (remix)” is the result of an online collaboration with the musical collective Lovemusic from Strasbourg (France). A neonwave audiovisual poem about love, desire and death bringing together an ambient remix of Daft Punk’s, “Digital Love”, with fragments of William Shakespeare’s erotic poem, “Venus and Adonis”.

This short experimental film explores the visual architecture of the moving image. Using the special case of continuous lateral movement created from filming from a moving train, the film trails and loops across the screen, revealing the passing landscape. Filmed from the passenger compartment of the Berlin Ring-Bahn, the extended vision of the scenery includes surreptitious graffiti, elongated buildings, and a spatially compressed, passing train. The musical accompaniment is constructed from the original audio and created through the manipulation of delay-effect frequencies.

“Back in the Island” explored the creative journey of artist, Amanda Valle, as she returns to her home in the Dominican Republic. Following an emotionally draining period, Amanda seeks comfort in the local culture by immersing herself in the colours and textures that were once so familiar. A journey of self discovery, the film becomes the main source of inspiration for the artist’s new series of paintings.

“an affirmation” shares an experience of receiving gender-affirming care, by way of HRT (hormone replacement therapy). In a world that can be hostile to trans* bodies, life can feel like a survival below the surface. Offering a slower, softer and subtler way of feeling closer to the vision of oneself, the experience of this care is likened to the ability of breathing underwater, where bodies shift and bend in the refraction of light and liquid. It is an experience of making a difference below the surface.

Some memories are password-protected. Others always run without asking. Phantom sound bytes loop around the kitchen table, inside a house, in space.

“Variety” is a documentary about choice, or more accurately, the lack of choice when faced with the reality of having too much choice. The over-abundance of variety in any given consumer product has negative effects on both the consumer and the world at large. Motivated by frustration, filmmaker Ramin Eshraghi-Yazdi attempts to understand variety and find a way to navigate the pitfalls of excessive choice.

Through a group of “classic” cyclists and their common interest in the classic bicycle, “The Soul of a Cyclist” discovers values that are being lost in our modern society, such as the importance of friendship, ecology, valuing the old, minimalism and, other important premises to achieve a happier, simpler and more fulfilled life with what really matters. As in life, in this documentary, bicycles transport us in our discovery, in our reflection.

“Sapelo” journeys within a unique American island to tell the story of its matriarchal griot, Cornelia Walker Bailey, and her adopted sons coming of age in the last remaining enclave of the Saltwater Geechee people.

‘You Can’t Stop Spirit’ centres on the Baby Doll Mardi Gras masking tradition. Mardi Gras is the only day where social rank is abolished and everyone is equal. Against this backdrop, Black women experience a new freedom; one in which they are able to participate in nontraditional behaviors and practices without fear of critique. The Baby Dolls fearlessly pull a thread throughout time to reclaim culture, tradition and freedom while challenging society’s perception of how Black women are to act and exist in the world.

“Wendy Nanan” is a rare glimpse into the life and work of the groundbreaking Trinidadian artist, told in her own words. Sensitive to the artist’s reticence, the film follows Nanan’s creation of the sculptural work, “Breath”, as she recounts key moments in the development of her life and four-decades-plus practice in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

An island’s microcosm shaken by the constant detonations of UXOs is captured in a brief composition of sublime yet forceful sound and image. For over 60 years, the island of Vieques, which is part of Puerto Rico, was used as a bombing range and testing ground by the United States Navy. People have always lived on the island. Years of massive protests and acts of civil disobedience led to the Navy’s departure in 2003. Vieques was constantly in the news and part of the conversation. Now its inhabitants are left to cope with the aftermath of war, the years of cleanup by routinely detonating unexploded munitions in the open air.

“The 1938 Unrest” is based on the labour disturbances which took place in Jamaica in May 1938. These spontaneous labour riots and strikes spread islandwide from the sugarcane fields of Frome, Westmoreland to the wharves at the waterfront of Kingston. The film captures the emotions of the protagonist, an extremely angry and highly frustrated labourer. He is determined to create significant change by advocating on behalf of other workers for the improvement of working conditions, increased wages and the removal of colonial oppression.

Trinidadian actor and performer, Wendell Manwarren, leads a walking tour of Port of Spain from a literary perspective. The city comes alive in new and unexpected ways when viewed through the lens of both classic and new works of Caribbean literature. This film was made as part of the 2021 NGC Bocas Lit Fest.

In 2018 a succession of floods plagues Trinidad and Tobago. “Over-Flow” is a firsthand account by filmmaker Elizabeth Ramjit, of the devastation from overbank floods and flash-floods in T&T. Ramjit interviews activists on a quest for revival who advise that by refraining from littering and enacting recycling, citizens will no longer be deemed instigators of ‘natural’ disasters and environmental anarchy. The documentary explores accountability in T&T, where a lack of environmental regulations and a culture of littering exacerbates natural disasters.

Due to the global pandemic, Trinidad and Tobago had to cancel ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’. In 2021, we had no Carnival, but culture can’t be canceled. Featuring music by Freetown Collective, “Little Moko” follows Adianka’s journey to learn the art of stilt-walking.

Gifted as a teenager, Jérôme “Junior” Simeon was recruited by top Haitian roots music group Racine Mapou de Azor and spent 20 years touring the world. When the lead singer of his band dies unexpectedly, Junior’s high-profile career comes to a shocking halt and he suddenly faces an uncertain future.

Lyrically narrated by award-winning Haitian poet, James Noël, “IntranQu’îllités” interweaves the work of several Haitian artists who want to redefine how their nation is perceived. It portrays the polyphony and energy of the contemporary Haitian art scene, presenting a more nuanced, complex and local perspective than is often heard or seen in mainstream media. “IntranQu’îllités” explores the role of art in society and the timeless importance of creativity.

Born in the Dominican Republic and working in New York City, artist Firelei Báez’s paintings of dramatically shapeshifting figures assert the power of the female form, challenging fundamental ideas around beauty and Caribbean history. Produced by the Peabody Award-winning nonprofit organisation Art21, the film features original dance choreography and follows the prolific Firelei as she creates new paintings in her Bronx studio and travels through the surrounding neighborhood.

60 years ago, the French government decided to establish its space center in Kourou, French Guiana. 600 Guianese people were expropriated to allow France to realise its dream of space conquest. Combining field investigation and archival video-editing processes, “Listen to the Beat of Our Images” gives a voice to an invisibilized and silenced population.

A middle-aged mother of two reflects on her emotional decision to immigrate to the United States some 30 years earlier, in this reflective documentary short that borrows its title from a uniquely powerful poem by the legendary exiled Cuban writer, Lourdes Casal.

“Becky” is an unexpectedly uplifting story about a Kenyan woman’s resilience on her journey to feeling complete.

From the local Surinamese tongue, “A Pasi Fu Romeo” can be translated into either “Romeo’s Road” or “Romeo’s Passion”. In either case, the double meaning is appropriate when describing the passionate road the film’s main subject, Romeo Koffymaga, has taken to become an emerging Maroon voice in the fight against logging transportation practices in Suriname. As the film portrays, Romeo is a man who developed his righteous mentality as a fearless soldier fighting against a leftist military regime during Suriname’s Civil War (1986-1992). Today, Romeo has put down his rifle, but continues to fight using the power of his voice.

“Madame Pipi” follows the lives of Haitian women bathroom attendants working in the nightclubs in Miami. Relatively invisible, underpaid and underappreciated, their stories are a journey of triumph as they navigate their patron’s personalities for tips. Despite the rising cost of living and the uncertainty of COVID-19 shutting down nightlife in Miami, their remittances – earned through tips – coupled with larger contributions from the Haitian diaspora fuel more than one third of the GDP in Haiti.

Women who live in Ciudad Juarez organise safe havens for children in some of the most violent neighborhoods in Mexico. There, Diana, Joseph and Gael seek out the freedom that they once had on the streets, and try to heal the wounds that the violence of organised crime has inflicted on them. “Drawings Against Bullets” is a loving depiction of the search for peace in Mexico.

In a cotton-farming village in Sudan, 15-year-old Nafisa has a crush on Babiker, but her parents have arranged her marriage to Nadir, a young Sudanese businessman living abroad. Nafisa’s grandmother, Al-Sit, the powerful village matriarch, has her own plans for Nafisa’s future. But can Nafisa choose for herself?

In 2009, Lucas Vernier left for Syria accompanied by his camera and the photographs taken by his grandfather when he was a member of the Camel Corps during the French Mandate. As a diligent young filmmaker, he generously records his journey, reconstructs his grandfather’s route and connects to the descendants of his friends. In 2011, Lucas returned to continue his quest as the Bashar al-Assad regime changes from insurgency turns to civil war. The film changes course, and the quest to find a vanished ancestor becomes a race towards what will soon disappear.

“¡La Macha!” introduces Nadia on a stretch of her journey, cycling with her partner Sébastien around the world, trading their art in exchange for their livelihood.

Having lost all because of climate change, three women from different countries and continents, Kenya, India and the Caribbean – have to migrate to start new lives.

In France, the country of Freedom, Equality and Fraternity; in this new Europe without borders, besieged by fear and intolerance, a Polish immigrant will have to face the reality of racism. “Two Options” was written, shot and edited in just five days at an International Filmmakers Laboratory in France.

From the colorful, celebratory sounds of Juju to the politicised urgency of Afrobeat, Nigerian musicians have spearheaded some of Africa’s most prominent musical movements. Oftentimes, their work formed the backdrop against which the nation blossomed. So what happened to these pioneering artists who rose to prominence during the country’s halcyon years, and continued to endure when it faltered? “Elder’s Corner” is a voyage of return and discovery, an epic tale of survival, using music to reconnect the past to the present.

“Wrecked” explores the various stages of grief through a young man’s eyes. Trying to save his car which was recently damaged in an accident, he dives into dealing with a much deeper loss.

What happens when a passenger refuses to wear a mask in a taxi during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Elsie holds Algie captive in the basement of her father’s unfinished church. Elsie administers heavy-handed punishment, juxtaposed with a lesson in Jamaican history while she sews a quilt. She struggles with the notion of forgiveness. Ending his life seems easier. Furthermore, justice may not be served to her satisfaction by the penal system.

To rebuild Haiti, three soldiers put together a plan of crazy audacity.

“What is home to you? In the 2021 NGC Bocas Lit Fest’s “Pavement Poets”, a few of Trinidad and Tobago’s top performance poets share their thoughts on what home and family mean to them. From their virtual pavements to yours!

Two Filmmakers, one actor, 48 hours to make a film. What could possibly go wrong? Follow the journey of two quick-witted filmmakers defying the odds while trying to overcome each challenging situation.

Don Isidoro, better known as “Mano santa” in his hometown, shelters his grandson for a few days after he ran away from his home.

Lovena has become French Guiana’s chess champion – a double-edged sword for a teenaged illegal Haitian immigrant.

Boy meets girl. They fall in love. But will what has brought them together, tear them apart? One love story told by two couples.

An actor seeks answers when he finds his childhood computer, and discovers a video game he started creating when he was 11. In the game, he portrays himself as orange instead of Black.

Lucia, a Venezuelan immigrant, works at Jack’s Guest house, a private brothel in Trinidad. Sam, a frequent client, finds out that Lucia has become pregnant for him. When Sam learns that Jack the pimp will never allow them to keep the baby, he begins to plan their escape – which revolves around a make or break game of All Fours.

While self-quarantined at home, a young man is sent a link to a glitchy supernatural app. He tries to use it as a way to escape lockdown.

Nora, a 15-year-old teenager from Martinique, is forced to follow her mother Laure and her little sister Melissa to the north of the island to live for a while with Henri, her grandfather who is paralyzed from a stroke. They move in with the old man to help him. But very quickly, the atmosphere of the house and the presence of Henri will awaken in Nora childhood memories that will be embodied in the fear of the attack of an evil spirit…

Brian Francis, a well-dressed man with stylish dreadlocks, tries to charm his way into an exclusive, yet mysterious brotherhood called, ‘The Alpha Society’. With impressive charisma and social charm, Brian holds a conversation with the Society’s two leaders over a slice of cheesecake. He is almost sure to have one foot in the door – that is, until he’s faced with two major obstacles – the admission fee and its next-day deadline. Internally hesitant but externally confident, Brian makes the brotherhood a shaky but bold guarantee of meeting their requirements. “Everything’s Cheesecake!” he says, as he now has to figure out how to make this money by tomorrow. But is everything as “cheesecake” as Brian thinks it might be?

Mariano visits the hospital for a prostate exam. China is waiting for the body of her dead husband. They have seen each other in the neighbourhood before. She is craving a shot of rum to forget, and he has been waiting for an opportunity to get closer to her. They spend the afternoon together, and as the night falls, Mariano makes a proposal that lets them imagine a different life.

William is writing a novel, but he is having trouble figuring out how to end it. He looks up and notices a good looking girl walking by. William gazes at her and this introduces a dream sequence. The girl’s name is Elaine. William tells her about the writing problem he is having and she is interested and tells him to follow her, but where?

A woman deep in the throes of psychosis has to face her inner demon.

After feeling threatened by an appliance company delivery man, Carmen’s daily life becomes overrun by conflict and violence when she notices the other beings that inhabit her surroundings.

Following an inappropriate remark towards a woman, a young man finds himself plunged into a parallel world where he faces a series of cat-calls and micro-attacks – the kind usually reserved for women!

Teenage scavengers, Queen and her older brother, Birdie, are on their usual hustle of hunting down cargo drones. However, unbeknownst to Birdie, Queen has navigated the pair onto new paths, with the hopes of landing the ultimate payload, Nano-biotics. Queen’s plans go awry when her home-made honing device accidentally sounds, attracting unwanted attention. The siblings narrowly escape capture but, during the chaos, Birdie is shot in the stomach. With Birdie unconscious and consumed by a high fever, Queen must now attempt to hunt these very Nano-biotics on her own, if she’s to save her brother’s life.

Inspired by true events, “Alma” is the story of a single mother who works as a cock fight trainer and is caught in the throes of an abusive relationship. One morning she goes out for a run, never to return. As someone prays for her, life and death converge through memories.

La Dama’s longing for her lost love is what keeps this once famous and grand actress going. What is life worth without these memories? They are the only place where she can find him everyday. But her butler Sancho, who cares deeply for her, is troubled over this daily ritual and thinks it’s time for change. Will he be able to chase this ghost of the past out of La Dama’s mansion?

Donny, a middle aged struggling and defeated painter returns to Trinidad sponsored by Anya, a young, highly successful former protégé after failing to find success abroad. Donny is offered work by an anonymous client to paint a portrait of Christopher Columbus for a powerful political entity. Against his values and a need for financial independence from Anya, he accepts the job offer only to be paid more than money as Christopher Columbus is reborn from the painting in human form. Hunted by the political entity, Donny and Anya seek refuge remotely only for Anya to be betrayed by her former mentor.

The action film “Batchack Man” is Trinidad’s unique answer to the Bat-Man. The un-caped (but often masked) crusader from the Land of Calypso fights crime and injustice using super powers derived from some form of super-powered batchack, the large ferocious ant found in Trinidad.

When prominent Jamaican sprinter, Jeffrey Jacobs, is brutally murdered, rumours about the secret life he may have lived create public uproar, causing problems for the murder investigation and for Jeffrey’s father, who simply wants justice for his son. Filmed on location with a Jamaican cast, “Right Near the Beach” is an authentic case study of a country that continues to face the consequences of its turbulent past while trying to confront the new realities of sexuality and equality.

In the capital of El Salvador, the drivers of a bus, a taxi, a minibus and a private car confront the ravages of 12 years of civil war that continue to torment the country.

A hurricane threatens the Caribbean. As if driven by its coils, the lives of three strangers become intertwined in the streets of Santo Domingo: Sera Penablanca, a girl from Dominican high society who goes to the slums every night to interact with strangers; Lieutenant Perez, a corrupt policeman who investigates a case in an attempt to repair the broken relationship with his daughter; and Candela, a performer from a poor cabaret seeking justice. The three are united by the mysterious death of Renato Castrate, poet and drug dealer.

A French woman of African descent manages to escape after being arrested in the Dominican Republic. She finds shelter in the most dangerous district of Santo Domingo, where she is taken in by a group of children. By becoming their protégée and maternal figure, she will see her destiny change.

“Akilla’s Escape” weaves the present and past in a crime-noir about the urban child-soldier. Set in Toronto and New York where over 450,000 Jamaicans reside, the story speaks to the historical criminalization of black boys that modern society overlooks. Akilla Brown is forty-years-old and for the first time in his life, the clandestine cannabis grow operation he runs is legit. Only one year into government approved legalization, the pendulum of hypocrisy takes a toll and Akilla decides to cash out. While making a routine delivery on a cool, summer night, destiny takes an unexpected turn when Akilla confronts a firestorm of masked youths in an armed robbery. Upon learning the bandits are affiliated with the Garrison Army, a Jamaican crime syndicate his grandfather founded, Akilla is forced to reckon with a cycle of violence he thought he’d escaped.

A dark comedy, “Perfume de Gardenias” (“Perfume of Gardenias”) tells the story of Isabel, an elderly woman living in a middle-class neighborhood in Puerto Rico. She has just become a widow after having cared for her husband until his last breath. But her recent loss becomes a blessing when she crafts a beautiful, custom-made funeral for him that catches the attention of Toña, a pious but domineering woman who involves herself in local funerals. Toña is the self-appointed leader of a coterie of elderly church ladies, and she enlists Isabel to put her unusual talents to good use and design custom, idiosyncratic funerals for her ailing neighbors. Isabel agrees to perform this strange line of work, and finds renewed purpose in her own life. Along the way, however, Isabel is forced to question her own beliefs, as well as her relationship with both life and death.

Somewhere on a road in Guyana, Solange and her father Paul are hitchhiking. They are trying to reconnect after many years of silence, but the road is difficult.

In the early 20th century, Liborio, a peasant, disappears in a hurricane and returns as a prophet. He says he’s been given a mission: to bring the good and take away the evil, curing the sick and teaching by example. People begin to congregate by his side and they move to the mountains to have total freedom and develop the dream of an independent community. Everything changes when the invading US Marines want to disarm and disband the community. Liborio wants to avoid a confrontation but knows that they can’t run forever.

Because of their Haitian ancestry, Elena and her family have lost their Dominican citizenship. She must negotiate an opaque bureaucracy in a racist, hostile society, or else remain stateless in a country intent on deporting its darker-skinned citizens.

Icaro and Valesca are arrested after being caught selling chocolate bonbons. After being imprisoned for months, they try to get some control over their fates.

Lintho’s life merges with that of his puppets. The puppet of a story he did not write, but of which he was the toy. With grace, he makes his paper characters move to tell of the inhumanity of Haitian jails.

For over a decade, murders, robberies and other violent crimes have soared in Trinidad leading to a massive change in the way that ordinary citizens live their lives. When a shocking daytime shooting happens, television personality Ian Alleyne uses anonymous tips from his audience to track down the suspect. Alleyne’s TV show, “Crime Watch”, is the most watched crime programme in Trinidad & Tobago. The show is also watched throughout the Caribbean and streamed to large audiences worldwide on Facebook and Youtube. With police corruption leading to a distrust among citizens, the public would rather give their information to Alleyne anonymously, who then works with the police to apprehend the suspects – sometimes to his own detriment. With unprecedented access to Alleyne, his crew and studio, a portrait of a complicated man and a troubled nation is revealed in “Party Done”.

What happens when the leading national museum focuses its gaze on the history of slavery and the Netherlands? “Nieuw Licht” is a highly topical documentary about the genesis of the slavery exhibition in the Rijksmuseum. This film shows – up close and personal – how painful and bitter, but at the same time healing and liberating, compiling the exhibition was. In “Nieuw Licht” we can see what it means when a museum reinvents itself.

20 years of making documentary films: the opportunity to have a party, to celebrate a huge career, mine. Pure happiness, that of making films about French West Indies for so many years, and also of realising that it is perhaps time to turn the page. A life of images and sweat. Years of sweating in the West Indies is the summary of my life as a director. Of course, there are the sea and the beaches, but it was not easy. What was it for? Really, what was the point in hindsight? Who got interested? Living mainly in France and filming mainly in Martinique: was it possible to link them? Is it because an island is too small, too limited? So many like me wanted to do it, and so many gave up. 20 years of questions, 20 years of strange answers, 20 years to come up with a new film.

“Born To Be Great” reveals how the lives of 12 young men and women from underserved communities across Jamaica were transformed under the Citizen Security & Justice Programme (CSJP), a social intervention programme carried out between 2000 and 2020.

Having hastily left their Laotian mountains to take refuge in camps in Thailand and flee the communist regime, the Hmong were welcomed in French Guiana by the French state in order to populate and cultivate the lands in the western area of the country. When they arrived on the tarmac at Félix Éboué Airport in Cayenne, French Guiana, in November 1979, a wind of freedom blew over them. Finally, after all these years of waiting, they could live their lives and start building something, far from their homeland in Laos. Now, 40 years later, how have the Hmong fared in their small village in western French Guiana? And how do they see the future?

When dance is life, you’ll do whatever it takes to keep moving. You see dancers on stage, but what goes on when the lights go down and the crowds are gone? Hear their stories, in their own words. “It’s Just A Lil Wine?” gives an unfiltered look into the dance world in Trinidad and Tobago. It explores the boundless passion and perseverance of dancers, as they attempt to navigate the shortcomings of the dance industry and overcome obstacles in pursuit of their passions.

In this award winning documentary, Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser is an unlikely hero on a mission to create live orchestral shows that aren’t just for the rich and fancy. Bartholomew-Poyser is one of the first openly gay black conductors in Canada. The child of a working-class Caribbean single mother, he was raised in Calgary, Alberta and he understands what it is to be an ‘other’. As he struggled with his sexuality, he turned to music for solace, and finally found his voice as a conductor. He believes that the beauty and grace of music can unite and uplift all of us beyond race, class and gender barriers. In “Disruptor Conductor”, we see Bartholomew-Poyser on a mission to break down institutional walls and bring live orchestral music to millennials, people of colour, young people, LGBTQ, prisoners, refugees, students; anyone who identifies as ‘other’.

Three teen ballet students – Raymundo, Angel and Victor – are the only boys in a class of twenty. In a country where dance is mostly considered an activity for women, they are determined to follow their dreams and challenge traditional gender roles. Like a waltz, music played in triple time, the three boys move through Santo Domingo while confronting, and sometimes abiding by, the Dominican machismo culture.

In the midst of the Cold War, ten young promising musicians from Mali were sent to Cuba to study music and strengthen cultural links between the two socialist countries. Combining Malian and Afro-Cuban influences, they developed a revolutionary new sound and became the iconic ensemble, ‘Las Maravillas de Mali’. New Year’s Eve 2000: Richard Minier, a French music producer meets a former member of the band in Bamako and decides to bring the band back together.

I was about seven years old the first time someone called me “black” on the street. I turned around to see who they were talking to, then I realised it was me. That day I understood I was black, and the laughter it caused among the people nearby made me think being a black person wasn’t that great. Was this only happening to me? Or did it happen to other black women? “Negra” explores what it means to inhabit Mexico as a black woman. It tells the story of five afro-descendant women from southern Mexico, exposing racism, resistance and processes of self-acceptance, strategies for transcending stereotypes, and the celebration of their identity.

Retired from the world and living in the foothills of the Vauclin mountain (Martinique), Monchoachi writes every afternoon after his morning walk in forests of the island. Poet (he says that one should pronounce this word while trembling), philosopher and essayist, he tries to build a thought that he claims to be wild. A thought detached from the occident, therefore eminently free. Many have drawn from his work a strength of resistance, creation and survival in the face of the violence of contemporary society. A journey with Monchoachi is a way to find echoes of our inquiries about our place in the world, in relation to Nature, the Word and the Sacred.

In the climate of change in today’s Cuba, three forgotten veterans of the Angolan War are reluctant to abandon the revolutionary spirit which brought them together as comrades. Marching to the top of the mountains, they continue to train, dressed in their old uniforms, just as they did over thirty years ago. Day after day, they take part in this ritual, as they attempt to return to a time when they felt young, strong and respected. They are the last Samurai of the Cuban Revolution.

A doctor mistaken for a thief. A cleaning lady treated as a slave. A mother who lost her son was murdered by the police. A trans employee who is never promoted. What do they have in common? The colour of their skin. “Dentro da Minha Pele” (“In My Skin”) is an exploration of Brazil’s deep-rooted racism.

Camilo is the adopted son of an indigenous couple of the Quillasinga tribe in the southwest of Colombia. He is the only black person in his community and has always felt different. For years he has wondered who his biological parents are. He leaves school due to racism and bullying. The indigenous governor takes him under his wing and gives him Ayahuasca, a sacred remedy for spiritual guidance. During this transcendent experience, Camilo has visions of his biological mother, after which he decides to embark on a journey in search of his origins. For the first time in his life, Camilo discovers his afro heritage and meets the black community.

Filmmaker Selwyn de Wind is on a journey to find out all that he can about Rudy Plaate, Curaçao’s most popular singer/ songwriter of all time. But what happens when the subject suffers from dementia and is no longer able to retell his own story? Filmed over a four-year period, the documentary traces the highs and lows of the life and work of music legend Rudy Plaate. Extensive archival footage is combined with reflective interviews from family, friends and other artists. “Atardi” is a music-driven documentary that taps into the styles and heritage of Curaçao’s musical evolution, and illustrates how Plaate helped build the foundation with his unique sounds and melodies while living an interesting life.

Known as the ‘Negro Moses’, Marcus Mosiah Garvey arrived on the scene on August 17, 1887 in the tiny seaside town of St. Ann’s Bay on the northern coast of Jamaica, fifty-three years after slavery was abolished in that country. In his short life he would become the world’s foremost Pan-Africanist and, in some eyes, the greatest civil-rights leader of the twentieth century. He dedicated his life to the project of redeeming Africa, which he saw as the home to civilization. In “African Redemption: The Life and Legacy of Marcus Garvey” award-winning director, Roy T. Anderson, peels back all the layers in his presentation of this often misunderstood and controversial figure. Filmed in Jamaica, Ghana, Canada, the United States, United Kingdom, and Central America over the course of three years, the film features interviews and conversations with world-renowned leaders, scholars, and personalities, as well as present-day followers of Marcus Garvey’s teachings, such as the group known as Rastafari, perhaps the most ardent disciples of this iconic figure.

“SteelPan Now! Notes on Where Pan Gone” peers into the current world of the steelpan – its players, its innovators, and the music that reverberates from this versatile instrument – to find answers to the question that many in Trinidad often ask, “Where pan gone?” The documentary follows several steelpan pioneers, inventors, players, composers, arrangers, and pan makers across several cities in the United States to present both a musical experience and historical document that reveals the personal stories of these practitioners, sharing the determination, skill, and virtuosity of the pannist wherever the instrument is found.

The journey of a group of Cuban migrants stalls in Panama City. Stranded in a Caritas camp, the memory of the difficult passage through the Darien Jungle comes to life on their cell phones.

A small raft crosses the Suchiate River between Guatemala and Mexico, ferrying migrants onward on their journey. A smuggler yells at a mother to quiet her crying baby. For one of the men on the boat, a young Cuban baseball player, this isn’t the dream he imagined. Ten months earlier, in a quiet corner of San José, Costa Rica, three Cuban baseball players train: Happy, Carlos, and Victor. Here at the rundown Estadio Antonio Escarre, they have spent the past year training long and hard, thousands of miles away from their families in Cuba. They left with dreams of signing multi-million dollar contracts and becoming famous baseball superstars. But as the months advance with no Major League Baseball (MLB) offers on the table for Happy, his Cuban American agent, Gus Dominguez, no longer feels like he can afford the expense of supporting him. Happy may be cut and must decide whether to stay in Costa Rica or join other migrants and take the perilous trip north to the US by land. For Carlos and Victor, two elite pitchers, the future is equally uncertain. As mistrust grows between the players and Gus, the Houston Astros dangle a tantalising offer but Gus holds out for more money, setting up a series of tense final showcases. Set against the backdrop of the dangerous Central American migrant trail, “The Last Out” offers a rare window into the dark side of professional sports.

“Subjects of Desire” explores the cultural shift in North American beauty standards towards embracing Black female aesthetics, and features – while exposing – the deliberate and often dangerous portrayals of Black women in the media. Told from the POV of women who aren’t afraid to challenge conventional beauty standards, the film is partially set at the 50th Anniversary of the Miss Black America Pageant, a beauty pageant that was created as a political protest. “Subjects of Desire” deconstructs what we understand about race and the power behind beauty.

3 years after the devastating hurricane, Dominica looks refreshed, and in some places, better than before, surprising many with the speed of nature’s recovery and the resilience of its people.

Anita Chandradath Singh, through an engaging narrative and sensitive visualization, traces the history, sociology, religions, cultural practices and traditions of the people of Indian decent in Trinidad and Tobago. The documentary establishes the lasting legacy, vibrant even today, of the shiploads of Indian indentured workers, brought to the islands during British colonial rule. Their toil and hard work saved a failing sugar cane industry. ‘Yatra: The Journey of the Indian Presence in Trinidad and Tobago’ was created in 1995 to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of Indian Arrival Day. Indian Arrival Day is a national holiday and falls on May 30th, each year. This is a compilation of the 25 part documentary series.

After Mas (20′) Directed by Karen Martinez and shot in Trinidad in February 2013 during Carnival, we experience the charge of this bacchanalian drama before following the characters return to their separate lives. In the cold light of day, can these young lovers from very different backgrounds stay true to their desires? Dying Swan (10′) After ten years, internationally acclaimed mas artist, Peter Minshall, reinterprets Mikhail Fokine’s classic ballet The Dying Swan for a ‘Moko Jumbie’ (a stilt dancer) in drag. Directed by Christopher Laird, this film chronicles the assemblage and performance of this mas at the King of Carnival competition in February 2016. Paradise Lost (34′) Carnival artist Peter Minshall tells the story of the design and construction of Paradise Lost, his first masquerade band for the Trinidad and Tobago carnival in 1976. Directed by Christopher Laird,‘Paradise Lost’ documents Peter Minshall’s recollection of the first band he ever designed under Stephen Lee Heung. The veteran producer of masquerade bands for Trinidad Carnival, Stephen Lee Heung, invited Peter Minshall to design his presentation for 1976 Carnival in Trinidad.

New Media comprises avant garde and experimental film and video works from artists and filmmakers in the Caribbean and diaspora. The physical iteration of the new media works, curated by Melanie Archer, will take place at Medulla Art Gallery, 09–15 September, giving viewers the chance to better engage with the works. All health and social distancing protocols will be in effect, with only five attendees at a time being allowed into the viewing space. Please wear masks as directed. Alternative Facts Centella (Firefly) Displaced El Dúo de las Hermanas Gato (The Cat Sister’s Duet) Goodbye to the Things (Adeus às Coisas) Hijo del Mar (Son of the Sea) Howler Monkey Sex Noises at Lunchtime How to Break a Horizon: A Memory as Retold by the Sum of its Residue I am Sugar I Cried so Much I Felt the Universe Pass Through my Eyes Island State of Mine Looking for ‘Looking for Langston’ Murciélago (Bat) Palindrome Shade Silent Truths The Whole World is Turning Untitled Wake Up

Leo is a rebellious but very intelligent child who makes life impossible for Professor Cruz and his schoolmates. Despite his behavior, Leo’s talent distinguishes him from other students, and Leo’s mom has high expectations that her son will go far with that talent. But Leo doesn’t want to listen to Professor Cruz, who tries to teach him to read classic novels, as he believes that through reading, his students can aspire to a better future. Professor Cruz falls into depression when his wife flees with the school’s PE coach. Leo, pitiful of his master, visits him at home. It is now the student who forces the teacher to go to school.

A young homeless couple living on the shores of the Mississippi River during spring, summer, fall and winter in Saint Paul, Minnesota become part of the cycle of the life and death of nature around them.

A painter who lacks inspiration, Moussa cannot understand her neighbour from across the street. In the day she appears to him veiled, and in the night she reveals herself completely. But she may well be his new muse.

Femi is a British boy of Nigerian heritage who, after a happy childhood in rural Lincolnshire, moves to inner London to live with his mum. Struggling with the unfamiliar culture and values of his new environment, teenage Femi has to figure out which path to adulthood he wants to take in this tender coming-of-age story.

In today’s Ecuador, the black population, the descendants of slaves, continue to experience strong social discrimination. Yet people in the community still strive to value their specific culture and transmit the rebellious memory of their ancestors who fought for freedom. On arriving in Esmeraldas in Ecuador, Patrice Raynal finds himself immersed in the tumult of a carnival. The music and dancing – part of this culture, but a more ambi­guous phenomena than first appears – provide the through-line for his first-person narrative.

“One Word” is a documentary about the impacts of climate change on the Republic of the Marshall Islands and its people. Most parts of the Marshall Islands are less than 5.9 feet above sea level. Forecasts predict the uninhabitability of the country by 2050. The movie was developed and filmed with the inclusion of Marshallese people through film workshops run over a period of nine months. The filmmakers trusted the Marshallese to be the only reliable experts on the story of their land.

Thirteen-year-old Santosh sells flowers for a living, helping to support his family. He lives with his uncle in Mumbai, the ‘City of Dreams’, but his life is one of deprivation, a daily struggle for survival. As a result, he seeks solace in a world of fantasy where all of his adolescent needs—physical, mental and sexual—are satisfied. A unique and troubling story unfolds as a consequence of this world of fantasy and imagination.

On September 23, 1994, an American journalist named Tom Hargrove was kidnapped outside his home in Cali, Colombia by armed men in ski masks. His wife Susan and two adult sons Miles and Geddie had no choice but to take matters into their own hands and negotiate directly for his release. As a coping mechanism, Tom’s eldest son Miles began a video diary capturing the negotiations, creating home video for his father in the hope that he would return. Twenty five years later he revisits the footage as a celebration of the people who came together to help his family.

Jacinta and her granddaughter Indira are Bolivian migrants. During the spring they work collecting flowers on the bank of the river, which they then sell in the Magdalena town cemetery. Their daily tasks are hampered by the racial problems that still exist in Argentina in relation to the ancestral cultures of Latin America.

A short handcrafted 16mm documentary about the fight against one of Colombia’s biggest open-sky gold mine projects. A black and white ballad sounding through the green mountains of Tolima in the Colombian Andes, talking to Cajamarca’s valley inhabitants. On the surface are green fertile lands and peaceful agriculture, but hidden underground are invisible fields of gold coveted by a multinational company which could reshape this whole world. Sometimes with just their voices, sometimes allowing their faces to be shown, Cajamarca’s workers reveal different aspects of their lives and the threat they face from the open-sky gold mine project.

Five years after his first documentary, award-winning producer/director Torsten Hoffmann revisits Bitcoin and sets out to explore the evolution of the blockchain industry and its new promise, meeting with the big brains and big egos behind this controversial industry. Can this technology, designed to operate independent of trust and within a decentralized network, really provide a robust alternative to the Internet as we know it?

“Because We Are Girls” is the story of a conservative South Asian family in small-town British Columbia who must come to terms with a devastating secret: Three sisters were sexually abused by a cousin over a period of almost two and a half decades, beginning in their early childhood. The sisters had planned to keep the abuse secret forever, but when they begin to suspect their cousin of abusing other family members, they courageously decide to come forward and pursue justice through the police and the courts.

A young boy dreams of being a cricketer but, like almost everyone else, ends up having an ordinary job. Nevertheless, his passion never dies and he lives his dream every day for the rest of his life.

Set in Trinidad during the lockdown imposed by the government to prevent the spread of COVID-19, “Waiting In Strange Times” explores space and time during a period of boredom, uncertainty, confusion and fear.

Velare is a special girl: she is invisible to the people who love her. As she starts a new relationship, she is afraid that the boy will fall in love and thus lose sight of her. She decides to do everything she can to delay his love, but the inevitable happens. She remains optimistic about continuing the relationship, but what awaits her ahead?

When a student who is constantly bullied reaches his breaking point, he decides that something needs to be done to get back at his bullies and embarks on a plan that puts him on a path of darkness.

After his mother leaves him home alone, Cameron can explore his true self and his interest in femininity. Although young, he is aware of society’s expectations for boys and must face his own insecurities. Dealing with gender expression, queerness and innocence, “Unconditional” explores the defining moment in a mother and son’s relationship.

In a not-too-distant future, Alice must survive a chase to the death on a post-apocalyptic island formerly called Martinique.

The Patron Saint’s Festival is the most important celebration of the year. Esther knows it and wants to attend but her husband Esteban doesn’t. The past reemerges for this elderly couple who must decide whether to attend a celebration which will allow them to recapture something in their relationship for the last time.

A confident young man meets with unforeseen complications at a job interview where things are not quite what they seem.

A young woman is thrown back into the past when her fiancé finds a message written on a ten rupee note.

Amina is a gothic teenager who’s failing at school. An unexpected discovery gives her the chance to change all of her grades to A+ by solving four puzzles. Amina decides to take up the challenge, but will she succeed?

Widespread injury and abuse of migrant workers led Human Rights Watch to dub slaughterhouse work “the most dangerous factory job in America.” In the last year, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted the largest raids in modern history at slaughterhouses, arresting and deporting undocumented workers. Despite the danger to herself and her family, former slaughterhouse worker Susana returns to the scene at night to care for animals on their way to the kill floor.

Michel’s life is a dream, but for this dream to continue he must regularly update his wristband. One day the device stops working and he realises that his entire life has been an illusion. Now he’s ready to do anything to return to his dreamworld.

Sela is a young woman who has always had the support and love of her father, but when she starts exploring her sexuality, secrets come to light that may endanger their relationship.

Casseus is a young Haitian man who decides to enroll in a ballet academy in order to accomplish his dream of being a dancer, but his job as a bodega delivery guy in the Dominican Republic gets in the way of his goal.

Vivi, a young inhabitant of a fishing village, takes a trip by road and sea with her friend Vale to get to an island where, according to the stories of her dead mother, the mermaids live.

A young woman and her dying father struggle to survive on a devastated island destroyed by poisonous seaweed that they are now forced to collect for an evil mega-corporation called Sunryse.

“Man here can take two weeks. When you have a whole month, they’re already gone ”. In a wooden shed on the east side of São Paulo, 16 women work at Cooperativa Filadelphia, which has been working for a decade sorting recyclable material. The women’s hands quickly separate the products, collected by the cooperative members in the city of São Paulo and received through a partnership with the City Hall. As they work, one issue inevitably comes up: why don’t men last as workers at the cooperative?

A series of characters experience the joy of performance, demonstrating that it is better to live than to dream.

In Sierra Maestra, Cuba, José Manuel shares his vision of the world with his granddaughter Malena through his deep knowledge of nature’s mysteries. Plants and people have great similarities and must respect each other. José Manuel hopes that Malena will inherit the knowledge that he obtained from his father and will become a great mountain tree.

With 50 per cent of the Caribbean’s coral reefs already lost, young diver Katie Leeper is putting all her energy and effort into rebuilding the coral reefs of Curaçao. Following this determined environmentalist, “Diving for Balance” is the story of Leeper and the Coral Restoration Foundation Curaçao (CRFC), a non-profit organisation working on restoring the country’s shallow-water coral reefs through a process of growing baby corals and replanting them in the sea. An inspiring portrait of people devoting their lives to saving the dying reefs.

Two high school students are faced with life-changing choices as they try to navigate their love and the difficult circumstances that surround them. Tackling the contemporary issues of teenage pregnancy, abortion, suicide and illegal drugs, “Choosing Destiny” follows young people at a crossroads in their lives.

In the bowels of the Recife mangrove is Ilha de Deus (God’s Island). There, José Joaquim Francisco Filho, known as “Mosquito”, the oldest sururu (mussel) fisherman of the region, battles on. In the Capibaribe river, one of the most polluted in Brazil, Mosquito fights for the survival and future of his grandchildren.

In this documentary short, filmmaker Nayibe Tavares-Abel sets out to make a film based on her great grandmother’s diary entries written in 1918. Incorporating stop motion animation and a silent film shot in 16mm, the filmmaker begins with the aim of poking fun at her great grandmother’s jealousy and conceit, but ends up revealing much about herself in the process.

Gauri and Amal are about to celebrate their first wedding anniversary in their little home in North Calcutta. While Gauri wishes to find her husband a special gift, this isn’t quite as simple as it seems. A portrait of a young couple navigating their socio-economic struggles to make their first anniversary special.

Tired of their precarious social environment, Lucas and Alex decide to change their lives. After a catastrophic and deadly robbery, they run away in opposite directions. Lucas has to deal with his guilt while Alex takes care of getting the money.

A womanising absentee father is hunted by La Diablesse, a powerful shape-shifting Caribbean spirit, who demands his soul in exchange for his son’s freedom.

New Year’s Eve, 2019, Martinique. Like every year at this time, Alex and Samuel share a moment with family and friends. As every year, laughter flies to the rhythm of the champagne bottles opening but between teasing and good-natured play, who will still be at the table to hear the twelve strokes of midnight?

Set in the Jamaican countryside, a young child named Nicole waits for her sister, Yellow Girl, to teach her how to swim. Like the water, Nicole does not resist; she flows, and nothing can stand in her way. Circumstances escalate when Yellow Girl breaks her promise and Nicole realizes that she is next in line for a lifestyle of sexual abuse. Nicole is forced to decide how far she will go in order to protect herself and her sister.

Grandmothers are the protectors of a child’s imagination; they ward off evil spirits and have a remedy for any illness. In “Waters of March”, illness and grief transform a young boy’s life as he grapples with the loss of his grandmother in this exploration of grief and how it affects a family.

While being chased, Chris discovers a baby on his stair landing who seems to be intended for him. Doubtful of his paternity, he sets out to find the mother of the child.

A day in the life of a family of three in contemporary Haiti. Child, adolescent, man – each with his dreams and frustrations and each finding a way to live. A day like every other day and everywhere, in every hand, there is a machete. So what will happen when night falls and dreams and frustrations collide?

Five young people think about making the decision to have sex, while access to sex education is limited or skewed. A film about the challenges youth experience when they begin exploring and expressing their sexuality; experimenting and sometimes making risky sexual decisions.

Carolina writes a letter in which she explains how her world was transformed forever. As a refugee she boarded an overloaded boat with people in search of a better life. They experienced trauma at sea, but the real nightmare started in the place of possibilities. The story of Venezuelan refugees who must resort to prostitution in order to survive and provide for their families.

Created during quarantine, an animated short about what happens when social distancing goes wrong.

Your paranoia is someone else’s reality. A loved one leaves the house, insisting that they will be home at a certain time. The time passes and fear grows as they don’t return. In times like this, it’s not far-fetched to think the worst, but the voice in your head keeps going back and forth. Is something wrong, or are you being paranoid?

“Pure Service” is a humorous glimpse into the minds of two characters on opposite sides of the service counter. What happens when the manager isn’t available and the customer doesn’t have their receipt? Sometimes the solution is right in front of you.

Eleven-year-old Dwayne wants to avenge his older brother who was killed by an enemy gang.

The story of a man who is persuaded to avenge his daughter who was hit by a car.

Patrice, a black actor in his forties, powdered and dressed as a 19th century courtesan, comes to the audition organised by the powerful casting director Selena Meyer. Assisted by Betty, she is looking for the female lead for a new cinematographic adaptation of “Camille – the Lady of the Camellias”. Among the young and pretty contenders, Patrice will have a hard time legitimizing his presence.

During her husband’s funeral, 70-year-old Maritere receives an unexpected visit from Angela, whose presence re-awakens feelings from the past. Maritere must decide whether to continue her life as a widow or give herself the chance to feel love again.

When Marc brings home an intelligent home management system called Kara for his fiancee, Cindy is unnerved by her increasingly intrusive presence and becomes convinced the device is spying on them. Kara begins to frighten Cindy while Marc is out at work, but he thinks she’s imagining it.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria, a troubled boy is sent to Connecticut from the Virgin Islands to temporarily stay with his paternal aunt. In hopes of seeing his deadbeat father after broken promises, he ventures out into an unfamiliar city to find him.

Newly-married Aria Sawyer is a charismatic and attractive young woman who is after one thing – a seat in Parliament – and she gets it. However, the sweet taste of victory quickly grows sour when her power-hungry husband, Dimitri, finds out about her on-and-off affair with Janelle Rose, a spunky female journalist. He offers a trade: his silence for her seat in Parliament.

The bubble of Asha’s privilege is popped when she sees the dead body of a street cleaner while out with her driver, GT. To Asha the body represents a side of Jamaica that she has, up until that point, only seen on the news. She sees a part of GT in that body and maybe even a part of herself. From this point on Asha’s world seems tainted, and she is thrust into deep introspection.

Set on a French Caribbean island threatened by Hurricane Irma in 2017, in the calm before the storm, a little girl is excited to meet the mysterious Irma everyone is talking about.

The peaceful life of Georges, an introverted Guyanese teenager, becomes complicated when he falls in love with Gisèle, a dreamy girl who hopes more than anything to see Paris.

When the ghost of a far removed Jamaican past shows up at her humble Brooklyn apartment, 60-year-old Esmerelda, a kindly illegal immigrant who works as a home health aide, is dumbfounded. The proverbial ghost, her estranged ex-husband, has flown from Jamaica, eager to find her, and bears news of their terminally ill son; the child he denied her when she was forced to flee Jamaica some 30 years prior. The son’s dying wish is to meet the mother he’s never known. But Esmerelda is torn; America is home. If she leaves, there is no going back, but she has long yearned to be reunited with her only child, and going back now is her only chance.

Marcy is having a relaxing day at the beach when a nationwide catastrophe occurs in this sci-fi horror short set in South Trinidad.

Chad is a pretentious white Jamaican film director. With his ragtag Caribbean cast and crew, he aims to shoot a highbrow social drama called “Brothers in Babylon” in this comedy mockumentary about filmmaking, culture and privilege.

Ten years in the making and filmed in Trinidad and Tobago with a team of home-grown professionals, “Mightier dan de Sun” is the story of an Indian couple with nothing to lose. In combination with mental illness and supernatural forces, alcohol becomes a catalyst for unfortunate events.

Demba is an African who has fled an oppressive regime in his own country and is seeking asylum in Paris. One night he encounters Lucien, a policeman from the Caribbean, who speaks to him in the voice of the dominant class. But in his country Demba is a professor of History and Geography while Lucien left school early to help his mother, a cleaning lady. “YAFA Le Pardon” explores the social and economic dynamics at work in their relationship as they seek to understand each other, aided by Welcome, a Baule Komian who does not hesitate to officiate as the parties meet on the Quai de l’Oise, in the centre of Paris.

Candido and Braulio are twin brothers growing up near the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. While Candido stays home secluded due to his albinism, Braulio helps his grandfather sell coal in the market. Their life takes a turn for the worst after the unexpected death of their grandfather. Now Braulio will need to look after his brother while attempting to make ends meet in the border town market. All the while, Candido dreams of the eventual return of their absent father.

Shot through the eyes of Felipe, a tortured film director trying in vain to create the authentic portrayal of love that his grandfather so easily captured in his amateur films of decades prior, his lens follows Edel and May, actors playing the characters Alejandro and Rita, strangers with different motives looking for the same girl. Their search meanders through a chaotic Havana that gets them simultaneously nowhere and entangled. Likewise, Felipe’s film meanders from scene to scene lacking a coherent thread and conclusion and leaving him unsatisfied. He is incapable of capturing the compassion in his takes that his grandfather did until he realizes that – unlike himself – his grandfather had the capacity for love. With his new-found awareness, he sets his characters free from their hopeless search.

Paul is a young Caribbean man living in London. While being a brilliant financial executive in the City, he gradually self-destructs by rejecting his roots and his family and trampling on his wife and daughter. Everyone suspects that a terrible family drama is the cause of this change of behavior. However, Paul can only break out of his silence by facing his past and its hidden secrets.

A man with a briefcase is more dangerous than a man with a gun. Two struggling private detectives hired to find a briefcase instead find themselves running for their lives. Now they must find the businessman who set them up and thwart his plans to set up a human trafficking ring in Trinidad.

As the Spirit of Death roams around looking for its next victim, a young couple out celebrating their anniversary is viciously attacked, leaving the man severely injured. As he slowly fades away from the physical realm, it is revealed to him why he must fight to stay alive.

An animated film built on fragments. Each frame is a composite fragment using hand-drawn illustrations that are typically minimal and void of color, echoing the way memory can be ever shifting. The narrative is non-linear and focuses on themes of absence, short-term memory, traumatic memory and the quirks/tropes of memory that permeate childhood. They are representations of the everyday that expose the extraordinary nature of the quotidian by reflecting the incoherent intrusions, recollections and imaginary representations of truth (memory).

A group of lovers is visited by a familiar guest. They remark on how this guest has turned, how they have turned and how the whole world keeps turning. How will they receive this turn of events?

Two sisters struggle to play without fighting.

On a remote beach in the Caribbean, a fisherman, trapped in the monotony of his daily life, wakes up to the call of Yemayá, the goddess of the sea.

An experimental look at the effects of colonialism, shot on Super 8 and digital film. Showing the contrasts between old and new, it uses contemporary dance movements to express the psychological effects of colonialism, specifically within the Caribbean.

Trees as the spirit of our ancestors; talking stink about us.

An experiment based on time manipulation and what it does in film. The filmmaker takes the first half and flips it to the end so that watched backwards or forwards the same film would be played.

A performative video work in search of Isaac Julien’s “Looking for Langston” (1989). A captain dreams of setting sail, in search of a mysterious, intangible, comforting vision that rests at the edge of the horizon. An exploration of desire and distance, pleasure and disappointment, secrets and surprise, “Looking for ‘Looking for Langston’” is a cruise of poetic correspondence, queering sailors and transgressing horizons.

This idea of “paradise” is sometimes the furthest from the truth. We are constantly trying to keep our heads above water and stay afloat, presenting idyllic faces to the world all the while struggling with the global realities of climate change, refugee crises, and Belt and Road Initiatives.

A collection of phrases from 2013–2016 that talk about blackness, failure, hopelessness, and death; thoughts about water and how it gives life and takes life.

A redactive moving image poem created from bubbling sugar, that takes as its starting point Stuart Hall’s analogy of the contested history of the Atlantic Slave trade, its consequences (colonialism), sugar and English identity. Hall writes: “I am the sugar at the bottom of the English cup of tea. I am the sweet tooth, the sugar plantations that rotted generations of English children’s teeth.” Hall speaks not only as a Jamaican descendant of enslaved Africans transported to the British colonies but as all diasporic Africans whose legacy is rooted/routed in the transpontine consequence of sugar manufacture, thereby establishing a position of power and right to be/exist – in defiance of Otherness.

An experiment in visual and auditory cacophony which dives deep into trauma and personal healing and coming to terms with one’s inner demons. Inspired by traditions of masquerade and the carnivalesque as spaces of healing.

“How to Break a Horizon: A Memory as Retold by the Sum of its Residue” is part of a sculptural installation that considers the future of the queer Caribbean diaspora in the face of impending ecological and social collapse. The installation in its entirety can be viewed at https://kearramaya.com/how-to-break-a-horizon.

A short musical film in a spiral rhythm, featuring objects found on the “shopping floor” of Glória, and in the antiques fair in Praça XV, in Rio de Janeiro. A still life of a certain material production from different eras.

In Cuba the flight of fireflies, in the night, is said to be like a meeting of miniature spectres, weakened fires or wandering souls. Isabel invokes them and triggers the dance.

More than 80 years ago Franco pushed half of my family out of Spain. They found refuge in Venezuela. Now I belong to the Venezuelan diaspora: an immigrant; descendant of immigrants. This is my lament. My attempt at understanding. Absurd historic recurrence.

A sensory essay told through body and sound. A composition made from the trance and the vibration of macroscopic figures seen at a millimetric distance from the skin of eight people in Cuba. Inside a black hole, rapid movements fill the void. Macroscopic corporal landscapes follow one after the other to percussion in crescendo. White skin pulsates serenely and black skin wiggles, showing a face. Bright discharges explode in the air. In a slow, swaying trance, a shining eyelid reveals and then hides a liquid eye. The swelling and contracting skin of an abdomen makes deep sounds to an unrelenting beat.

A reflection on the phrase “Alternative Facts” used during a press conference on January 22, 2017.

In this inspiring documentary, a New York City doorman wears many hats—father, art curator, and violinist—as he works tirelessly to give back to his community in Haiti.

In this revealing short documentary, 11 people from a range of backgrounds discuss what it’s like being of mixed racial heritage within the context of North America. Each presents their unique outlook on growing up mixed and the challenges they’ve faced living in a racially divided world.

Moved by the need to support their families, a group of Dominican women embark on an uncertain and dangerous journey on a “yola” to Puerto Rico. Far from being a dream country, they face the worst abuse and discrimination. However, they are strong and stubborn women, who keep fighting for a better life.

Jamaican amputee Laron Williamson takes up rowing with the aim of competing in the Paralympic Games. When he learns that the nature of his amputation means that he doesn’t qualify his choices are to give up rowing or compete against able-bodied rowers. “Unbroken” is the inspiring story of how Williamson defies the odds to qualify for the Jamaican Olympic Rowing Team.

The Spiritual Baptists of Trinidad have a common saying – “Those who have eyes to see, shall see”. It refers to their ability to see and access both the physical and spiritual realms. This film explores this way of seeing by comparing the physical, spiritual and ethnographic eye.

In the heart of a Caribbean island, images, words and sounds create a rural symphony. When the long expected progress comes, it offers more questions than answers.

An exploration of the life of a black male ballet dancer, “The Onyx Butterfly” follows Jordan as he grapples with the pressures of being a black male in a traditionally white feminine landscape, while also struggling against the gender expectations placed upon black men. Incorporating dance performance, the film explores the psychological impact of stereotypes on a black male attempting to redefine black masculinity.

In 2019, I Am One (a Trinidad and Tobago gender and LGBTQI organisation) hosted its first International King Conference and Show, with participants from the Caribbean, South America and the African continent. This documentary is a record of a conference and show celebrating the diversity of trans men and masculine-presenting lesbian, bisexual and queer women.

A follow-up to Roudette’s 2018 documentary about a groundbreaking prison rehabilitation project in St Vincent and the Grenadines, showing the power of nature to transform lives.

Montreal’s Haitian community now makes up the largest non-European ethnic group in Canada and the increasing influence of Haitian Canadians on Montreal’s creative culture is undeniable. The first film about the vibrant Haitian culture of Montreal, “Sonje Lapli Ke Leve Mayi Ou” follows the path of three first-generation immigrants through their experience of music, food and culture. A personal story about the strong Haitian community making its mark in Montreal.

Two NGOs, IAMOVEMENT and Sustrust, partner in the attempt to rehabilitate five acres of National Quarries’ Sand and Gravel division in Sangre Grande, Trinidad & Tobago.

“Plastic Warriors” is a profile of Kristal Ambrose, a young Bahamian environmental scientist also known as “Kristal Ocean”, following her fight to battle plastic pollution in The Bahamas. The film aims to raise awareness of the need to protect the Bahamas from the effects of pollution through this portrait of the woman who sparked a plastic pollution revolution in her native country.

“Perry Henzell: A Filmmaker’s Odyssey” tells the inspiring story of the re-discovery and completion of “No Place Like Home” – the late great Perry Henzell’s follow-up to his Jamaican classic “The Harder They Come” – tracing the long journey it took to bring the film to the big screen. “No Place Like Home” is also being screened at ttff/20.

The locals in Punta Gorda, a small remote town in Southern Belize, remember a time without electricity, roads and plastics. Amidst the influx of single-use plastics, an activist and his neighbours confront the threat to their piece of paradise.

In Fondes Amandes, St Anns, on the outskirts of the capital in Trinidad and Tobago, diverse members of the community come together to work at reforesting their watershed and bringing back its biodiversity. But they must also get creative to address the underlying issues fueling the persistent threat of forest fires. Taking us on this journey into their community and into nature, through the issues and their work, they make a case for why they do what they do, and what’s at stake if we do nothing. We hear the traditional Carnival character the Midnight Robber, who performs “robber talk” as a form of resistance against oppression and explore ideas of home and questions around development, and witness examples of how communities can begin to take charge of the environments in which they live.

Dominica – the Nature Island – is among the most mountainous of the Eastern Caribbean islands. It is also covered with a dense tropical forest which results in magical nooks, picturesque rivers and a maze of beautiful hikes waiting to be discovered. Dominica’s nature is breathtaking but the country has endured many disasters, most recently Hurricane Maria in 2017, which shattered the island and its forests. Yet nature bounces back quickly. Three years on from Maria, filmed in 4K with drones and static cameras, and using slow motion and time-lapse techniques, this film gives you an immersive experience of Dominica’s resurgent tropical forest – offering a moment of relaxation, pleasure and healing vibes in these difficult times.

Set in Guyana, “Coast Land” speaks to the vulnerability of the country’s coastal region, home to the majority of its population, and examines the effects of rising sea levels and cyclical erosion including massive overtopping and the disruption of livelihoods.

Growing up as a non-white Canadian, you experience racism every day. What makes Toronto’s racism so unique, is that you almost don’t notice it.

A Chinese-Caribbean-Canadian woman, driven by people’s inability to separate her skin colour from her culture, tries to embrace her parents’ Trinidadian identity. Filmmaker Danielle Ayow struggles with how people see, and how she should see herself. Using humour and heart, she tries to anchor herself to the culture she knows should feel like hers, speaking to her Chinese-Caribbean-Canadian peers, to Trinidadian locals, and to experts. The film challenges perceived correlations between race and culture, asking the audience to examine their own assumptions about cultural identity as Ayow navigates her own.

“Banwari Man and The Canoe Makers” describes the seminal find, in Trinidad in 1971, of human remains indicating the earliest dates of human settlement in the Caribbean, as told by the head of the Banwari Man excavation team, Peter Harris.

Set in the cultural frontier zone of the Hindu Himalaya, “Avatara” (from the Sanskrit, ‘descent’) explores the lived religion of goddess worship (Shaktism) in a remote pastoral valley. For her farmer and herder followers, the goddess’s presence is all too real; quick to anger and ever-thirsty for sacrifices, she haunts them in their dreams and rituals, demanding complete submission as both child-like friend and motherly-punisher. In this enchanted world of magical creativity, the encounters with the goddess are transient, intuitive events that hold the key to creation and, for those lucky enough to see her, a short-lived salvation.

Journalist Dermi Azevedo has never stopped fighting for human rights and now, three decades after the end of the military dictatorship in Brazil, he’s witnessing the return of those same practices.

“Amerindian Passion” is a record of five years of experimental archeology in Venezuela. In the first ever expedition of its type, the team researches the pre-Hispanic navigational routes of the Amerindians of the region, building replicas of their indigenous curiaras in which to navigate them. The film is a summary of the expeditions from their beginning, revealing the pre-Hispanic period to be one of the richest, most beautiful and unjustly forgotten stages of our history.

The Haitian Sea, as you’ve never seen or heard it before: the sea tells the story of its relationship with the Haitian people, showcases its riches, reveals its mysteries and raises the alarm. From the excessive use of its resources to the consequences of climate change and pollution, all is revealed in different shades of blue. Haiti’s fate will be linked to the coasts and the children of Haiti – voodoo priestesses, fishermen, merchants, entrepreneurs, urban planners, historians, biologists and climate experts – help to tell the tale. A candid depiction of the challenges and the opportunities that must be seized before it’s too late.

The untold story of the women who participated in the 1970 Black Power Revolution in Trinidad and Tobago. “There All Along” is a record of the impact of female participation in the events of 1970, told through the first-person accounts of women revolutionaries, their male counterparts and scholars in the fields of sociology and gender.

Filmed during two weeks in March, “The COVID Chronicles” is an intimate, candid portrait of our strange new times, seen through the eyes of a group of friends spanning Trinidad and Tobago and Canada.

Brought to Trinidad by indentured labourers from India who first arrived in 1845, tassa drumming has become an important marker of Indian Trinidadian cultural identity. “Sweet Tassa” explores both musical and socio-political elements of tassa performance, focusing on the life and family of noted drummer Lenny Kumar. As the story unfolds, tassa emerges as a metaphor for Indian Caribbean culture, rooted in India while also thoroughly Caribbean.

After a devastating volcanic eruption in 1995, Montserrat experienced a mass exodus. But many refused to leave, despite the social and economic destruction the volcano caused. Celeste vividly remembers the eruption. She lost her life’s work: the shop she owned in the island’s capital. Today an ash-coated ghost town lies where her shop once stood. However, much like the regrowth of vegetation across the island, the community has a new-found vitality. Even as the volcano, under observation by scientists, lurks menacingly in the background, Montserratians refuse to let it determine their fate. “No Island Like Home” is a celebration of their resilience, and love for their home.

“Jump!” follows the three-month journey of the JumpTT programme which used parkour and physical theatre as an aesthetic to tell the stories of young people transitioning from childhood to adulthood.

“Haiti Speaks” follows a team of doctors from The Gift of Sight, an American non-profit that takes an annual medical mission trip to Haiti, to document their work operating on hundreds of patients in the span of a week. This trip, however, is different. It comes just 100 days after the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that wiped out so much of the nation and its people in 2010. Now everyone has a story to tell. Talking to Haitians writers, journalists and historians, in addition to doctors and students, the filmmakers reveal personal stories intertwined with that of Haiti itself, exploring not only the story of the earthquake but of the historic racism and injustice which have resulted in chronic economic and political instability. The film pans across ruined buildings and vast tent cities but reveals a growing optimism and faith. It becomes evident that the thing that held Haiti together through the earthquake is the very thing that has got the country through years of injustice and struggle. Call it pride. Call it spirit. Call it hope.

In the 1940s and ’50s Havana boasted more movie theatres than even New York City. Almost all of them showed Hollywood films. “Errol Flynn’s Ghost” chronicles this phenomenon, while recalling the last great real-life adventure of the legendary Hollywood swashbuckler: the Cuban Revolution.

In 1937, tens of thousands of Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent were exterminated by the Dominican army, on the basis of anti-black racism. Fast-forward to 2013 and the Dominican Republic’s Supreme Court strips the citizenship of anyone with Haitian parents, retroactive to 1929, rendering more than 200,000 people stateless. Director Michèle Stephenson’s new documentary follows the grassroots campaign of a young attorney named Rosa Iris, as she challenges electoral corruption and fights to protect the right to citizenship for all people.

A feature-length documentary about contemporary slave labor focusing on the Brazilian Amazon, “Servidão” follows the work of the Special Mobile Inspection Group of the Ministry of Labour. Through the testimony of modern abolitionists and rural workers it explores the links between contemporary slavery and a cruel slave-holding mentality that has existed in Brazil for five centuries. With narration by Negra Li, it is an important record of one of Brazil’s greatest ills.

Made by a collective from Haiti, France and the UK, “Ouvertures” moves from the frozen landscapes of the Jura mountains to the urban centres of Port-au-Prince, bringing the Haitian revolutionary Toussaint Louverture back to life. In France a Haitian researcher attempts to read the past within the stratigraphic layers of Jurassic limestone, while in Haiti a group of young actors translate and rehearse scenes from “Monsieur Toussaint”, a play written by Édouard Glissant that recounts Louverture’s final days, as he lay dying in exile in a prison cell in the Jura in 1803. Ghosts from the pantheon of Haitian history visit Louverture on his deathbed and put him on trial and as the play proceeds the actors become possessed by their characters. Eventually the ghost of Louverture joins the group and takes them on a voyage for a new kind of exile.

This untold history of Toronto’s Black queer community spans four decades of passionate activist rebellion. Refusing to be silenced and raging with love, the featured trailblazers demanded a city where they could all live their truths free from the threat of violence. In the spaces they found for loud laughter and sweaty block parties, they also found themselves. Each bit of revolutionary ground was gained collaboratively, whether protesting police brutality, forming feminist collectives or making room for grief and healing in the wake of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Their transformative creativity and visionary organising made Toronto more livable for generations to follow. “Our Dance of Revolution” celebrates the living legends among us by unearthing what has been made invisible. Come honour this hidden chapter of Toronto’s history and witness the courage it took to dance in the street for the struggle.

A portrait of a group of pioneering reggae musicians gathered together to record a new album, “Inna De Yard” captures the ongoing relevance of reggae and its social values, and the musicians’ passion to revitalize an older generation while passing the music on to younger listeners.

Shot in Brazil, “Dear Child” follows the stories of a group of children rescued from the drug war. Mixing documentary and narrative it introduces us to Father Renato Chinera, an Italian missionary working with children in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro. Set in the rehabilitation centre he founded on the edge of the jungle, it is the story of a community’s fight against poverty and violence.

Two childhood friends entering their forties, facing the challenges of emigration, try to rebuild their lives far away from Cuba. An intimate and revealing auto-ethnographic documentary about uprootedness, motherhood, love of film, and freedom. Told through the audiovisual correspondence between two filmmakers and Cuban emigrants, it is a story of friendship and exile.

Over 25 years on from Brian Lara’s world-record-breaking innings for Warwickshire at Edgbaston in the UK, brand-new documentary “501 Not Out” tells the story of cricket’s first global superstar. Exploring Lara’s remarkable ascent in 1994, the film celebrates his development in Trinidad and features interviews with iconic names from the world of cricket. These include his former international and county teammates from the historic treble-winning season, his friends and coaches in the Caribbean, fans who witnessed the marathon knock first hand and those inspired by his heroics. Notable contributions come from Sir Curtly Ambrose, Allan Donald, Dermot Reeve, Gladstone Small, Dennis Amiss, Jonathan Agnew, Ian Bell, Deryck Murray, Bryan Davis and Trini Posse Group co-founders Niki Borde and Nigel Camacho. Featuring rarely seen archive footage and stills, the film also examines the wider impact of Lara’s arrival and success at Warwickshire, coming so soon after his test record 375. “501 Not Out” brings an amazing story to life on the big screen for the very first time.

From August to March, I kept relapsing and trying to make this film. In January, Jonas died and it felt like NYC had become haunted by his ghost. The experimental film world had been a safe haven during my struggles and now it seemed to reflect my rocky recovery. Friends relapse and decided not to be sober, I get sober again, and then Carolee and Barbara dies. Ghostly presences, longing, uncertainty and hope sing in unison and this film is the result of this push and pull.

Scrolls are the various epochs of existence and experience in this magical Universe that were being summoned through gesture, gait, sound, and Light in collusion with the elements in our natural world. It is imagined and wished that this walk of Life reinvigorates the depth of field in our collective consciousness. – A k u z u r u

A documentary that uses file footage, both moving pictures and stills, to trace the long struggle of African Americans in the United Stated to gain equal rights. Major incidents in the struggles are shown.

Shooting Stars is a secondary school film production project sponsored by the National Gas Company and coordinated and managed by the trinidad+tobago film festival. Four schools were selected to each produce a 5-10 minute short film on a social issue affecting young people. These first time filmmakers were provided with the necessary film equipment, received intensive training and completed four entertaining yet thought provoking films. The schools were: San Juan North Secondary, Holy Faith Convent Penal, Signal Hill Secondary School and Couva East Secondary School.

A bitter former schoolteacher supports herself by taking dictation from illiterate people in Rio de Janeiro, who want to write letters to their families, and then pocketing their money without ever mailing their envelopes. The film tells the story of a young boy’s friendship with this jaded middle-aged woman. It is a profoundly moving tale of the human spirit,

‘The Sound of Pan’ is a short drama about steel pan music. Pan music in a huge part of Trinidad’s culture. From its inception, pan has been surrounded by controversy as to it usefulness in society. However, the playing of pan has been changing, as it is now accepted in just about all parts of T&T society. ‘The Sound of Pan’ highlights how the pan music can help young people deal with issues they face on a daily basis.

Ananta Khemradj is a young Surinamese journalist who has been living in the Netherlands for a few years now. The news coming from Suriname is dominated by a trial against the President, regarding the murder of political opponents in 1982. Despite her education and profession, Ananta knows very little about that period. She knows almost nothing about the domestic war, but a little about the “December 8th” murders and even less about the financial crisis. Ananta decides to fly to Suriname to find out why she and her generation have learned nothing about this. Her very personal search takes Ananta past her history teacher; a minister; a Jungle Command warrior; an ex-president and politically inspired youth. Ananta and the interviewees are regularly overwhelmed by emotions; at night Ananta pours her heart on her iPhone. She hears of a history textbook that was ordered by the government to be withdrawn before distribution, and decides to find it.

My great-grandfather gave my father a book on spirituality. This film is intended to be a filmic prayer from the past for the future. Tenuous but calming serenity.

Some say carnival isn’t political, but for one troupe in Leeds, it’s a call to action. In 2017, Harrison Bundey Mama Dread’s Masqueraders declared proudly that we are all migrants, flooding the streets with a sea of colour. But beneath this vibrant city there lies a darker story of migration when, for one Nigerian man, the promise of new life in England turned into an untimely death. “We Are All Migrants” carries a message of remembrance and solidarity with all migrants who have suffered injustice in the world and celebrates the joy of diversity. Awards: Best Short Film, Hebden Bridge Film Festival, 2019

In a small fishing village on the island of Trinidad a young fisherman, Marcus, leads a quiet but frustrated life. A strained relationship with his father causes him to rebel in an effort to prove himself a man. His life is turned upside down when he meets a shady character who promises him an escape from his rural beginnings. This leads him down a dark path that may threaten his very existence.

“21 Days” is the story of 6 fishermen from the village of Gros Islet in St Lucia who went on a routine fishing expedition in 1985. One simple mishap lead to a drift which lasted three weeks. Their days were punctuated by sickness and suicide, while some clung to the hope of survival. “21 Days” is set in the middle of the Caribbean Sea and produced by UNTOLD STORIES & AllBiz Ltd. Awards: Best Actor, Piton Film Festival; Most Innovative Filmmaker, Piton Film Festival; People Choice Award, ArtReach Film Festival

In 2007, twelve adolescents from Eleutério do Katu RN, Brazil, were photographed in recognition of their indigenous roots. Twelve years later the photographer returns to Katu in search of these protagonists, now adults, to know about their personal trajectories and their worldviews.

An original Caribbean story told through an original Caribbean character. “Toco Tim and the Turtles” uses comedy to convey a serious message as Tim shares advice on how human behaviour affects the lives of leatherback turtles. Awards: People Choice Award, Green Screen Film Festival, 2018; The Great Message International Film Festival, India, 2018 (Best Smartphone film award); Chhatrapati Shivaji International Film Festival, India 2018 (Best Smartphone film award)

Highlights of Tobago’s contingent at CARIFESTA 1981 in Barbados.

A mourning tree, dancing sprouts, ghosts, stories and forgotten seeds. This is a Mexican family’s very last attempt to cultivate their land. Awards: FICUNAM, Ahora México (TV UNAM Selection Award, Estímulo Churubusco Award); Festival de Málaga, Documentary Features Competition (Special Jury Mention); Full Frame Documentary Film Festival (Charles C. Guggenheim Emerging Artist Award)

“Third Space” is an experimental film, which begins in a bowl of callaloo soup and progresses into an amalgam of shape-shifting surrealism, Caribbean landscapes/ seascapes, animal symbolism, prose poetry, the ebbing of overcranking and undercranking; as well as the juxtaposition of nature sounds – with a special emphasis on the visual and aural aspects of the five elements of the universe, namely Earth, Fire, Water, Air and Ether/Space. “Third Space” explores the yin and yang of love in a Caribbean context. The viewer is invited to explore emotion as a cinematic destination.

“Their Story: Panerrifix Steelband” highlights the power of music and how it has been transforming the lives of the members of the Panerrifix Steelband. Panerrifix hails from the city of Belmopan, Cayo District in Belize, Central America. The main thrust of the band is to expose its members to music and the music of the world, and to expose them to the world through music. The band boasts a wide repertoire of Belizean music, such as Brukdown and Paranda, as well as regional and international styles in the likes of Soca, Calypso, Reggae and Classical genres.

Tattoos were a very rare sight years ago. Recently, however, there has been a boom in the industry. In Trinidad and Tobago, it has turned from a taboo thing to an almost mainstream fashion statement, to the point that almost every person you see has one. This boom will be investigated in Tattoo’d, which includes interviews with 3 tattoo artists from different generations who explore whether the ideologies and conceptions behind the tattoo culture in Trinidad and Tobago has changed.

In September 2018, members of the coastal town of Canaries in St Lucia participated in a short training programme to learn about how to use the humble vetiver plant as a simple, green and cost effective tool to tackle many land and water related challenges. This is possible through the deep and fibrous root system of vetiver grass which can grow to 10 feet in 2 years, making it effective to help with slope stabilization and erosion control, soil and water conservation, infrastructure and riverbank protection.

“Syba” tells the story of a fisherboy who catches a mysterious object while out fishing.

What is this “illness of the soul” that is slowly killing the Haitian people? Through “Douvan jou ka leve”, Gessica Généus seeks to understand this form of cultural bi-polarity expressed mainly through their spirituality by relying on her personal journey, marked by the mental illness of her mother – a disease that she believes is a curse of the voodoo spirits.

Set in Havana at the beginning of the 19th century, “Roble de Olor” is a love story between a young woman from Haití and a German man. They build a successful coffee plantation in Cuba, one with a special philosophy in regards to the work of enslaved people and community.

Mirelande is a conscientious and straightforward teenager who hasn’t had anything upsetting happen in her life. She lives with her grand-mother, her sister and her little brother in a very poor part of French Guiana. One day, an unfortunate event takes place and she is awakened to a sense of injustice which pushes her to rebel, upsetting her relationship with authority. Awards: Best Actress and Audience prize, Prix de Court, Cayenne, 2018

“Soluble” is a very short short made to raise awareness of our daily impact on the environment by our use of soluble pollutants introduced to the natural water cycle.

Dyslexia is a learning disability that often is forgotten. Take a look into what dyslexia really feels like from real dyslexics who debunk assumptions and shed light on what this disability is truly about.

The experimental short film “ReleaseD” highlights six young women of Afro-Surinamese descent who passionately express themselves through the traditional performance arts, martial arts, and visual arts. Their modes of creative self-expression contradict the original intent of the colonisers who brought Africans to Suriname’s shores centuries ago. The film’s depictions of strength, independence, and liberation directly counter the portraits of slaves from Suriname that were distributed throughout Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries; fueling stereotypes that linger still today. The cutting or ripping of paper shackles throughout the film was inspired by Suriname’s annual Keti Koti (Chain Cut) Emancipation Day celebrations.

A neo-noir psychological thriller adapted from the acclaimed stage-play, award-winning writer/director Julius Amedume’s “Rattlesnakes” tells the story of family man Robert McQueen. McQueen’s typical day takes a turn for the worst when he’s ambushed by three masked men who accuse him of sleeping with their wives. He pleads his innocence, but faced with being beaten and tortured, what he reveals will change all of their lives forever – but will it be enough to save his? Awards: Pan African Film Festival Audience Award; Screen Nation Film and Television Awards – Best Production Awards

T&T’s Carnival is described as ’The Greatest Show on Earth’. One of the main events of the week is MAS. This film tries to describe what it feels like to play mas at carnival in Trinidad and Tobago.

Grammy nominated artist Adriana Lucia narrates and directs this fantastic film that dives into the world of the Porro, the traditional musical style from the Caribbean region of Colombia. Adriana Lucia will take you through a journey that celebrates its indigenous, European and African origins, the music styles of the region and the revived interest and future of a rhythm that will have you tapping your feet. Awards: Audience Award, Colombian Film Festival of New York, USA, 2015.

Oseyi, (age 10) lives in Colihaut, a remote village in Dominica where an ancient carnival/masquerade art form called “Bann Mové” (Bad Band) is still practiced. But Oseyi has a great fear of these masqueraders due to his mother’s constant repetition that “Bann Mové kill your father”. When, with his uncle’s insistence and his friend Tamika’s assistance, he forces himself into the costume, he discovers an astonishing truth about his mother, the actual circumstances surrounding his father’s death and his uncle’s role in it. With this new knowledge he overcomes his fear, begins to understand his world and starts becoming a man.

On Sundays, there is never much going on in Bwa Yen Yen. Except today. Because today, Jamal and Maëlys meet for the first time. Meaning the first step in a series of misunderstandings that will lead a bunch of neurotic characters to cross paths in this place in the middle of nowhere… Awards: Best screenplay at Prix de Court, 2019, Guadeloupe; Special Mention of the Youth Jury at Nouveaux Regards Festival, 2019, Guadeloupe; Special Mention for the Best Movie at Nouveaux Regards Festival, 2019, Guadeloupe

Victoria, the only daughter from a family of three, tries to decipher her mother’s resentment towards her by looking through old photographs and new footage. Awards: Honorable Mention at Milwaukee Underground Film Festival

A US born Belizean man travels to Belize to scatter the ashes of his deceased father, only to discover that he himself conceived a son during a past visit to the country. He must now face his own conflicted feelings about fatherhood caused by the estranged relationship he had with the man who gave him life.

Dawad Philip reads poems, from his recent book by the same name, in the midst of the hustle and bustle of his beloved ‘hometown’ San Fernando. He pays a moving homage to his childhood and lifelong friend Dr. Leroy ‘Black Stalin’ Calliste in ‘Sando Proper’, a poem dedicated to him. This short film sets out to allow Dawad, the poet and masman, to settle comfortably into the source of his inspiration, the city of San Fernando, through his poems. “A Mural by the Sea” simply weaves together indigenous performance and Dawad Philip’s poetry and is a tribute to our cultural traditions.

“As Freedom Fighters we never give up!” On a wonderful journey Ms. Sugga, a strong, feisty animated sugar cane stalk, travels with two kids (Tamika and Omar), and a wise African Chief (Tacky), in a magical bubble back in time, in search of ancient sugar cane molasses that she must find in order to make her bulla cakes. But on the way they get caught in Jamaica’s turbulent sugar cane history and discover that ‘the spirit to survive never dies’ when you’re determined to fight for a future you want. As the four make their way through history in search of ‘sweetness’, they meet bittersweet characters of the past and identify the new elements needed to change the balance of power to make the sugar cane industry work for its people.

Asta, born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago, moves to Los Angeles, USA to start a new life, but upon arriving there, she loses a bit of her own identity in the form of her swimming ability. Desperate, she turns to her sister for advice.

Mikayla is on school break and decides to spend the day with her cousin Noah and their Grandma but, the children can’t seem to find anything to do. Mikayla finds a book filled with old stories from Grandma’s childhood. She asks Grandma to tell them to her and Noah and they gather around Grandma to hear the story. Grandma adds her own little exciting twist to the story in the process transforming the story from a regular old scary tale to something right out of a comedy.

An American writer searches for his lost lover in Cuba. Awards: A Remi Platinum Award Winner at Worldlfest (Houston)

“Lupe” follows Rafael, a young Cuban immigrant searching for their long-lost sister Isabel in New York City. Believing Isabel to have fallen into a life of prostitution, Rafael seeks to find and liberate her. Rafael is a trained boxer, and searching New York City’s gritty underworld often turns bloody. During a violent encounter in a brothel, Rafael comes face to face with Elsa, a woman from their shared past in rural, poverty-stricken Cuba. Pulling Elsa from her wretched environment, Rafael hopes that she can help in the search for Isabel.

As the world continues to consume single-use plastic at alarming rates, this atmospheric film imagines a world where plastic replaces water – our singular life force – and other key aspects of natural life. An elegiac dystopia set in the Caribbean, the film explores various scenarios, transforming the idyllic into the undesirable. It is a Caribbean call to action, and a message to all of us who share the planet.

With a poetic narrative structure, “Hanoi, Martes 13” shows how the Vietnamese people lived and fought for their freedom during the Vietnam War, from the day the bombing of the city of Hanoi began.

An amateur angel is sent from heaven to guide a modern-day Samson, a loner who has lost faith in God. The unlikely duo is tasked with missions to seek out and save a mishmash of characters who are at the crosswords of their lives and seem to be searching for love and acceptance in all the wrong places.

Birth is a normal physiological event. But in Trinidad and Tobago, as in much of the world, we find unnecessary medical interventions creeping into healthy deliveries. Homebirth is available in TT for low-risk mothers, though most families don’t know about this option. At home, a mother is free to labour and deliver however she chooses with a midwife and loved ones to support her. The baby goes on the mother’s chest right away instead of into an incubator. And when it’s all over, the family rests in their own home, supported by the midwives who come back to check on them. What a difference from delivering in a hospital!

Winston arrived in London from Jamaica back when the streets were paved with promise. A lifetime later, he’s become the smiling face around the neighbourhood that everyone knows – the friendly local jerk chicken shop owner. Today, the mask is beginning to slip.

Land is the only thing worth killing, worth fighting, worth lying, and worth dying for. After a devastating hurricane lays waste to their homes, Barbudans must overcome a second and potentially even greater threat—the sale of their island to foreign interests in the name of rebuilding, upending 300 years of communal land ownership.

The story of “Sugar Cane” is an epic one which speaks of the struggle for a society and political economy capable of supporting sustainable profits and innovative production processes. “Sugar Cane: Recycling Sweetness and Power in Modern Jamaica”, was made to mark the impact of sugar on the society, politics and economy of Jamaica, from colonial rule to Independence. This story is told with emphasis on the struggles of the workers and the Jamaican state for freedom, development and justice given their entanglement with major sugar industry players.

Plagued with one of the highest murder rates in the world, Jamaica tries to reinvigorate its populace by qualifying their national soccer team – the “Reggae Boyz” – for the 2014 World Cup. When their efforts start to fall short, Winnie Schäfer, a colourful German coach, enters the scene and forms an unlikely alliance with a Rastafarian factory worker named “Tuffy” Anderson and legendary reggae musicians including Bunny Wailer and The NoMaddz to unite Jamaica beyond the soccer pitch. “Reggae Boyz” uses pop cultures’ most transcendent forces – sports and music – to delve into the heart and soul of Jamaica.

Olivia is a young woman with a natural gift for singing. She wants to escape her life of lesser means and believes her passion for singing Soca music can change her life. However, her religious mother abhors anything that’s not related to the church, especially Soca music. Olivia must decide whether to pursue her dream of becoming a Soca star and risk the relationship with her mother, the only family she knows. Awards: Take One Film Grant / Script in Development

“Pigs of Paradise” is the real story behind the Swimming Pigs of Exuma in The Bahamas: how they got there, who put them there and how they learned to swim.

Roberto has Alzheimer’s. After his wife dies, someone has to take care of him. Ruth, his daughter, decides to take him to live in her family, even though her husband, Alfredo, argues that he already has enough problems at home with the care of Jan, their only son who suffers from Down Syndrome. With Roberto’s arrival at the house, the relationship between grandpa and grandson begins to get closer and closer, discovering that they both have many dreams in common… which they will be able to realise together. Awards: Best Film, Cinema Castelli Romano, Italy; Best Film, Festival de Cine Mariposa, Cuba.

Three simultaneous stories of social inclusion, led by a single mother of two austistic teenagers, a married couple trying unsuccessfully to have a child, and a father of a Special Oylmpics athlete. “Lo Que Siento Por Ti” is inspired by true stories.

Jason Jones, a gay rights activist, sues the state of Trinidad and Tobago over colonial-era anti-homosexual laws. He must face his opponents outside the Hall of Justice and inside the courtroom the day of the landmark verdict. This is the story of the first-ever case in the Caribbean that successfully overturned laws that criminalized homosexuality. The case was subsequently cited at the Indian Supreme Court when LGBTQIA activists in India overturned similar colonial-era laws in that country. This story is a record of the fight for equality and LGBTQIA rights in Trinidad and Tobago, across the Caribbean and in Commonwealth nations.

‘Island Strong’ explores the dawn of a new Caribbean in the aftermath of climate change. Scientists have stated there will be stronger, more frequent hurricanes in the future. The 2017 hurricane season brought with it, hurricanes Maria and Irma which saw the region sitting on the front-lines of the climate battle. ‘Island Strong’ is told through the eyes of most vulnerable, exposed to vagaries of climate and natural disasters. What do we as Caribbean people do? Do we give up hope? Are we going to abandon our shores in hope of a safe haven?

A temporary magnifying glass in the mind of a bipolar person, ‘Keeping it Together’ visually explores the condition in a form of consciousness as a form as opposed to just numbers and statistics, with the ultimate goal of starting a discussion and painting a picture of what it means to be bipolar.

Questions arise on why Trinidad and Tobago has greeted the topic of LGBT with such hostility. Increasingly, ordinary people are supporting and accepting the LGBT community. Some might say, “Everywhere except Trinidad and Tobago.” ‘Life in Kolor’ explores the perspective of a gender illusionist, Miss Queen of Queens 2018 winner, Sapphire Adia Negasi.

This documentary takes a brief look at the creation and history of one of the world’s most popular alcoholic beverages, rum.

Before he was a poet, Langston Hughes was a sailor who crossed boundaries in more ways than one. ‘Langston Dreams of Fancy Sailors’ is a film poem in five parts which explores questions surrounding Hughes’ sexuality as well as his ties to the Black Diaspora outside of the US. It is not well-known that Hughes had links to countries such as Trinidad—with its Fancy Sailor Carnival tradition inspired by the influx of US navy figures after World War II—and Nigeria, where he experienced gay sex for the first time, according to his biographer. Building upon accounts of Hughes’ dealings with seamen and key figures of the Harlem Renaissance, as well as his travels in Italy, this experimental film aims to mirror how fraught questions surrounding Hughes’ queerness have come to be sidelined, and the story of his life conveniently reconstructed in order to fit a heteronormative narrative.

Allison thought that her trip to her best friend Tracey’s home for her bridal shower was going to be a blast. But when her car shuts down on the way there is a remote forest area, what began as a fun, relaxing trip quickly turns into a real-life nightmare as she finds herself in a fight for her life.

The renowned artist, Jill Walker, has made a unique contribution to her adopted island of Barbados through a magnificent outpouring of artistic work over seven decades – oil paintings, water colors, prints, graphic design and illustrated books. “Jill Walker: An Artistic Life” traces her early years in England as a budding artist and her successful career as a portrait painter and theatre costume designer for, among others, the Stratford and National Theatres. A chance visit in the 1950s to Guyana (then British Guiana) started her on a romantic and exciting life in the Caribbean and her eventual residence on the island of Barbados with architect husband Jimmy Walker. Her paintings of the rich and colorful life and architecture of her adopted home have become hugely popular and people around the world treasure their Jill Walker paintings. Jill says in the film, “I have always thought I had a rather quiet life, rarely looking back, seldom looking forward. However, since I was persuaded by my family to produce my book and this film, I realize it has been the most fabulous life, and I have been extremely lucky.” Awards: Best Director, Best Sound and Best Long Doc, Barbados Visual Media Festival 2018(VIMAS)

The eldest of 10 children, Kemraj Singh served as the father figure of the Singh household. The first commercial airline pilot in the village, the BWIA Captain and entrepreneur was well-loved in Kelly Village by all, and devoutly admired by his young sister, Prematie, whom he would go on to groom into adulthood through teaching her values, supporting her education, and assisting her in becoming a qualified pharmacist. They led what seemed like the perfect life, until one night in 1988 when there was a break-in at the Singh house, and Kemraj was tragically murdered.

‘Jab Molassie’ was conceptualized and composed by Etienne Charles as part of his latest album, ‘Carnival: The Sound of a People’. The film shows Charles as he is exposed to the sights, sounds, and movements of Jab Molassie in Paramin and Port of Spain, highlighting the myriad influences that inspired this composition. Initially, the footage was only used by the composer to inspire sounds. The idea for the film came after the music had been composed and recorded to increase awareness and impact.

‘Jab Molassie’ was conceptualized and composed by Etienne Charles as part of his latest album, “Carnival: The Sound of a People”. “Iron” shows Charles as he is exposed to the sights, sounds and movements of Jab Molassie in Paramin and Port of Spain, highlighting the myriad influences that inspired this composition. Initially, the footage was only used by the composer to inspire sounds. The idea for the film came after the music had been composed and recorded to increase awareness and impact.

Through the work of the artist and photographer Paolo Woods, settled in Haiti since 2010, “Gade!” questions the vision of foreigners in Haiti, as well as the way Haitians see themselves.

Father Amoksi has the gift of seeing – he can tap into the spirit world – in the remote Maroon village of ‘Akuyutu Kondre’. The spiritual rituals must be strictly adhered to in order to avoid conflict with the ancestors. But Amoksi is old, and the Maroons fear that without him, contact with the ancestors will be broken and disaster will strike the village. Amoksi knows it’s time to transfer his knowledge onto his son, Michael, but he is only interested in his iPhone. Although Michael is not the desired successor, there is unexpected hope for the preservation of this unique culture.

Back in the 1960s, Pierrette left Martinique to seek a new life in Paris. She participated in the making of a TV documentary about the city’s community of Caribbean residents – a film she never saw. Now an elderly woman with Alzheimer’s, Pierrette returns to her homeland, with her adult son, for the last time. Awards: 2018: Best documentary (RCM ATRIUM/ Martinique) 2018: Memorial Acte Prize (CINESTAR/ Guadeloupe)

‘A Creative’s Story’ explores Trinidad & Tobago society’s views about non-traditional career choices.

An unintended road trip, a comical first dinner and an awkward meeting of families on Christmas day all encompass Grace and Saleem’s story of an unlikely couple told via three distinctive chapters of their relationship together.

Grégory Beauville is a 40-year-old ‘Goyave (Guava) béké seeking his place in society and living a tense relationship with his father. Everything gets complicated when Grégory develops suspicions towards his father as a general strike is occurring in Martinique. Awards: Best Cinematography, Chelsea Film Festival 2018 (New York)

‘Welterusten Papa’ (Goodnight Daddy) provides several perspectives and unique insights of fathers that live on an island that has been characterized as having a macho culture, where mothers have a say, whereas fathers are not always around to take care of their kids.

For more than 50 years, 82-year-old artist, Rotterdam born, Geerdine Kuijpers has been living and working in a self-designed and built creative paradise: the Art & Nature Inn. The once flourishing apartment complex has become a beautiful, magical garden, full of mosaics and paintings – a place where spirituality can be felt. Geerdine doesn’t want to think about stopping, but what does the future hold for the Art & Nature Inn? Will her philosophy behind the spiritual work of art stand the test of time?

From South Korea to T&T is a 2018 documentary film about the Korean presence in Trinidad and Tobago as well as its fan culture. It highlights the existence of the fandom and its growth in the country; bringing about more knowledge on the culture through various interviews and talks about the challenges the fandom faces in trying to fit into society. At the time of filming, the members were criticised and experienced cyberbullying through social media due to the ignorance of fellow citizens who simply didn’t understand and/or refused to. The documentary attempts to pinpoint the reasons for the rejection of the culture in order to address it.

‘The Flight’ tells the story of the journey of a climate refugee after hurricane Maria. Awards: Best Caribbean Animation Short Film (Kingston); Achievement in animation Awards, Silicon Valley African Film Festival

An exploration of the devastation wrought to Dominica by Hurricane Maria and nature’s recovery.

Fishing is more than an occupation, it’s a way of life. Barbados, a nation fueled by the passion and hard work of fisherfolk, is home to a rich fishing culture. In recent times, the industry continues to be threatened by many issues including the impact of climate change. This thought-provoking short film amplifies the voices of local fisherfolk and tells the story of declines in catches and observations of environmental change as well as the passion to support sustainable livelihood and hopes for the future. ‘De Fisheries’, a cry from the lips of the most vulnerable, is the beginning of a movement that will facilitate change.

‘Cuban Canvas’ is an intriguing intergenerational story of artists in Havana whose works hang in museums and galleries worldwide. They experiment with form, content, and bold visions. The film traces the enduring lines between art and life.

A young girl experiences a life-changing encounter with nature.

The journey of a man from the light to the darkness. Awards Best Animation, Sweet as Film Festival; Best Short Film, 12 Months Film Festival

Carnival: The Sound of the People explores the inspiration behind musician Etienne Charles’ latest album.

An exploration of the Indian presence in Trinidad and Tobago.

The film, like a road movie, follows Seke’s departure from Saint-Laurent du Maroni (French Guiana). He travels more than 300km and three days to get to the village of Antecume-Pata, in Native American territory. Once the deliveries have been made, the region of Maroni is revealed little by little, a micro country, often traditional, which runs into illegal prospecting for gold.

Rawlston Charles emigrated from Tobago to the USA in December 1967. Living in Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn, NY, Charles had a vision to promote calypso and soca music and its artists to the world through his record store, Charlie’s Calypso City, and music label, Charlie’s Records. “Charlie’s Records” reveals the American immigrant story of an unsung hero.

An elderly couple, with faith as their engine, live in forgotten rural Mexico.

Guy, a Haitian boy escaping from poverty, witnesses the assassination of his parents while crossing the Dominican border. Years later, entangled in a vortex of revenge, love, racial hate, and an uncertain future, he confronts the murderers. Alex North Award for Best Original Music; San Cristobal de la Laguna Historical Accesit; Best Historical Movie Award

‘Breakthrough’, tells the story of a young aspiring ballet dancer (Heaven) who is destined for greatness. Her mother (Faith) is a single parent; facing many challenges of her own as she supports her daughter’s passion. Her father (Jared) financially supports her; however (Jared) has found new love and is engaged to be married. Her grandmother (Grace) is the glue that keeps the family together. Heaven’s journey takes a turn for the worse when she is forced to call the police on her mother’s abusive boyfriend (William). Despite the circumstance, Heaven must cope with the reality of her family’s struggles while pursuing her dreams. This is a very sensitive subject in our society that women are faced with every single day.

For more than 150 years a culture from both natives and black slaves full of energies and colors takes place in New Orleans each year for Mardi Gras: the Black Indians Carnival. With the Whashitaw Nation and his « Big Chief » David Montana, we travel through a particular History of the USA during the preparation of this event. “The black Indians are the most poetic form of resistance to segregation and slavery of the African Americans. “

The Business Of Carnival™ is a web-based series created by Entertainment & Sports Lawyer Carla Parris and it is the first Caribbean entertainment law & business web product. It has been designed to educate persons based in the Caribbean and across the world about the Intellectual Property law and business matters associated with the creative sector and carnival industry. It has also been created to stimulate entrepreneurship and support innovation by providing persons with the tools to create long term revenue and sustainable business ventures. The series also demystifies some of the common misconceptions concerning copyright law and the ownership of creative products such as carnival designs, costumes, and events in an attempt to minimize the exploitation that is rampant within the creative industry.

A woman in her fifties who works as a maid in a motel awaits news from her daughter, who lives in Brazil. Cinalfama 2nd City In Film Award; IFFIC Best National Short Film

‘Black Echo III: Bamboo’ is the third movement of a composition by Etienne Charles as part of his newest album “Carnival: The Sound of a People”. The suite highlights the evolution of sonic identity in Trinidad & Tobago due to suppression by the British Colonial Authorities in the 19th century. In this movement, Charles goes to Claxton Bay to record the legendary group Claxton Bay Tamboo Bamboo. The footage was recorded for Charles to work with during his composition process. The film was constructed to showcase the inspirations and research behind the musical creation.

Sheila calls on her brave husband, Dan, for help when she spots a cockroach in their bathroom. But when the roach flies, Dan loses all sense and imagines that the roach is a kung-fu master who he must fight with all his might to protect his defenceless wife. After observing Dan’s approach to tackling the roach problem, Sheila decides to handle the pest herself.

Syanna, a young female slave, must escape from a Caribbean cyber-plantation. 23 awards including Golden Galaxy Award, Virgin Spring Cinefest and Golden Palm Award, Mexico International Film Festival

What do “Está Rico” by Marc Anthony, Will Smith & Bad Bunny have in common with “Made For Now” by Janet Jackson x Daddy Yankee? They all high-jacked AfroBeats without giving the genre’s origin its props. “Bakosó” follows DJ Jigüe to his hometown of Santiago de Cuba to find inspiration from new sounds. While there, Jigüe finds Afrobeats has helped create a new genre called, Bakosó, which makes beautiful proof that the exchange between Cuba and Africa did not end with the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Through stunning visuals and a score created by the founders of the genre, the film shows the technology, culture, and landscape that shape this African-Caribbean fusion. Audience Award at the 2019 KA Pan African Film Festival

How to live after cancer? With a group of Amazon women in Martinique, Alexandra is conducting a double reconstruction, physical and moral. She alternates surgical operations and the realization of portraits of Amazona made by photographic artists. Art becomes a kind of therapy and a way of breaking taboos.

On a sunny summer’s day, an engaged Korean woman reconnects with her former beau – a charming Afro-Caribbean man – in the streets of Insadong, South Korea. After spending a glorious day catching up on old times, tensions surface when he seeks answers to the question of why they broke up. Even after dredging up past hurts that derailed their romance, he begs her to give their love a second chance, leaving her to reconsider her chosen path.

Based on the first chapter of Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s novel, Crime and Punishment, Raddy is a young man who is trying to win the heart of Daniela, an even younger girl. To do this, Raddy thinks that he needs money, so he goes to Sequia, a middle aged man, to sell him a cellphone for a big sum of money. But Sequia, who doesn’t like Raddy, has a different plan.

Alejandra and her dad, Roberto, have just moved to town. She is new at school and he has a new job. Starting over is sometimes complicated, when you’ve left so much behind.

Each year since it’s inception in 2006, the trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff) has been consciously highlighting human rights through films, panels and presentations. On Sunday, September 23, ttff will partner with Grundlos Kollektiv to present ‘Activism Day’, dedicated to discussions and screenings related to LGBQTI, gender, domestic and social issues. (Read more ») Judgement Day Documentary Short / Director: Francesca Hawkins In 2017, Jason Jones, a human rights activist sued the state over colonial-era laws that criminalise sexual relations between consenting adults of the same sex. Judgement day is a short documentary that follows emotive events on the day of Justice Devindra Rampersad’s landmark ruling in the legal case, Jason Jones v The Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago. April 12, 2018, was D-Day for Jason, the LGBTQIA coalition and the supporters of these laws gather outside the Hall of Justice in Port-of-Spain to await the judgment. I Choose You Narrative Short / Director: Siobhan Millette Seven-year-old Taylor is a child of divorced parents once living comfortably between their two homes. A breakdown in the dynamics of the relationship between his parents results in Taylor now being tasked with choosing the household he wants to live in permanently; a monumental responsibility for such a young child. Please See Attached Narrative Short / Director Andrei Pierre Young and noble Maurice is a Shoe-in to be St. Lucille’s next Vice Principal, however, when the school board steps in to make changes, his alliances come into question and he’s left to make some bold decisions. The film is meant to be a conversation piece; a door opening on little mentioned issues of civil injustice and basic human dignity; of what real friendship means, and the hypocrisy of the well-intentioned and also funny.

Looking for Zorro tells the story of Pablo, who raises his nine-year-old son, Rafael, without the support of his absent wife. Pablo and Rafael must go on a long journey through high mountains searching for ‘Zorro’, their last hope of making a living. During the journey, they encounter situations that test their own turbulent relationship.

After 40 years, Pancho returns to his hometown of Chilean Patagonia, where century-old trees rise above abandoned tombs and the sea, drunk with rain, conceals the roots of men. He draws inspiration from his past for an article that he is writing. He recalls his childhood, the love of his life and the reason he had to flee the town. Sponsored by The Embassy of Chile

Members of the Amistad Group, one of the last active calypso groups in Panama, recount the origins, history and heritage of the genre which originated in Trinidad + Tobago. They recall all of the past Panamanian calypsonians who left their legacy. In the end, they come together for a night of calypso.

Impoverished priest Harihar Ray, dreams of a better life for himself and his family and leaves his rural Bengal village in search of work. Alone, his wife, looks after her rebellious daughter, Durga, and her young son, Apu, as well as Harihar’s elderly aunt Indir. The children enjoy the small pleasures of their difficult life, while their parents suffer the daily indignities heaped upon them.

Victoria is a reserved and independent woman who enjoys her solitude. She has an unexpected visit from her long-lost daughter Sara, who asks her to take care of her 7-year-old granddaughter for a couple of days. This favour will totally change her life. After a shocking event and unforeseen news, Sara comes back home to make things right with her mother.

Seventeen-year-old Valeria, does not want to tell her long-absent mother about her pregnancy but due to the economic strain and overwhelming responsibility, her half-sister, Clara, decides to call their mother. April arrives almost immediately, and her maternal instinct is reignited. Sponsored by The Embassy of Mexico

Johnny is released from jail after serving twenty years and one day for a heist and double murder. Despite trying to turn over a new leaf he ends up participating in a kidnapping plot to recover a large ransom.

The most pronounced African Culture of the Diasporas remains the culture of the Yorubas. From Brazil to Trinidad, United States to Cuba, Haiti and across the entire Caribbean. Bigger Than Africa follows the trans-Atlantic slave trade route from West Africa to six different countries – USA, Nigeria, Brazil, Republic of Benin, Trinidad + Tobago and Cuba to explore and find reasons for the survival of this particular West African Culture.

When Sir Vidia Naipaul agreed to have a film made about him he said he wanted it to be “as personal as possible”. This is indeed a candid personal portrait, presenting the 2001 Nobel Laureate for Literature in the three places that have been most influential to his writing career: his native Trinidad, his ancestral home of India, and Wiltshire in england, where he lived for many years. A moving and touching documentary being shown as a tribute to the late author.

As part of a tribute to the late V S Naipaul, Bhoe Tewarie in conversation with Trinidad+Tobago’s most illustrious author on the occasion of the 2007 UWI Laureate celebrations.

This documentary film features the novel implementation of a Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQ) Steelpan Manufacturing pilot programme in secondary schools across Trinidad + Tobago. This is a vision of the Pan in Schools Coordinating Council (PSCC). It highlights the vast potential of the nation’s youth to help develop the industry and contribute to the economic and cultural landscape of T + T.

After the murder of her lover Caesar, queen Cleopatra needs a new ally. She seduces his probable successor Mark Antony. This develops into real love and slowly leads to a war with the other possible successor: Octavius. A humourous look at the classic love story based on an original English stage production.

Cymbeline is the King of Britain. He marries an unpleasant woman who has an arrogant son called Cloten. Cymbeline arranges the marriage of his beautiful daughter, Imogen, to Cloten but she defies him and marries the poor but worthy Posthumus Leonatus. Several plot lines follow, involving disguises, mistaken identity, deceit, treachery and poison. The villain of the play is Iachimo, who bets a large sum of money against Postumus’ ring that he can seduce Imogen.

Mommy is a tremendously acted, heartfelt, inventive black comedy about a widowed single mother, raising her violent son alone, who finds new hope when a mysterious neighbour inserts herself into their household. Sponsored by The High Commission for Canada

Eight year old Joseph in Martinique, refuses to accept the departure of his older brother to the mainland France. Influenced by the traditional stories of his grandfather, he is convinced that Lentikri, an ancient Martinican monster, prowls around the house to attack his family. Joseph decides to confront it.

A little black girl plays with her white dolls until her grandmother reminds her what it means to be a woman.

New Shorts from Jamaica. Agwe Director: Ina Sotirova Disaster strikes when a young, Afro-Caribbean high Priestess goes against her intuition. This unorthodox coming of age story explores Afro-Caribbean ancestry, history and spirituality. Flight Directors: Kia Moses + Adrian McDonald From the little island of big dreams comes a little boy from an inner city community with the larger-than-life dream of becoming a Jamaican astronaut. On a deeper level, this film is also a story about space. A lack of space, a longing for space and what happens when various life paths, moving in different directions, interact in the same space. Lovers Director: Mezan Akoya When two couples are trapped in an elevator, being forced to examine themselves and their relationships may be the only way out. Safe Harbour Director: Kaiel Eytle A girl is pulled from the brink of death by a mysterious young boy. Discovering his amazing abilities, the two form a bond that is tested as they uncover the dark secrets that dwell within.

A poetic rumination on the ruins of the lost sugar industry that is replaced by another, not so savoury industry.

Katja’s life falls apart in the blink of an eye when two neo-Nazis kill her husband and six-year-old son in a bomb attack. Her quest for justice soon pushes her to the edge as the two suspects stand trial for murder.

Although Samuel has the potential to be a boxing champion, he seems destined to fail. At thirty and just out of prison, he has to become a sparring partner because nobody will give him the chance at a fight. Unable to feed his family and exposed to temptation, Samuel is determined to get back in the ring and prove he has changed.

Lacking in self-confidence, Carlos finally gets the courage to ask his crush Sofia out for lunch. When she surprisingly agrees, he is sent into a panic as he realises his bank account is empty.

Eleven-year-old Manouchka and her younger sister Phara are on their way to school when they are kidnapped. They awake in a girl’s orphanage surrounded by nuns but this is no safe place. Tortured, starved and forced to perform unspeakable acts, Manouchka will do all she can to save her little sister’s innocence.

In the 60s, the French Government encouraged islanders to leave the French West Indies to escape poverty that resulted from the closure of sugar mills. Lured by the idea of a “dream country”, and although they were citizens of France, they found life in Europe was not what they had imagined. Sponsored by the Alliance Française Le Rêve Français (They had a Dream)—Part 02 »

Keiber a hitman tormented by guilt enters an Epiphany which leads us to a journey through his life and the reasons for his bad behavior, this seeks redemption to try to free his being from all guilt, though already it can be late for.

This documentary on the stilt walking Carnival art in Trinidad + Tobago centres on head of Keylemanjahro cultural group and “King of the Moko Jumbies” Glen “Dragon” DeSouza. He not only helps to revive the art form but his talent and teaching of the craft inspires youths, encourages other groups to emerge across the country and attracts students from across the globe.

Carnival, one word, many traditions; beyond dreamful landscapes and relaxing moments, the Caribbean islands also share one common culture: the celebration of carnival. Although carnival shares similar historical roots throughout the Caribbean, the difference often lies in the manifestation of the celebration. Discover how the island of Guadeloupe is linked to Trinidad and Tobago through the history of carnival and how this modern celebration acts as a bridge between the two.

Ignacio Carrillo spent much of his life travelling through northern Colombia singing vallenato, a popular form of folk music. He accompanied himself on his legendary accordion, said to be cursed by the devil. Eventually Ignacio got married and gave up his itinerant ways, settling in a small town. When years later his wife suddenly dies, Ignacio decides to make a trek to the coast, to return his accordion to its previous owner, his former teacher and mentor. Accompanying Ignacio is Fermin, a boy with romantic notions of becoming a juglar—a wandering musician—as Ignacio once was. Ignacio tries to discourage Fermin, as the life of a juglar brings only solitude and sadness. As they travel the awesome landscape—through savannah, desert and forest, and over mist-wreathed mountains—man and boy share a series of almost mystical adventures. These adventures not only bring them closer together, but also closer to their journey’s haunting, unexpected end.

An elderly villager makes coffee the traditional way.

Trevaughn and Hannah Rocke are experiencing financial hardship as a couple, so they sublet rooms of their house. Trevaughn Rocke is very physically and emotionally abusive to his wife. The focus is usually on the hurt of the victim, but what about those who have to hear the abuse on a continuous basis? They each have to deal with their own pain in this situation.

The Twelve Tribes of Israel Trinidad (TTIT) celebrated 40 years as a spiritually guided, non-profit organization in 2017. Founded on the Rastafarian teachings of Vernon “The Prophet Gad” Carrington, the brothers and sisters recount their struggles of discrimination in the early days. They speak about how they perserved to inspire new members to study the bible and keep alive their dreams of returning to the motherland of Ethiopia.

A girl begins to understand the great value of the trash she throws away when she comes in contact with a poverty-stricken boy.

A planet conquering Alien who mistakes a high school mean girl for the ruler of Earth competes against her for the Prom Queen Crown.

Jacque and Sophia can’t do it anymore. Their marriage is in danger, and for Amelie, their 7 year old daughter, they must continue to live.

‘The Twin Island State’ is a documentary about Trinidad and Tobago hip hop music and how it relates to local audiences. The film focuses on a wide range of issues that local hip hop artistes are faced with including radio and television airplay as well as the use of the Trinbagonian accent while rapping as opposed to the traditional American accent. The documentary features interviews from well-known members of the hip hop community as well as DJ’s, radio personalities and television program host. It gives the viewer a glimpse into the life of a Trinidad and Tobago hip hop artiste.

A traditional popular festivity in a small Cuban city is the center in the life of its people. But they, the ‘parranderos’ have had to confront diverse hardships to keep their tradition alive.

A short documentary set in Her Majesty’s Prisons, Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This documentary describes the nature and effects of the most successful rehabilitation program to be implemented in St. Vincent prisons.

A tale from an old Pemón woman about a BlackBerry who falls in love with a Firebeetle. The Firebettle rejects the BlackBerry because she is old, hunched over and with no leaves to show. As time passes, the BlackBerry is reborn and the Firebeetle has a change of heart and wants to know her secret.

This film is about the importance of treating the world right. It highlights the manner in which we should care about the world, in the same way we care about important people in our lives. Our actions today can affect the world that we live in tomorrow.

This film examines the work of three Trinidadian scientists, microbiologist Dr Adesh Ramsubhag, computer scientist Prof Patrick Hosein, and medical researcher Prof Paul Teelucksingh as alternatives to Trinidad’s oil economy. The documentary shows how the work of these three scientists, and others, as well as the organisation which brought them together, the Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence, could create a path to economic salvation based on local knowledge and untapped sustainable resources.

This film introduces the last living original creators of a genre of music that has spread around the globe over the last 50 years and has spawned multiple record empires using the Soul Vendors beats without recognition. Ken Boothe, Bunny Wailer, The Melodians and other greats of the period are featured.

A young Rastafarian, teenage athlete has the dream to qualify for the national youth team to compete in the World Youth Championships in Philadelphia. There he hopes to reunite with his mother who has been living illegally for 10 years. But once he gets there, he realises that dream isn’t necessarily shared.

Daniela, a college student, is secretly dating a school girl, Lucía. When Lucía’s father figures out what is happening, things take a peculiar turn and their relationship is threatened.

An arts intervention project transforms the lives of 15 teenaged girls in Trinidad + Tobago through socially conscious theatre making. This is the pilot program of Girl Be Heard T + T.

Caught up in the football match on TV, Miguel ignores his wife’s request to take off the stove. His young daughter volunteers to do so and it suddenly becomes the longest day of the year. Miguel and his wife are unable to cope with his negligence.

A lonely woman suspects that her male friend has broken into her home but the pieces of the story do not all fit together.

Sam is a young transgender man in Puerto Rico, where the trans community is still a subject of discrimination and prejudice. After several failed attempts to secure a job, Sam is forced to confront a life-changing decision and choose what aspects of himself he’s willing to sacrifice in order to survive.

Sensing Travel is an art film in intersectionality, as I traveled through space. Converging aesthetics into a political performance of global aesthetics.

Growing up with absentee mothers on the island of Grenada, three people recount their emotional stories of abandonment, psychological damage and the attempts to reconnect with their estranged parents who migrated abroad for work.

Words have the abillity to make or break you. Choose yours wisely.

In 2017, youth outreach NGO, 2 Cents Movement, toured secondary schools in Trinidad + Tobago engaging the nation’s youth on the issue of gender-based violence using spoken word poetry, theatre and talkback conversations.

A group of young men from Parade Gardens embark on a journey of transformation using parkour and Joseph Campbell’s ‘The Hero’s Journey’. In a programme hosted by the British Council, the National Theatre of Scotland and Manifesto Jamaica, they create a piece of theatre that impacted the young men and their community through their struggles over three years of engagement and development.

In 2017, Hurricane Maria trashed parts of the Dominican Republic. Left in a state of shambles, ‘Run’ shows the extent a father will go in order to provide for his child.

Francis is a young black man living in Paris who proudly wears his dreadlocks and love for Rastafarian culture. On the streets he is viewed with suspicion and taunted by racist remarks. He catches the attention of the police who are certain to arrest him for drug possession but their stereotyping may have deceived them.

An encounter between a resident at home and a supposed electrician simply coming to repair a broken light, however his actions say otherwise. The resident becomes increasingly aware of his behaviour, questioning his intentions and authenticity and wonders if he may be walking into a trap, or simply being paranoid.

An innocent girl with a supernatural gift is kidnapped and held hostage by a sacrificial cult in London. To rescue her, her protector Adesuwa must evoke the mythical powers of the ancient deities of the West African Orishas to transform into the fearsome warrior goddess Oya.

Julia, a young mother, tries to preserve the unity of her family. However, tragic memories emerge and give Julia worrying anxieties.

A young boy comes of age when he conquers his fear of the Carnival costumes of his village, and learns two family secrets.

Algie likes young women but do they like him? Money and power sweeten that deal although not everyone gets what they were bargaining for. Algie’s peccadilloes require the utmost discretion, of that he is certain.

Dave applies his make-up as he prepares to act as Chief Hyarima in a play about the Arena massacre in Trinidad. He recently found out that his biological grandfather is not the loving ‘Nana’ with whom he grew up. His real but absent grandfather is of First People’s ancestry, too close to the role he is asked to play. The role takes on a deeper meaning as Dave struggles to find his identity and true colours in the canvas of life.

The most spectacular ritual of Indian immigrants after they left the estates was the firepass ceremony, in which devotees walked through blazing flames. Sometimes associated with Hosay, the ritual enjoyed widespread support, until in the 1950s the growth of a more staid Hinduism led to its decline. In recent decades, however, firepass has been revived as part of the emotionally-charged Shakti pujas held in kali temples throughout Trinidad for the physical and spiritual healing of devotees.

After a night of delight at the casino with her rich husband, Delilah Lombardo awakes to find she’s in the wrong house. Waking up next to Kirby, the guy whose winning streak got everyone’s attention, was not what she bargained for. And having a house guest who simply won’t leave, is not what he bargained for. Now, they have to put their differences aside and work together to get the life they both want.

A girl tries to unravel pieces of her fragmented memory. She soon realises not everything that is faced can be changed.

A heartbreaking look at the restavek system of child servitude in Haiti. From a Valley of Talol presents victims’ tales of physical, emotional and sexual abuse. But it is also a story of hope, forgiveness and restoration.

This short documentary addresses the issue of Colorism in Jamaica, both on the island and abroad, and the emotional and physical impact it has had on Jamaican people.

The story of the notorious fugitive Winston Leroy Hall is something of almost folkloric legend in Barbados. Convicted for the murder of an elderly plantation owner, he escaped prison authorities multiple times and managed to stay on the run for nearly two decades across the Caribbean. The truth behind his escapes are elusive and bizarre as the story unfolds in this thrilling documentary.

In 1941 Ulric Cross, a young man from Trinidad, leaves his island home to seek his fortune. He emerges from World War II as the RAF’s most decorated West Indian. Cross’ long life spanned key moments of the 20th century including independence in Africa and the Caribbean. Shot in Ghana, UK and T + T, the film is not just about his life but of the extraordinary and transformative times he lived in, and tells the untold story of those Caribbean professionals who helped to liberate Africa from colonialism.

State Prosecutor Nathan Barr is spearheading an investigation into corruption by Ian Clarke, a prominent Member of Parliament. In an effort to prevent the investigation moving forward, Ian hires goons to retrieve critical evidence from Nathan’s home.

Rose and Dean are thrilled to be expanding their family. However, Rose notices all is not quite right at a time when she should be her happiest. After giving birth to Millie, the subtle signs and symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD) progress, bringing about feelings of guilt and confusion. Rose is baffled as the signs go unnoticed by those closest to her. The symptoms spiral out of Rose’s control. Is it too late for Rose? Her baby? Her family?

From humble beginnings in 1852 with a nun and three young girls from the Belmont Orphanage began a 125 year legacy for the Catholic Church. This documentary looks at the highs and lows of the Catholic Church in Trinidad and Tobago through the writings and stories of its many writers – the 1937 Labour riots, the 1970 Black Power Movement, the 1990 attempted coup; the times we failed history and the times we made history. It is in the pursuit of truth for 125 years that the legacy of a faith and a people are told.

A group of four teenage boys hang out together, but not everyone is feeling at ease within the group. Juni, having equal potential for good and bad makes a choice and takes control of his future.

An unexpected moment that is fun yet dangerous.

A lesbian couple, who often performs in female to male drag, shares their experience about coming out of the closet. They give their insight on their efforts to challenge gender expectations and spread acceptance in their rural community of La Habana, Cuba.

Dr. Jerome Teelucksingh discusses the inspiration for the creation of International Men’s Day. Observed on the 19 November, International Men’s Day has been recognised by numerous countries throughout the region and the wider international community.

Valentin is on a mission to write a song for a girl he likes, who lives in Elorza Town. On his way there, he starts to panic and jumps off of the bus in the middle of nowhere, so he can get more time to complete the song. At the bus stop, he meets a number of different people, who all share their different love experiences, which makes Valentin second guess what he is doing.

This documentary takes a look at the lives of four Japanese women who fell in love with Dancehall music and decided to move to Jamaica to build lives and careers. They also dismiss talks about cultural appropriation and profess their love for the island, the music, the people and the culture.

An American teenager visits her family in Jamaica and uncovers a secret that changes the way she sees the people she loves. This film explores the culture of silence amongst women, the kinds of secrets we keep and who they are actually protecting.

Alberto, an evangelical gardener, returns to his hometown to attend his father’s funeral, killed by an influential man. To mourn the deceased, he is forced to participate in religious celebrations that are contrary to his will and beliefs.

In 2010, the Jamaican government carried out a controversial military operation in downtown Kingston’s Tivoli Gardens, notoriously controlled by local don Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke like a state of his own. On their hunt for Dudus, enforcement officers allegedly murdered hundreds of people suspected of criminal activity in and around their homes without due process. Seven years later, now grown up, some of the thousands of children who lived through the Tivoli Incursion reflect on the traumatic experience and how it continues to affect their lives. In a poetic journey through memories, realities and universal truths seen through children’s eyes, Children of the Incursion attempts to understand the rampant and increasing violence on the island.

A silent film in which Anima Regalias, portrayed by Michelle Isava, appears.

The lives of a wealthy businessman, two drug addicts and a cantankerous obeah woman are strangely intertwined in the events following a woman’s suicide. Set on the culturally and ethnically diverse island of Mauritius and filmed entirely in its local Creole language, this weaving story touches on the macabre yet finds humorous twists that embody both the light and dark areas of human life.

‘Back in Times’ constructs an ingenious narrative via the spoken word art-form, highlighting the glaring disparities between our past and the present.

Angela is a young Afro-Cuban woman living as an immigrant in New York City. Struggling to maintain a job she finds solace, identity and her history in the vibrant Cuban Diaspora communities while coping with her feelings of loneliness in the Big Apple.

After the small plane she took with her lover hoping to start a better life elsewhere crashed during a violent storm, Elia must survive in the unknown jungle she’s stranded in.

Ever since she was a little girl, Rosita has dreamt of visiting Paris but never had the money to go. Now in her eighties, she has fallen on hard times and may lose her house to a foreclosure. Along with her clumsy but loveable husband Gonzalo, she devises an outrageous plan to rob a bank in order to save her home.

Dr Jane Harte is a world-renowned counsellor who has helped millions of couples solve their marital issues. On her wedding anniversary, she discovers her own husband has left her. Worse, she must take in her emotionally unbalanced sister, Rhonda.

Expressing your romantic feelings to the person you are secretly in love with is never easy, especially when this person is your best friend. But Monica has made her decision. This will be her coming-out day. Today the sun will start to shine, and the rain will belong to yesterday. Caribbean Shorts Competition winner of 2017 of Curacao International Film Festival Rotterdam.

These artists explore their experience of a transnational encounter, through their interests in language, sound, video, memory and ritual. The soundtrack is a collection of words they exchanged that were generated by this experience and later by their reflections on the documentation.

A dress to the Nation, is commentary on our existence in this post colonial island. We are orphaned children being handed over (along with the problems of our poor parenting), every five years to a new parent. We are promised a better tomorrow. Yeah. Right…wait for that.

A Barbadian artist goes on an inner journey through his memories, trying to recall his identity while talking to himself using “fling” (a Bajan rap flow). He want to free his mind from the shackles of social conditioning and reclaim his individuality.

A woman’s spiritual journey leads her away from traditional religion to find her bearings and peace in a different kind of church.

A personal journey through OCD and memory, as told by the water cycle.

Xerox Island considers the quality of thought and education and examines their gradual deterioration in a cycle that lacks innovation. Everything is a copy of a copy of a copy.

This film reflects, in a poetic, abstract way, the struggle of being an artist on a remote island in the Caribbean

Chaotic Beauty seeks to compare and contrast the ways in which the human brain perceives, processes and interprets visual imagery gathered from everyday experiences, with imagery that is generated solely through the use of digital technology.

FEVER DREAM Director: Nile Saulter A solitary scrap-metal collector must navigate his way back to the path of promise after disaster strikes. Meanwhile he’s plagued by dreams of a beautiful life once lived, or yet to come. THIS CITY OF MINE Director: Danielle Russell It is the first day of a brand-new job for Julia Aitken, a young university graduate. She is on her own in Kingston, and determined to be the independent woman that her parents don’t believe she can be. Julia decides to use the affordable public transportation system to get to work, but on the way, she encounters a few people and situations that she was not prepared for, all while trying to make it to work on time. CODE Director: Sarah Manley Code is about the struggle between the old ways of Rastafari livity and new modern technology. It is also about a boy who defies a father he loves and respects to prove his manhood. MANGO WARS Director: Kyle Chin Mr. Brown struggles to defend his large mango tree from the constant raids of passersby, neighbours and a particular set of clever thieves. ONE PATTY Director: Eugene Williams An impatient young man enters a patty shop. All he wants is one patty. But the colourful patrons in the line all unknowingly hamper his efforts at getting his one patty. His impatience causes him to make rash decisions and he learns a valuable life lesson – the hard way..

Yanory is a young indigenous woman from the rural, undeveloped area of Boruca, who also studies economics and anthropology in the city. She tells how she reconciles her double life.

Wither presents a Caribbean woman’s desire for love and stability. Melissa becomes obsessed with the idea of marriage and her fantasy lover. Dressed in a bride’s gown, she is driven to fulfil her desire. Will her fate be met or will she face a harsh reality?

Twenty-two-year-old Rorie Burgess goes on a mental journey to help cope with her feelings toward her father, who was never a part of her life, though she had always longed for a relationship with him. After the death of her paternal grandmother, she discovers a bag of letters that she wrote to him over the years, all unopened.

Wetlands and Us is an educational documentary on the importance of wetlands in Tobago and what their presence means for the island and the world. The negative impact of human activity on these systems is highlighted, along with an examination of what is being done and what still needs to be done to help preserve these habitats for future generations.

When Ella was twelve, she had her first fight. At the same age, she also discovered sex. Now eighteen, Ella reflects on how her obsession with her brother Michael’s gorgeous best friend Moses left her with a secret that she still carries. Is she the only one who loves Moses?

A young man is unable to cope with the pressures in both his personal and professional life. He makes a series of bad decisions and consequently pushes everybody away from him. After consuming a large amount of alcohol, he jumps into his car and is ready to reverse his actions and start doing the right thing.

Follow Detective-Sergeant Mia Richardson as she tackles the brutal rape of a young woman. As a member of CISOCA she is bound by an oath to protect the vulnerable. Her investigation is derailed by a man who is neither friend nor foe; a rogue officer of the JDF known only as Roman. Mia’s investigation uncovers a sinister human trafficking ring but also betrays a secret from her past. Now she must put an end to a personal evil and dive head first into a confrontation that she cannot hope to win on her own. This film highlights the issues of human trafficking, sex tourism and revenge/murder though the stories of three different characters, each bound in their own way. Whether man, woman or child, anyone can be affected by these issues, but a way must be found to free oneself from victimhood. Trauma does not need to define who someone is.

Two sisters go to their deceased grandmother’s house to sort her belongings. When Vanessa learns that Myriam has also invited their father for lunch, it is too late for her to leave and the confrontation is inevitable. Facing their distant father, Myriam tries to hide her wounds behind a mask of perfection, whereas Vanessa chooses cynicism and provocation.

A pore-raising look at the past, present and future of the BP Renegades Steel Orchestra. Touching on the violent beginnings of pan, through the era of change, to its present state as a positive influence on the community and steelbands as international ambassadors, this film seeks to provide a sense of what it really means To Be A Renegade.

Trinidad + Tobago is more than a people, place and culture. It is an inexplicable energy. To Be An All Star is the fortuitous story of possibly the biggest moment in the 2017 Trinidad + Tobago Carnival. The documentary captures and shares the moments of the extraordinary energy of the festivities when the Massy Trinidad All Stars steelband wins the Big Band Panorama finals.

Newly recruited by law-enforcement authorities, Jason tries to prove his competence when he is assigned to protect Hailee, the daughter of a prominent politically exposed person (PEP). He’s unaware of a lethal scheme, and a kidnapping attempt goes wrong as Jason obstructs the arrangement between the PEP and a known drug leader to kidnap Hailee and put her in a safe house. The ambitious young man sets out to complete his task, but finds himself in a life-threatening situation.

In this magical realism film, Gina and Gerald secretly cast love spells on each other without the other one knowing. Both are now unhappy, but unable to leave the relationship because they are tied together by the magic they have created. They must find a way to reverse what they have done.

Jasmine is a young Spiritual Baptist who must choose between her faith and her sexuality. As she undergoes the mourning ritual to seek guidance to suppress her desires for the woman she loves, she is taken on a spiritual journey on which she finds the answer she has been looking for.

Network mogul Ms O decides to move back to her native country. In Triniwood, she comes into contact with many unique characters, all of who want to make it into the big league. Day in and day out, she is confronted with many issues, in both her personal and professional life.

Kaleb plans to take his girlfriend to some of the best places around Kingston, Jamaica. When you are with the right person, you tend to see and appreciate the beauty around you even more. He plans to ask her a question that may change her life and perspective forever.

Pin and Norma are a nostalgic bilingual couple, celebrating 70 years of marriage. This is a golden moment for the couple as they go down memory lane, sharing their journey of love, trust and partnership.

A young man is trying to determine who he is. He wonders why he is always sad. Why can’t he be happy? He becomes lost in his own mind and begins to wander in a dream, which feels truer than reality. He is followed by a shadow. Will he be able to face the truth?

Two Brooklyn teenage prodigies, CJ Walker and Sebastian Thomas, are determined to outwit fate and build a makeshift time machine to save CJ’s brother, Calvin, from being wrongfully killed by the police. When these heroes first witness the death of Calvin, they jump back in time to save him, but only to fail. Determined to save his life, they risk their lives and try again…and again.

Never underestimate a little girl with good manners. Scarlett-Angelina, the pampered daughter of wealthy parents, takes it in her stride when she is kidnapped by Ralph, who poses as the family’s chauffeur. When his plans don’t go as he had envisioned, Ralph finds out, a little too late, the reason for her attitude.

Stuart Hall said, “If you think of culture always as a return to roots — R-O-O-T-S — you’re missing the point. I think of culture as routes — R-O-U-T-E-S — the various routes by which people travel, culture travels, culture moves, culture develops, culture changes, cultures migrate, etc.” Roots | Routes is a series of animated shorts detailing different aspects of the Barbadian experience.

He was supposed to leave home…and never return. He thought he was courageous to travel far from his island. But let him tell you the odyssey of his return. Now it will be all right, for whatever it is…he’s there!

Raindrops on my Head follows a young boy as he struggles through trials and hardship, facing the world alone, in the hope of a good day to come. Faith, hope and love are said to be connected, so if you love something, you will have faith in it.

This marriage between the creative forms of animation and spoken word tells the story of protesting. It is seen through the eyes of an unsuspecting Trini, and reflects the cultural nuances of Trinidad + Tobago. Now this is protest!

In Jamaica, before there was ska, reggae and dancehall there was mento. This is the history of Jamaica’s first popular music, which peaked along with the worldwide popularity of Trinidadian calypso in the 1950s. Stylistically unique, mento is the original sound of Jamaica and is still played across the island.

This film celebrates the architectural and cultural heritage of Trinidad + Tobago, commemorating some highlights of the country’s history.

Matt is trapped in a claustrophobic and manipulative situation. He stares at the padlocked cabinet in his bathroom, whose contents remain a mystery. His fears and uncertainties are revealed one night when Julie, his partner, turns the key, unlocking the truth behind their relationship.

All Kassie really wants for her birthday is a lock for her bedroom door. Instead, she gets an Elsa dress from Frozen and a pearl necklace. She throws a tantrum, but is unable to tell her father the reason for her wish, leading him to believe that she wants to talk to boys in private.

Wetlands — water combined with a diverse group of ecological landscapes — are important because they provide a range of benefits to people and the environment. However, few people realise just how many benefits they provide. This film ventures into a swamp to take a closer look.

Nannan is a travel diary taking you through Martinique, at the heart of the process of creation, and featuring several artists working on contemporary projects in dance, the visual arts, and music. From hip hop to contemporary dance, from photography to the renewed traditional arts of the island, Nannan lifts the curtain on a West Indian artistic stage, revealing young and less young artists, with an original approach often unknown to the general public. Communities rub shoulders with each other, innovate, and constantly question tradition.

A fisherman refuses to give up on the depleted fishing industry on his island. In his quest, he finds a mermaid washed up on shore amongst the seaweed. Later he wakes up looking to find her. Was it a dream, or has hope finally come to the dystopian island?

Why do local uniformed men ‘horn’ their wives and girlfriends? Men Are Dogs explores the infidelity of military men in T+T. Though these servicemen take a serious tongue-lashing, the film levels the playing field.

The issue of mental illness in Trinidad + Tobago has often been swept under the rug. Just Cheer Up is a documentary that highlights that fact and how mental illness affects those suffering from it. This film serves to raise awareness, educate and motivate the country to face this taboo topic.

Jessica and David’s marriage is in troubled waters after David’s infidelity. The existence of his lover isn’t something that Jessica is about to roll over and take. With a daughter caught in the middle, Jessica and David struggle with the possibility of saving their marriage or losing it all.

Ron becomes frustrated over his girlfriend’s fixation with her cellphone. While venting to his friends, he wishes she could give him the same courtesy. When his wish is granted, he gains her attention and the rest becomes history.

While having a drink at a bar, a young woman struggles to come to terms with her troubled past. Her childhood memories are not as deeply buried as she thought they were. Her tough exterior dissolves and she is forced to come face to face with herself.

Bill Aman is a 15-year-old outcast who attends Hillview College. He is socially invisible and craves the attention of others in order to feel a sense of purpose. One day, in the woods, he is bitten by an invisible space bug and literally becomes invisible. With this new power, Bill has the ability to seek vengeance.

Is there a film culture in Trinidad andTobago? In Frame looks at the issues affecting the local film industry and its members. Local filmmakers speak out about the issues they face, such as developing film within a post-colonial society, overcoming stereotypes, and addressing the lack of infrastructure to make viable films.

Michael is all ready to cook a special dinner for Christina in an attempt to woo her. He sets down his groceries and goes through his recipe books. He dices, measures, boils and even dances as he cooks. However, when he is ready to prepare the fish, he begins to hear sounds coming from it. He tries to convince himself that it’s just a fish — but he just can’t seem to bring himself to kill it.

In a social experiment, Nicholas, a young Barbadian, takes to the street and pretends to be homeless for 24 hours. Passers-by react differently as he reaches out for their help. What he finds out is heartbreaking: vagrants and the homeless need more than food and shelter; they need to feel human.

In an average day in the life of a young sex worker, Su Ming, she encounters various types of men, among them a bookish, professorial old man, a troubled and needy young man and a disturbed veteran. One client at a time, she is seen struggling through the trials and tribulations of her dark world.

This satirical film showcases the development of modern habits and materialistic desires. Coming from a family with strong East Indian traditions, Mohan finds a way to use these customs to his own benefit, and unexpectedly announces that he is ready to get married.

At 65, Féfé gets his heart broken for the first time. During his divorce, his friend goes on a quest to get him out of the house and takes him to a dating agency. There they decide to pursue Suzie, another divorcee. Féfé and Suzie hit it off nicely, but Féfé just cannot seem to get over his first love.

A chronicle of the struggle of two Dominican women, who left everything behind, including their own children, to move to Guadeloupe in hope of a better life. More than ten years later, they still fight every day to bring their children across to their new home. Two women, two shores, one dream.

Ten-year-old Luciana speaks to animals and has an special relationship with nature. During a family trip, she has some sensations- for the first time ever — that will transform her world and trigger her curiosity, anger, confusion, guilt and fantasy. Presented by the Embassy of Costa Rica

Imagine a society where dreaming does not exist. Dreamshire is a thrilling film about an autocratic government which has developed a drug to generate a passive society which can dream no more. The tables are turned when one man awakens the power to dream. He joins an ex-army professor and sets out to help the people who are stuck in a comatose, non-dreaming state and thus to foil the government’s plans.

Dream is an exhilarating film about a world where animals run free and humans are at one with nature.

A plea for a green Haiti, Where Have Our Trees Gone??? 300 Years of Tree Cutting in Haiti raises the alarm about the effects of deforestation, showing the complexity of the woodcutting phenomenon. Through interviews and unpublished archives, it exposes the impact of the timber trade during the colonial period, the American occupation and the Duvalier dictatorship.

The members of La Chacaita Kingdom Crew hit the streets with one thing on their minds: dancing. But first, they must overcome stereotypes, criticism and the possibility of being arrested. When the lights turn red, they go.

Visibly Me tells the story of a 47-year-old woman with no partner and no children who finds herself invisible and feels she has no choice but to find the antidote. This is a film about memory and perspective where the director’s deeply personal reflections resonate with those of us who have found ourselves invisible at some point in our lives.

Culture Consciousness stems from the desire to dig into the Caribbean region’s history. These nations have been influenced by their colonial past and by the generations that followed thereafter. The importance of literature is showcased, as literary and artistic representations lay the foundation for nation-building. How do we define who are we as a Caribbean people?

Zaydita has a lot on her plate and doesn’t get to spend much time out of the house. While her parents’ naturalization papers are being processed, Zaydita is left to take care of her grandmother, Juana, who suffers from dementia. After what seems like forever, Zaydita decides to shake things up a bit and go out on the town on the eve of her birthday, which also happens to be the coldest day of winter in Cuba.

When a single mother decides to go on her first date in years, her estranged partner pays her a surprise visit in an attempt to reconcile with her. When she refuses to give him a final kiss goodbye, his violent temper erupts and she must take drastic action to save herself and their baby.

This dramatic film shows the change in attitude of young Alicia after the man she once knew as her father walks out on the family, taking her brother Shane with him. Fast-forward to ten years later, at the Belrose Secondary School, when Mr Campbell, an English teacher, expresses his frustration over the child’s conduct to her mother. This leads to the revelation of the source of her disruptive behaviour.

Yan gets stood up by his date, and ends up meeting his friend at a local club. To get Yan out of his distress, his friend challenges him to talk to a girl who is standing across from them. Yan uses different tactics to try to lure her.

Charcoal captures the parallel stories of two black women and their lifelong journey to overcome internalized colorism, find self-acceptance and ultimately redemption. Despite the vast distances between them, these women both face a barrage of social messages from strangers and loved ones alike: That their darker complexion makes them less worthy of love, acceptance or respect. Yet through this painful erosion of their self-worth, these women rediscover their power and undergo a metamorphosis. They fully embrace the beauty, versatility and dignity of their melanin and begin to disrupt the generational cycle of self-hatred within communities of color.

Is there a link between fashion, media and school behaviour? Centerstitch takes the unique point of view of a young schoolboy, who is obsessed with his shoes. This film looks at the issues plaguing the local school system, such as bullying, unprotected sex, drug use and gambling.

After Carl’s doctor tells him to start making his final preparations, the dying man gets help from an unlikely source that gives him a new outlook. Life is about choices. It is about time, people, connections and love.

Mia Gormandy is a talented musician and the first woman to be appointed arranger for the birdsong Steel Orchestra. This documentary follows her during one night of steelband practice, as she prepares the panside for the 2017 Panorama competition.

For generations, the people of Bequia depended on the waters surrounding their tiny island for food. Bequians are one of the last groups in the world allowed to hunt whales for subsistence under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. However, anti-whaling nations and environmentalists continue to exert pressure on this small community to end its long tradition of whaling.

Jamal Edwards, 30, lives a less than ideal life in the busy city of Port of Spain. He is forced to go back to his dilapidated childhood home in Freeport, where his younger brother Joseph still lives. Jamal reluctantly begins renovating the old house, only to be plagued by the memories of his abusive childhood and the broken relationship he has with his brother.

Goodbyes may be a ritual for Delroy, but this one he cannot accept. A migrant worker from Jamaica, he has spent 6 months each year for the past 30 years working in the tobacco fields of southwestern Ontario in order to provide for his wife and 6 children. When he is diagnosed with late-stage melanoma (skin cancer), he is unable to accept the news, and continues to work as usual, hiding the truth from his family.

Vivid, haunting dreams push a man to search for the identity of his parents. An elderly and enigmatic indigenous woman seems to hold the answers to his questions. Will she help him and give up her secrets, or will she lead him down the rabbit hole?

A group of friends, with a new token white “friend,” meet up after a long time for a beach getaway. During a power outage, people try to get their “happy” on, but, unknown to them, they are being stalked by a stranger.

A vignette. A relationship. A rise and fall. Set to the backdrop of the poem “Epilogue” by Kei Miller, A Broken Appointment explores the dynamic of closeting within a young gay relationship, and how “hiding in the dark” may lead to a destructive end.

This film explores a dramatic period in the 1950s when colonisation and religion shamed and erased traditional beliefs about sexuality and family structure among the Inuit population in northwest Canada. Now a new generation of Inuit people share their stories, committed to uncovering and reclaiming their hidden histories, discovering ancient words passed down by elders to describe same-sex relationships. For women, it translates as: two soft things rubbing against each other; for men, it’s two hard things. Presented by the Canadian High Commission

A factory seamstress in the 1940s, she became a unionist and international activist, fighting for the rights of women, workers and her countrymen. The fearless Marta Matamoros couldn’t be bribed or intimidated, despite being imprisoned numerous times. Her former sisters-in-arms recount her inspiring life with love and admiration.

James Baldwin began but never finished a book about his friends Medgar Evers, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, martyrs of the 1960s US civil rights movement. Haitian director Raoul Peck helps him posthumously bear witness, using Samuel Jackson’s voicing of Baldwin’s writing, and television footage of the writer. The film is also a depiction of a disturbing, divided America and a paradoxically intimate portrait of Baldwin himself, anguished yet calm, and rivetingly charismatic.

Luciana and Pedro bond after a party, over the weird way their friends have settled down to marriage and children, and Luciana goes with Pedro on a no-strings-attached field trip into the bush. Their innocence is matched by the lush, edenic rainforest, lovingly shot in black and white. But casual fun threatens to become more serious, and grown-up choices have to be made. Presented by the Embassy of Costa Rica

Laerte wants to be a professional violinist, but everything in his life seems to go wrong at once. Reluctantly taking a job in a slum school, he’s confronted with a band of delinquent string players — not an easy task even without his intense, perfectionist nature. But the tide begins to turn, and he even discovers a violin prodigy. Then trouble threatens as some of the boys in the band are drawn to an easier life. Classical music is combined with elements of an edgy urban thriller in this quirky, touching drama.

Set in a beautiful Himalayan valley, Sound of Silence follows the journey of a mute boy, who loses his mother at birth and is neglected by his father. His relationship with an elderly Buddhist monk helps him to detach from his voiceless suffering and to explore the bond that each creation shares with nature. When his father is jailed, the boy stares at an even lonelier life. With nowhere to go, he joins the Buddhist monastery, as he fights an inner battle of unrequited love.

When the owners abandon La Soledad, a decaying mansion, they let their former maid Rosina stay there, and her family moves in. They’re all struggling in Venezuela’s economic crisis, and the owners decide to demolish the house and sell the land — leaving the ailing Rosina and her grandson Jose’s family destitute if he can’t find a solution. The story is re-enacted by the real-life participants: José is Thielen’s boyhood friend. La Soledad is best translated “desolation” here, and its collapse becomes a metaphor for the lost grandeur and wealth of Venezuela.

Big Wong is a movie fanatic, and wants Little Wong to be one too. Sadly, Big Wong’s ambition outweighs his achievements. He’s a lowly cinema janitor, struggling to earn enough to keep custody of his son from his estranged wife. In the dawn of the digital age, he finds a way of making and selling pirate DVDs — with Little Wong’s help. They bond over their ethically dodgy business in this affectionate tribute to the golden age of film.

You can’t get away from the sea on the tiny island of Providence, between Jamaica and Colombia. Certainly it’s never out of Keyla’s mind after her father and his fishing boat disappear. They call the Caribbean “the sea of seven colours” here, and among the bright hues of tropical fish and corals are sinister tones. There are territorial disputes, rumours of drug-running, pirate legends; and all the complications of family and love, undercurrents of old hurts and the forging of new bonds as Keyla comes of age.

Shashamane chronicles a chapter of the lengthy history of the African diaspora, through the voices of men and women who have left the West, 400 years since the dawn of slavery, to return to their forefathers’ land and reclaim their African identity. It’s an exodus that becomes an extraordinary homecoming to a place that for some is a haven, but for others a cage with no escape.

In 1948 the Chilean poet and communist activist Pablo Neruda had to go into hiding to avoid arrest. Larrain’s film is loosely based on the story of how the beloved poet escaped capture, evading a pompous, bumbling policeman. Sometimes it’s a detective movie, sometimes surreal; sometimes it resembles film noir, at other times a western. Neruda weaves together scenes of great beauty and bathos, between the words of the poet, the Andean snows and the plodding Inspector Peluchonneau.

Nico is a rising young actor in his native Argentina, but he wants to make it big in America — and he’s running from some demons at home. He has some good friends in the US, and success dangles almost within reach as he makes some promising contacts. But unless those promises are fulfilled, he’s just another illegal immigrant struggling to make not only a living, but also to find a sense of home.

Set in bustling Bhopal, this award-winning comic-but-serious drama chronicles the lives of four very different women who dream of freedom from the patriarchal society that confines them. The normally feisty Shirin has to keep her job secret from her domineering husband. Rehana sews burkhas for her family business, then sneaks off to live her fantasy of being Miley Cyrus. Leela faces an arranged marriage to a dull Hindu husband, while carrying on outrageously with her Muslim boyfriend. And middle-aged Usha is content to read steamy romances…until she meets a very unsuitable boy.

In the 1970s, Martiniquans were lured to mainland France with the promise of opportunities, but found only menial jobs and rampant racism. Jimmy tries to make an honest living, with help from the various women in his life. But he falls in with a motley crew of fellow Caribbean men, some motivated by money, others by the desire for revenge and revolution. Jimmy wants to settle down with his daughter and girlfriend — but first he must carry out one final, daring heist with the gang. The film is based on a true story.

Félicité sings in a club, barely scraping a living in the tough city of Kinshasa — grittily, vividly conveyed here. Even fixing her fridge seems too much. Then her son is badly injured in an accident and the fiercely independent Félicité must ask for help to raise the huge price of the surgery he needs. This film explores the resilience of people who find small ways to transcend their troubles and acknowledge their kinship.

The earnest, neurotic Diego loves his girlfriend Sofía — but somehow things just aren’t going right. They decide to spend a week at the beach to work out their problems, and at first things go swimmingly, until Sofía meets an old friend, Malena. The chemistry between the three of them sparks fizzes and explodes as this romantic comedy lurches from slapstick to bathos to bittersweet. Presented by the Embassy of Costa Rica

When a hopeless romance writer and a pragmatic independent journalist meet by chance and spend a night together, they are forced to question their notions of love and relationships. The couple has even more in common than they first thought, since they are both liars as writers — he signs his books under a female pseudonym, while she writes her column as a man. A witty, romantic comedy which shows the lighter side of Mexican cinema.

Essuman’s life collapses when her baby is born with disabilities. A yam-seller in the Accra market, she doesn’t have the money for surgery, so she turns to folk remedies. The same folk beliefs make her life harder, however, when she is blamed for her son’s condition. Yet it’s an old woman in her home village whose wise advice offers hope for her and her child.

Corn and his sullen sister Rita set out on an errand for their mother, along what turns out to be a long and winding road, thanks to the eponymous animal (played by Vincent van Goat). The film is set on one of Colombia’s San Andrés islands, which have strong historical links with Jamaica. Hence the language, offbeat humour, colourful characters—and the teens’ fear that it’s a duppy that has caused the chaos. Can the enterprising Corn beat a supernatural jinx?

Adama lives a traditional life in a sheltered valley in West Africa. Then his older brother runs away to be a warrior, tempted by the gold of the mysterious Nasseras people. Adama goes in search of him, only to find the strangers are the French, and his quest takes him as far as the Western Front in the middle of World War I. The horrors of modern warfare mingle with magical realism in this one-of-a-kind feature.

I Am a Politician follows Carlos, a former filmmaker recently released from jail. Looking for a job where he can make a lot of money fast, he teams up with his cellmate Cangri and runs for governor of Puerto Rico. Running for one party won’t be enough, so he approaches each of the island’s three main parties, pitching his candidacy to the highest bidder. During his campaigning, he falls in love and begins to change his outlook.

The melancholy Diego washes dishes in a Havana restaurant, hoping to migrate to the US, and cares for his childhood friend Miguel, who has AIDS. Diego’s quietness contrasts with the lively neighbours who share their lives in a place where privacy is almost impossible, especially when Miguel’s firebrand niece comes to stay with them. Despite Diego’s inscrutable quality, the film is gentle and moving.

Sam is a serial adulterer, whose many businesses and personal interests make him the point of contact for his friends who are struggling with fidelity accusations, including his best friend John and his fiancée Susan. Although Sam constantly encourages John to cheat, John resists. However, when Sam catches Susan in a compromising situation with another man, rather than telling his best friend, he sexually blackmails her.

In the 1980s, Andres lives in a shack in the Cuban hills, selling preserves for a living, but is considered a dangerous dissident. So during a nearby conference attended by foreigners, Santa, a farm worker, is sent to ensure he has no contact with them. A true believer, she’s puzzled to find she relates to him as a fellow wounded human being. But even the smallest defiance of revolutionary doctrine must be ruthlessly repressed.

Ángel Maceta is a sweet 7-year-old, cared for by his mother and aunts, and roaming wherever his imagination takes him. He finds a book that will help him discover treasure — but it also reveals the story of the 1965 civil war that tore the Dominican Republic apart. Meanwhile his innocent curiosity about his absent father brings back memories for his mother that are bittersweet, until the story told by his book reaches its conclusion.

Twenty-four-year-old construction worker Travis Duke runs completely out of luck with love, work and money. His fortunes change when he buys a lotto ticket with the winning numbers. He curses his boss and starts making plans. No cash in hand yet, he borrows money from ‘Bling’, a drug lord, to kickstart the celebrations, buy a car and even a condo. Did Travis put the cart before the donkey? What happens when he goes to cash his winning ticket?

Asha flies in from England to visit her old family home. But there’s trouble in paradise. Her aunt Mary doesn’t like her associating with their Afro-Trinidadian neighbours. Then Asha begins to realise this abandoned seaside coconut estate is not as tranquil as it looks. Trinidadian-American director Anderson’s striking imagery mingles memory and imagining, the mundane and the supernatural, in examining family, race, class, and the quest for home.

For their anniversary, Diego has planned a repeat of his first weekend with his girlfriend Laura. In fact he’s planned it too exactly, and Laura is bored by his lack of spontaneity. Luckily Diego, an inventor, can rejig his Sexotron machine, travel back in time and make everything different. Filmed in Technicolor hues, this sex/science-fiction comedy has a 1950s look, and the gadgets have a distinctly antiquated air. So Diego’s scientific experiments have some unexpected and hilarious outcomes.

An exciting and intimate journey through one of the world’s most diverse and controversial cities, Kingston, the capital of Jamaica. Kingston Crossroads is a snapshot of the country’s current social and political situation, told through the personal perspectives of several fascinating Jamaicans. At the crossroads of the title, old and young generations, unique storylines and inspiring visions meet.

Twelve-year-old Jeffrey’s mother wakes him not for school but to clean windshields in traffic to pay the rent, as he’s done for 6 years. Most of her children live with her, because their father beat her and doesn’t support them. One older brother sings reggaetón; as “Jeffrey the Nightmare,” the hopeful and enterprising little boy follows suit, taking what pleasure he can from small things and anxious to break free of their crushing poverty.

This fan favourite, based on the beloved novel, is set in a remote village in 1952 Trinidad, where a curious boy pursues the affection of two girls. Despite his ailing father’s advice, Shell follows the compassionate Mr Gidharee to work on his plantation along the river, in hopes of attracting his daughter Rosalie, but then falls for Joan, a sweet, sensible girl from the city. From the love triangle that ensues, Shell learns bittersweet lessons of life and love that will define his manhood and future forever. Directed by Trinidadian filmmaker, Michael Mooleedhar, ‘Green Days by the River’ is based on Michael Anthony’s beloved novel.

Teresa, an astrophysicist, goes back to her family in Puerto Rico to invite them to her wedding. This is not an easy task, as she has an ongoing battle with her father. As tensions grow from mounting frustrations, her anxious fiancé becomes impatient and pays the family an unexpected visit. Her mystery love unravels a number of the family secrets, but a star 2.5 million light years away will help to bring them all together again.

Three young friends daydream on the roofs of the apartment blocks of Havana. Anita wonders who’s the father of her unborn child. Yasmani watches his pigeons fly free and tries to coax his father into leaving their apartment. Vito, convinced he’s really Italian, tries to contact his imagined family in Sicily. In a world of their own, they try to find a way to begin their lives in the real world.

Juan gave up fishing and became caretaker of a beach house to support his wife. Now she’s left him for another man, and, feeling the villagers are mocking him, he’s retreated into a passive, solitary exile there. When his employer’s son sneaks some friends over for a wild weekend, Juan realises the house has become a cage and he’s let himself be exploited. Will he be able to break free of his self-imposed imprisonment?

Kevin owns a battered boat, but a living from fishing won’t keep his wife and his mother, who has Alzheimer’s, or pay his mortgage and his son’s school fees. His wife’s career is over because she served jail time for his involvement in the drug trade. Now even more desperate, he puts his boat to another use: transporting equally desperate Haitians from the Bahamas on their way to enter the US illegally. He’s taken risks before — this time he must pull off the biggest one of all.

Angélica works in a clothes factory in New York, sewing her own designs in the little spare time free from the demands of boyfriend Jose. Then her father Wilfredo has a heart attack and she flies home to Puerto Rico. Wilfredo is black, but Angélica’s mother is white, and it’s only upon her return that she fully understands the virulent racism (and sexism) she’s battled all her life. She finally grasps the choice she must make: conform to the wishes of those who should have her interests at heart, or follow her own path, independent but completely alone.

This academic music video explores “wining” as a dance language with a history and identity born out of the Caribbean experience. In particular, it looks at the body in motion as well as elements of Trinidadian society that are represented in the way people dance and the various ethnic influences on the dance itself.

A free-spirited woman runs afoul of some members of her community because she owns a jazz club and declines all invitations to attend church. When she does agree to go, she brings with her a shocking idea that threatens to turn things upside down.

Vanaja, the 15-year-old daughter of an impoverished South Indian fisherman, is sent to work for the local landlady in hopes of learning the Kuchipudi dance. She excels at the art, and all is well until the landlady’s adult son returns home from the US. His eye falls on Vanaja, who insults him publicly. Matters escalate, and Vanaja is pitched into a maelstrom of class, family and animus from which there is only one escape.

A man travels to Carnival in Trinidad and makes home movies. At first he is very nervous but then he meets an artist who hangs police cars upside down.

The Ricciotti Ensemble is a Dutch symphony orchestra comprised of 40 young musicians. This film recounts a remarkable tour they made of Curaçao, along with renowned local jazz singer Izaline Calister, playing 18 concerts in 18 locations over four consecutive days.

Aidee Gonzalez (playing herself) is struggling to make something of her life after ridding herself of a marriage to an uncaring man. Aidee supports herself and her children as an exotic dancer at a shabby nightclub, where she meets Rosalba, with whom she falls in love. Aidee and Rosalba decide to start a family of their own, and begin looking for a sperm donor who is handsome—but not so handsome that he will steal Rosalba away.

When little Chloe abruptly stops speaking, her mother and grandmother are puzzled. Psychiatry and the supernatural are called into play, yet the truth of the matter is far greater—and more obvious—than either woman suspects. This is a powerful film about the dangerous consequences of silence.

This film goes inside the Youth Training Centre and uncovers the stories of three young men, remanded for crimes ranging from larceny to murder. Their gripping testimonies make the case that social factors such as an inadequate education system and familial neglect contribute to the problem of crime that continues to plague our nation’s youth.

Akinwande Oluwole Soyinka—Wole Soyinka to the world—is one of Nigeria’s and Africa’s treasures. A novelist, poet and playwright, he won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986, the first African to be so honoured. Throughout his long, chequered career Soyinka has never backed down from speaking truth to power, and using his writer’s gifts to take aim at oppression, corruption and the legacy of colonialism and slavery. This profile presents the many sides of Soyinka, from writer to activist to revolutionary. A number of interviewees including fellow writers, members of his family as well as Soyinka himself testify to his restless, inquisitive spirit, and his desire for knowledge for the betterment of country and continent. Stylized recreations of pivotal moments from his career round out this celebration of a true literary lion.

Wild Combination is a visually absorbing portrait of the seminal avant-garde composer, singer-songwriter, cellist, and disco producer, Arthur Russell. Before his untimely death from AIDS in 1992, Russell created a huge body of music that spanned both pop and the transcendent possibilities of abstract art. Now, over 15 years since his passing, his work is finally finding its audience. Director Matt Wolf was intrigued with Russell’s music, he said, even before he had heard it. “My friend described a long forgotten gay disco auteur in a farmer’s plaid shirt, obsessively listening to mixes of his own music on the Staten Island Ferry. That image alone was enough, but when I heard the emotional intensity and the complex beauty in Arthur’s music, I was obsessed.” Wolf incorporates rare archival footage and commentary from Arthur’s family, friends, and closest collaborators—including his parents Chuck and Emily Russell, partner Tom Lee, Allen Ginsberg and Philip Glass—to tell this poignant and important story.

“The moment when one thing turns into another is the most beautiful moment,” says Vik Muniz, the Brazilian artist at the centre of this extraordinary film. Shot over nearly three years, Waste Land follows Muniz, arguably his country’s top contemporary artist, as he journeys from his base in Brooklyn to the world’s largest garbage dump, Jardim Gramacho, located on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. There he photographs an eclectic band of catadores—self-designated pickers of recyclable materials. Muniz’s initial objective was to “paint” the catadores with garbage. However, his collaboration with these inspiring characters as they recreate photographic images of themselves out of garbage reveals both dignity and despair as the catadores begin to re-imagine their lives. Waste Land is a stirring testament to the transformative power of art and the alchemy of the human spirit.

The year is 1942, and the world is at war. Venezuela is the largest supplier of oil to the Allies and thus of strategic importance. Frank Moore, a communications specialist with the US army, travels to a small town on Venezuela’s Caribbean coast. He sets himself up in a cabin, not far from the residence of his superior, Commander Salvatierra. Frank’s mission is twofold: to protect oil tankers from possible U-boat attacks, and discover the identity of a Nazi spy within the Venezuelan army. Frank becomes friendly with Commander Salvatierra’s wife, the beguiling Venezzia, who is partially blind. Soon the two are engaged in a passionate affair. Meanwhile, Frank suspects that he is being monitored, and is accused of being the very spy he is meant to be tracking. Will he and Venezzia find the happiness they so desperately seek, or does tragedy await them?

A female loggerhead turtle begins life on a beach in Florida and fights to make it to the ocean at the start of one of the most extraordinary journeys in the natural world. The hatchling rides the Gulf Stream north towards the Arctic and, taking a route prescribed by her ancestors millions of years ago, swims around the entire North Atlantic, across to Africa, south to the Caribbean and, eventually, returns to Florida. This epic journey takes 25 years to complete, and on the way the turtle faces numerous perils, even as she shares this great marine migration with a host of other creatures of the deep. She witnesses some of the disastrous changes that are happening in the Atlantic Ocean as it becomes increasingly polluted and crowded with ships—but there’s hope as she deposits her eggs in the soft sand on the beach where she was born.

This documentary tells the story of the University of the West Indies, St Augustine. The film features an evocative introduction by performance poet Muhammed Muwakil and a remarkable collection of archival photographs. It is a visual companion to From the Imperial College of Agriculture to University of the West Indies, written by renowned historian Bridget Brereton.

John Tesoro is a government minister on the Caribbean island of Castara. With an election coming up, he takes to TV for a live interview with journalist Emmanuel Brown, who confronts him on his corrupt track record and dodgy personal life. A political satire with Trinidadian Gerry Bednob (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Zack and Miri Make a Porno) in the title role.

As part of an international initiative of New York-based composer, Jon Deak, five 11-year-old schoolboys set out to make and send a musical postcard called Rainforest. The film documents the process of composing the piece to its culmination with a public performance at Port of Spain’s Academy for the Performing Arts.

Told through the compelling lives of five courageous Haitian women, Poto Mitan gives the global economy a human face. Each woman’s personal story not only illustrates the effects of globalisation, but also how it is gendered, and how it impacts Haiti as a whole. Initiated by the subjects themselves, the film aims to inspire solidarity activism to help end economic injustice.

A tale about the life of a scorned Pierrot Grenade, who longs to be adored like his European counterparts.

This documentary explores some of the struggles and triumphs of a man who is a true lover of the arts. Nala is an actor, filmmaker, writer and artist who faces economic hardship and deprivation, but yet remains true to his artistic passion and expression.

A celebration of the spirit of enslaved Africans, who were able to preserve some of their culture and ritual practices in the new lands where they were taken to by force. Journeying through spirit to a period of ancestor reverence and ritual, a little boy experiences history on the shores of the ocean, through song, dance and rhythm. The film pays homage to the Orishas, and celebrates one of the rich cultural legacies of the Caribbean.

The universally known image of Shakespeare’s Ophelia by John Millais is used as a metaphor for Kashmir, a country once called “Paradise on Earth”, and its people caught between two countries.

Using Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey, as a narrative starting point, and structured as an allegorical fable, The Nine Muses is a stylised and idiosyncratic retelling of the history of mass migration—particularly from Africa and the Caribbean—to post-war Britain. Divided into nine overlapping chapters and blending archival material with haunting images of snow-blanketed landscapes, this is a genre-defying work, a mystifying (and mythifying) tone poem about journeys, migration, memory and the power of elegy.

Cassius is a wanted man. When his pursuers—led a mysterious figure in white leather shoes—catch up with him, he is forced to talk. Cassius then goes into hiding, but for how long can he prolong his fate? This is a stylish mash-up of film noir and blaxploitation, shot through with heaps of African cool.

A maxi-taxi heading into Port of Spain, filled with a ragtag assortment of passengers, finds itself snarled up in traffic. A hilarious slice-of-Trini-life film.

At this moment in the UK, at least 2,600 trafficked women are being exploited in prostitution. Marginal Voices is a theatre project in London that allows formerly trafficked women to speak in their own words. This film looks at a number of these women as they rebuild their lives, and find their voice through drama.

Sat, an ageing ex-schoolteacher, returns home from Canada after 20 years. Most of his family are dead, including his young sister, a suicide. Blaming himself for her death, Sat expiates his guilt by fantasizing her appearance as a series of different characters. Based on a story by the Trinidadian-Canadian writer Rabindranath Maharaj.

This is an irreverent and revealing look at one young woman’s search for God. Of no religion herself, Lynessa Parks investigates the major faiths practised in Trinidad and Tobago, with a view to joining one. Will she find a faith that fits, or will they fail to meet her exacting (and humorous) criteria?

Richard, a 10-year-old boy who lives with his grandparents, has an attachment to his football as if it were his best friend. As time progresses, the ball develops blemishes and scratches as a result of their activities together. The lesson learned is simple: a friend is a friend no matter the person—or thing.

Just after the death of her newly-born sister, Chanda, 12 years old, learns of a rumour that spreads like wildfire through her small, dust-ridden village near Johannesburg. The rumour tears apart her family and forces her mother to flee. Sensing that the gossip stems from prejudice and superstition, Chanda leaves home and school in search of her mother and the truth. A tale of the enduring strength of loyalty and a courage powered by the heart.

Based on a Maasai folktale, this is the story of a giant cave-dwelling ogre who frequently raids a nearby village, carrying away its inhabitants for food. One day, however, he falls in love with a beautiful maiden—and finally meets his match!

This revealing film follows the writing and performing of a skit by deaf Trinidadians about a child’s experience of hearing loss. Through the play, and through interviews with the actors, deaf children and their parents, the viewer is taken into an unfamiliar world.

A celebration of parang, this film looks at the Venezuelan roots of the music form, the different types of song performed and the various instruments used. It also considers the changes that have taken place in parang over the years, and highlights 81-year-old Wyllie Lara, the last living sibling of the famed Lara Brothers band.

Like most Indian boys, Kavi wants to play cricket and go to school. Instead he is forced to work in a brick kiln as a modern-day slave. He must either accept his fate, or fight for a different life. Winner of a Student Academy Award in 2009, and nominated for an Academy Award in 2010.

At the mouth of the Suriname River a colony of dolphins may be found. But many Surinamese don’t know these beautiful, intelligent creatures exist. This film shows how sightseeing tours are bringing people into touch with the creatures, and how a research programme is ensuring there will be dolphins for future generations to enjoy.

This project involves seven young artists of a New York-based art collective and the work they did in a week spent in Haiti after the earthquake of January 2010. This was part of their mission to “force people to take a new look at the reality of post-earthquake Haiti.”

In the isolated mountains and valleys of the Venezuelan Andes, life has remained virtually unchanged for centuries. This film is a journey through these mysterious places where through festivals, songs, dances and stories, peasants share the traditions they have preserved from one generation to the other. Indigenous and Spanish folklore merge to create a culture that’s magical and joyous, even as the lives of these villagers are austere and full of toil.

Three young women compete for the title of Ebony Goddess in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil—the largest black city outside of Africa. The competition is hugely popular and plays an important role in affirming Afro-Brazilian identity and pride for women in Salvador.

This animated sketch seeks to show how interrelated we are as a people and how much we depend on one another for our collective being. The sketch moves from one situation to another, each one feeding off the one before, showing our interlocking realities.

This comic “folk opera” begins when a man forgets his wife’s birthday. Carlton Jones buys a bagful of expensive presents in an effort to appease his beloved. He takes the elevator on his way to her but it breaks down, leaving him trapped with five other people: a woman and her unruly teenaged daughter, a man who was forced to end a relationship with his fiancée, and two women who find out they share more than a friendship.

Terra Estrangeira is an engrossing, grainy black-and-white thriller made in the best film noir tradition. It is 1990, and Brazil’s newly elected president, Fernando Collor, has frozen all personal savings accounts. Young Brazilians, fearing a bleak future, leave the country in droves. Among them is Alex, who would rather eke out an existence as a waitress in Portugal than remain in São Paolo. Paco, meanwhile, dreams of travelling abroad, and when his mother dies, he no longer has anything keeping him in Brazil. Accepting a delivery job from a shady businessman, Paco heads off to Lisbon. When things go wrong, Paco finds himself thrown together with Alex. The two end up on the run with a violin full of uncut diamonds, and an underworld honcho on their trail.

Ever wonder why the elephant has a trunk, why the hippo has no hair, or why the lion roars? Tinga Tinga Tales will tell you. In this delightful children’s series, humans don’t exist and the animals live by their own rules. Here is a world of stripes and spots, of myth and friendship—a world where animals transform before your very eyes!

Like many 11-year-old boys in South Africa, Themba dreams of playing for Bafana Bafana, the national football team. When his mother loses her job, she departs their home in rural Eastern Cape to look for work in Cape Town, leaving Themba and his sister in the care of her lover. After Themba undergoes a traumatic experience, he and his sister decide to go to find their mother, even though his football team is on the verge of winning the local junior championships. In Cape Town, Themba and his sister find their mother dying of Aids. Though he must work to care for the family, Themba does not give up on his dream. Against the odds, he is selected to play for the national under-20 squad. This gives him the strength to come forward and make a courageous public admission.

A passenger on a bus begins to suspect that a crime is about to take place. Is he right, or merely being paranoid?

Like many young men in the Dominican Republic, Miguel “Sugar” Santos dreams of becoming a baseball star in the United States. Yet, unlike most of the others Sugar has a real shot at making it, thanks to his devastating curveball. Soon he is spotted by a scout and whisked away to Kansas City to a Minor League team. So begins Sugar’s journey towards his dream of building a new home for his family—and buying a Cadillac for himself. In Kansas, Sugar faces the challenges of a new culture, including the language barrier, casual racism and the ways of American women. When he is injured and his closest friend departs the team, Sugar begins to examine the world around him and his place in it. Pressure mounts when a new pitcher arrives. As his dream slowly crumbles, Sugar decides to start a new chapter in his odyssey and follow another, no less elusive, kind of dream.

Somebody Shoot Me is the misanthropic, morbidly comic story of Merv Small, a student at the University of the Caribbean. Merv hates the students. He hates his lecturers. He hates his mother. He hates the world and everything in it. Filled with disgust and despair, Merv decides there’s only one solution for his situation.

This thought-provoking documentary questions power and social control by exposing the central conflict between Eurocentric and Afrocentric religions. The film re-visits the 1917 Prohibition Ordinance that made the practice of the “Shouter” Baptist religion in Trinidad and Tobago illegal, and looks at the causes and the effects of the legislation, both on members of the faith and the general public.

Rose Murray is a self-taught photographer now in the golden years of her life. This film takes us back through the decades to Kingston, Jamaica, where as the wife of the British High Commissioner Rose first picked up a camera in earnest. Never settling into the traditional role of a diplomat’s spouse, she instead became a chronicler of the Jamaican people. Through her art, Rose was able to create meaning not only in her life, but also in the lives of those around her.

Nature is extinct. The outside is dead. Asha lives and works in a specially designed indoor community. When she receives a box in the mail containing soil, she plants an old seed in it, and the seed starts to germinate. Asha appeals for permission to investigate the possibility of life on the outside, but is denied. Asha’s only hope—and the only hope for humankind—is for her to break out of the community and seek a place where she can plant the precious seedling.

After a heated quarrel with her boyfriend late one evening, Lisa decides to travel home by herself. However, things take a turn for the worse when she enters the wrong car.

The Pan Man tells the story of Trinidad-born Russ Henderson, an accomplished jazz pianist, pioneer of the Notting Hill Carnival and leading light in the world of steel pan in the United Kingdom. The film recounts Henderson’s long road to fame, from struggling musician in the 1950s fighting racism and poverty, to receiving recognition in the form of an MBE for long-standing services to the music industry.

University life isn’t just studying, partying and sports. Life on campus often has a darker side, as the two related tales in this disturbingly compelling film show.

Ten-year-old Thembi and her eight-year-old brother, Khwezi, are left alone in their rural homestead when their mother dies. All they have to remember their mother by is a grass mat she wove, which she aimed to enter in a craft competition. Thembi decides to take the mat to the competition herself, and Khwezi reluctantly goes with her. In the city, the children are taken up by the street-wise Chili-Bite and his gang. A man claiming to be a priest offers to help them, but he turns out to be a pimp who wishes to sell Thembi’s virginity as a cure for Aids. When her bond with Khwezi is broken, Thembi succumbs to the grief that has been welling up inside her since her mother’s death. Alone, Thembi must discover herself and her dreams, before she can be reconciled with her brother and her newfound friends.

London, 1948. Georgie has recently arrived in England from Jamaica. In a letter home to his sweetheart Vonnie, Georgie details his experiences and impressions, as he seeks housing, finds a job, and tries to get used to English food. Georgie would like Vonnie to join him in London for a spell, before they return to Jamaica and settle for good. Yet will one English winter become something much more?

The year 2000 is approaching. As millennium parties get underway in Rio de Janeiro, João escapes from jail by murdering his cellmate and slipping away during the confusion. Meanwhile, Maria, a speech therapist, finds a note from her lover, Pedro, indicating that he has moved out. Maria begins wandering the confetti-filled streets in the vain hope of finding Pedro. Out in the streets together, João and Maria intersect. As the fireworks ushering in the new millennium explode over Copacabana beach, the couple seal their newfound love. Yet is that love doomed to end before it can even begin?

Jude is a widowed nurse, Jamaican by birth, living in Canada and battling sickle cell disease. Silence is a taciturn, ageing boxer who runs a gym for boys, and engages in illegal street fighting for money on the sly. And Ciel is Jude’s sensitive young son who, through his love of music, conjures for his mother lyrical dreams of a return to her native land. When Silence enters Jude’s care after one of his fights the two fall in love, and Silence finds himself becoming a father figure to Ciel. Soon Jude’s illness takes a turn for the worse, and Silence becomes caught up in a potentially fatal dispute with a gangster. Yet when it appears that all is lost, fate intervenes—and Jude’s dream of going home to Jamaica is fulfilled in a way she could never have expected.

In this cautionary tale, best friends Keisha and Charmaine try to make the best of life in the tough Kingston district of Tivoli Gardens. Keisha is the more polished of the pair—conventionally beautiful and more conservative in her lifestyle. She is involved with an ambitious “uptown” man who is about to leave the island to pursue his studies. Charmaine, on the other hand, is more flamboyant, a passa passa queen who engages in risky behaviour that gets her into serious trouble. Around the two girls the everyday routine of life in these notorious streets goes on, with the beat of Jamaica’s popular dancehall accompanying the story. When Charmaine begins to feel ill, Keisha fears the worst and insists she gets tested for HIV and pregnancy. Keisha agrees to go with her as support and gets tested as well. The results would lead to drastic changes in attitudes for the women.

Jerry Maka West is a Rastafarian who lives a simple life in Dominica’s forested interior, his Zion. Here he grows and prepares his food just as his grandparents taught him. Jerry skips in and out of the modern world, never really being drawn into it. Instead, he prefers to remain close to nature, working hard to put in as much as he takes out, in harmony with a living earth.

A startling reality unfolds for Catherine when she is forced to confront her husband’s roots, high up in the Blue Mountains. Missed is a beguiling story about human folly and the devastating consequences of unmet expectations.

In this ambitious allegory, an American woman medic, Dr Asira, comes to Tanzania to work at a hospital for the mentally disturbed. There she meets a sometimes-catatonic patient, Samahe, who seems to be in communication with another reality. In their confrontation with their individual and collective pasts, Dr Asira and Samahe are bound by fears and half-remembered images of unbearable pain. It is only through the mentoring spirit of Maangamizi that the women can resume their lives with an understanding of the ancestors and their eternal presence in a world of cruelty, hatred and death. Maangamizi is a film that seeks to reclaim the connection between Africa and her Diaspora, and dares to represent the histories of two continents as it peels away layer upon layer of trauma to bring a healing of the soul.

Denisha is the village Maco. When she spots married Mr Thompson coming out of her neighbour Aurora’s house early one morning, Denisha rushes to the phone to tell a friend. Her actions will have surprising—and hilarious—consequences.

The musical talent of Trinidad and Tobago is prodigious, not to mention diverse. In 2009 three young local musicians embarked on a tour to take their music to the world, and fly the flag of T&T high. Filmed across three weeks in Europe, Live from Trinidad &Tobago is a behind-the-scenes view of the Caribbean Invasion tour featuring Maximus Dan, Marlon Asher and Jah Melody. The film follows the artists as they perform in various underground reggae/soca clubs, and shows just how far the phenomenon of Caribbean music has spread. Through candid interviews with the musicians, we get closer to the root of their passion, an understanding of what inspires and drives them, and a taste of where their careers are heading.

Cleuza, a pregnant single mother, works as a domestic for a middle-class family on the outskirts of São Paulo. Cleuza has four sons, each of whom has a different father. The oldest son, Dênis, is a motorcycle courier who is tempted into street crime; Dinho is an evangelical Christian filled with suppressed sexuality and doubt; Dario is a brilliant footballer who needs cash to bribe a talent scout, and the youngest, Reginaldo, is obsessed with the belief that the local bus driver is his father. Heartfelt and engaging, Linha de Passe deftly interweaves its five stories to present a portrait of a family that is unique, and yet just like all families, everywhere.

This is a tale about the need for environmental conservation, couched in the touching story of a homeless boy in search of a meal. The elderly village schoolteacher promises the boy some money if he will help in a tree-planting exercise. Yet when he finally goes to buy a loaf of bread, he finds the money is missing.

Bazile lives in a cemetery and fills his nights writing letters to his deceased wife. Every day a woman called Mari-Ange visits the cemetery. She brings mangoes and they pass the time discussing, dreaming and reading romances. But one day Marie-Ange doesn’t come. Time passes and when next Bazile sees her, something has changed.

The chaotic reality of modern-day South Africa is explored through the eyes of its artists in this moving film. Born into different regions, classes and ethnicities, the artists—who range from a graffiti artist to an Afro-blues musician, a performance artist to an opera singer—reinterpret the chequered history of their country through their own creative languages. A revealing, deeply intimate portrait of a group of questing individuals still getting to grips with the legacy of apartheid.

Daniel is a young man looking to flee the country. He makes his way to the coast, where he encounters an Afro-Colombian community. While waiting for a boat, he is drawn into the languid rhythm of life and the village intrigues. He also comes into conflict with a fellow outsider, who is in this remote area intent on building a tourist resort. An atmospheric and poetic film, told with an almost documentary-like realism.

The title of this film comes from the acronym for an antisocial personality disorder. A tired young man falls asleep and soon begins to experience a most bizarre dream. When he finally breaks free of his subconscious, he wakes up. But was it all too real?

Playing classical music on the steelpan showed Trinidad society that a percussion instrument invented in the poorer areas of Port of Spain could reach the heights of a symphony orchestra. The film looks at the importance of classical music in the development of the steelband and its acceptance worldwide as a legitimate instrument.

People of Chinese descent have made a significant contribution to this country’s cultural and economic life. Yet the voices of women are notably absent from the story of the Chinese in Trinidad and Tobago. In this film, 12 women from all walks of life tell an interwoven tale, creating a compelling contemporary portrait of the Caribbean-Chinese woman.

Throughout the month of Ramadan, the largely Muslim island of Zanzibar comes to a standstill, as everyone gives over to fasting and prayer. This charming film offers a child’s-eye view of life during Ramadan in Stone Town, Zanzibar’s historic main port, and the eagerly awaited Eid celebrations that follow. This film is presented in association with the Zanzibar International Film Festival and supported by the Commonwealth Foundation.

Based on a poem by Philip Nanton, this short film is a personal response to sugarcane harvesting in Barbados. The story plays with the language of cane and harvesting and can also be seen as a tribute to Ogun, the Orisha god of iron, aggression and survival.

Jason is a gang member who wants out. His grandmother, with whom he lives, urges him to follow his passion for taking pictures and do a photography course. Jason’s fellow gang members, however, have other ideas. Made in association with the Ministry of the People and Social Development’s Poverty Reduction.

Young hearing-impaired videographers capture the pulse and action, the culture and feel of a busy corner along the Eastern Main Road in Trinidad. This short film is the start of a series the group will submit to a Deaf Weekend News programme for airing on an Irish TV station. The series, called Hello from Trinidad!, will show glimpses of everyday life in Trinidad as seen through young eyes.

In Jacmel, Haiti, the schoolchildren drink canned water donated by foreign agencies. Since there is no formal recycling scheme, innovative ways must be found to re-use the aluminium cans. Enter Bòs Gérard, a local tradesman who turns the cans into cooking pots.

Born to a Haitian father and a Puerto Rican mother, Jean-Michel Basquiat went from spraying New York City walls with graffiti tagged “SAMO” in the 1970s, to rock-star status as a painter and celebrity by 1983. He achieved critical and commercial success, but was constantly confronted by racism from his peers. In 1985 he and Andy Warhol became close friends and painting collaborators, until Warhol’s death 1987. One year later, Basquiat died of a heroin overdose at 27. This intimate documentary is based on an extensive interview director Tamra Davis filmed of Basquiat. Using rare footage and interviews with the likes of Julian Schnabel, Larry Gagosian, Fab 5 Freddy and many others who knew Basquiat, Tamra Davis details the mysteries that surround this charismatic young man, an artist of enormous talent whose fortunes mirrored the rollercoaster quality of the downtown scene he seemed to embody.

Victoria, Mariana and Vasco are three young Mozambicans with physical disabilities, living in the suburbs of Maputo, the country’s capital. This moving, empowering film shows how they are able to overcome ignorance, prejudice and a lack of facilities for the handicapped, to find self-acceptance and make a success of their lives.

A programme of the winning films from this year’s Trinidad and Tobago Secondary Schools’ Short Films Festival. These films are presented in association with the Trinidad and Tobago Film Company and supported by bpTT.

A selection of seven of the best short films from the 2010 Animae Caribe Animation and New Media Festival.

Besouro is a fantasy action movie set in 1920s Brazil and inspired by the life of a legendary capoeira fighter from Bahia. At a time when the Afro-Brazilian martial art was banned by the Portuguese colonial rulers, the fearless Besouro uses his incredible fighting skills, and protection from the Orixà gods, to oppose the local authorities, so incurring the wrath of plantation police boss, Colonel Venâncio.

Insolação tells stories of unrequited love. “Love and loss. Loss, mostly,” says one character. In an empty city, scorched by the sun, young and old confuse the fever of sunstroke with the delicate birth of passion. Like ghosts, they hover through buildings and over endless flatland in search of the ever-elusive love, while the film’s nostalgic narrator, Andrei, bears witness to their tales. Based loosely on a series of stories by Anton Chekov, the various plots of the film weave together and unravel in the improbable city of Brasilia—a distorted mirror image of Soviet utopia—located in the heart of the country.

World-famous musician, Papa Wemba, is at the centre of one of the most bizarre cults in the world: La Sape. Its members, the Sapeurs, are immigrants from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and participate in a “religion” of haute couture fashion where the gods have names like Roberto Cavalli, Yohji Yamamoto, Versace, Issey Miyake and Burberry. Set to the soundtrack of Congo’s extraordinary music, the film follows Wemba, the cult’s flamboyant founder and “spiritual father”—Le Roi De La Sape (The King of la Sape)—as he gets his career back on track after being released from a French prison in 2003. (He’d been charged with smuggling illegal immigrants into Europe for profit.) While he prepares for an extravagant comeback concert, his followers and rivals uphold the Sapeur tradition, in a lifestyle that is full of swagger, even as its converts struggle to hustle a living on the streets of Paris and Brussels.

This is the ironic saga of a tomato. Beginning life on Mr Suzuki’s farm, the tomato is sold to a supermarket, where it is bought by Mrs Anete. At home, Mrs Anete decides the tomato is spoiled and throws it in the garbage. Together with the rest of the trash, the tomato is taken to a landfill. There, the best organic material becomes food for pigs, while the rest is given to poor women and children. A modern classic, Ilha das Floresis widely considered one of the greatest short films ever made.

This film presents the lives of a number of noteworthy women from London’s recent history. The first woman, Octavia Hill, was a pioneer of social housing and founded the “open spaces” movement, the forerunner to environmentalism. The next, Amy Ashwood Garvey, was a pan-Africanist who started the United Negro Improvement Association with her then husband, Marcus Garvey. The third story is that of Claudia Jones, the Trinidadian activist and “mother” of the Notting Hill Carnival. Jayaben Desai, the final woman profiled, is a factory worker who campaigned for the rights of Black and Asian workers. Featuring interviews with a number of famous Londoners, Hidden Herstories is a revealing tribute to four remarkable women, each with a dream to change the world they lived in.

Abu is a quiet and hardworking police intelligence officer who keeps to himself. Tamani is a young, rebellious artist just back from high school in the United States. When the two cross paths, Abu decides to help Tamani, who is searching for her mother, who disappeared in the US embassy bomb blast in Nairobi 10 years ago. Unbeknownst to Tamani, her search for her mother churns up within Abu memories of Fareed, Abu’s best friend who died in the blast. Soon the facts about Tamani’s mother are revealed, as well as the story of Fareed’s involvement in the bomb blast. Everyone involved must learn how to forgive, deal with their own faith, and confront what they fear the most—the truth.

Achantè is an atmospheric portrait of Vodou featuring four communities in the south of Haiti. It parallels the Vodou creation story with the historical creation of the free nation of Haiti. Featuring an original score by acclaimed musician Nick Zammuto, with voiceover by Max G. Beauvoir, a houng’an and internationally recognised authority on Vodou.

No man is an island, it is said. In this beautifully observed film, we follow Mark, a lonely young man in search of happiness. Through his daily encounters he struggles with his desires and his fears, until at last he is forced to come face to face with himself.

Tobago’s annual Easter goat racing event attracts people from all over the world to the small community of Buccoo. The film follows the participants—men and goats—through the training and preparation for the race, up to the big event as they compete for the coveted title, Champ of Champs.

Boxing is show business with blood—a tough sport, which has always found its top competitors from the poorest neighborhoods. Bukom, a fishing village on the outskirts of Ghana’s capital Accra, is one such locale. Grounded in a long, proud tradition of wrestling that over the years developed into boxing, Bukom trains its young people to fight—and win. This film tells the story of three boxers from Bukom. Twenty-two year-old George is excited to fight overseas for the first time, but has girlfriend troubles at home. Yarkor, known as the First Lady of Boxing, is using the memory of her cheating ex-boyfriend to fuel her fire. Meanwhile Joshua is training for a world title, with the help of a shady American manager. A story of the ambitions of modern Africans,The Fighting Spirit is a look at a nation through the eyes of those fighting for their dreams, for respect and reward, and for their tribe and their home.

Bachata is a musical genre from the Dominican Republic that evolved from bolero and is characterized by its distinctive lead guitar and the sensual dance it inspires. Although it was frowned upon and repressed within its own country of origin, bachata is now enjoying increased popularity worldwide. One of its practitioners is 37-year-old Joan Soriano, who is on the edge of international success. The bachatas and merengues Soriano plays draw upon a variety of musical influences from Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. He is also a practitioner of Afro-Dominican traditional salve and palo, and he blends these percussive styles with guitar-based bachata to create a fresh sound. The Duke of Bachata is alive with Dominican music and culture, and is an intimate portrait of one man’s hopes, fears and dreams, and how much his success means to his family and community.

Doubles is a cheap and very popular street food indigenous to Trinidad and Tobago. The short looks at many aspects of doubles, from its origins to how it is made, the (possible) health benefits and other aspects of the doubles experience. Among those interviewed are university students, doubles vendors and various experts.

Crystal, a wife and mother, is the owner of a bookstore in the Bedford Stuyvesant neighborhood in Brooklyn. Her eight-year-old daughter, Corinne, enjoys spending blissful summer afternoons playing in front of the store—that is, until a teenage boy steals her bike. Crystal calls the police, a move that ignites simmering tensions between the neighbourhood’s traditional residents and those who, like Crystal and her family, are part of the new upwardly mobile migration to the area.

Holden Bates, a US army medic in World War II, wakes up in the forest after having passed out from exhaustion. He searches for his platoon and comes across an old shack, and in it, a wounded Nazi soldier. Their encounter is one that Holden will never forget.

A chronicle of the struggle for global peace and equality, this animated film is a sweeping visual poem that celebrates the endeavours and unrecorded contributions of women throughout 500 years of history. A beautiful, painterly animation technique is used to create this moving work.

The Purple Dragon Martial Arts School is a unique organisation, led by martial arts guru Don Jacob. This film documents the process of becoming a Purple Dragon black belt, the history of Purple Dragon and the origin of the Don Jitsu Ryu system. It follows students, from seven to 70, and from all over the Caribbean and North America, as they participate in a series of gruelling activities towards attaining their black belts. Behind it all is the charismatic Jacob, a man with a truly inspiring life story.

The Blood and the Bois is a supernatural drama about the restless spirit of a stickfighter, unable to be at peace until his death is avenged. Along the way, both the living and the dead must come to terms with wounds inflicted by the previous generation, before arriving at a place of healing, transcendence and rest.

Black Herman’s Changing of the Gods is a look at the manner in which popular culture and the media are used to exert influence upon us. It comprises a montage of news footage, film clips and TV commercials as seen through the eyes of a couch potato named Joe. As Joe switches channels, he takes the audience on a journey through time, one that encompasses early films, famous politicians, religion, celebrities and crime bosses.

Using photographs, television footage and interviews, this documentary looks at the creation of the steel pan and the milestones along the road to the modern instrument. It records the shift from bamboo to steel, the first notes and the years of fighting, the inclusion of the middle class, the invention of the “Spider Web” pan and the Bomb competition. The tale is told to a score of early recordings, including the first iron band recording in 1940 and the first steelband recording of 1947.

Araya is a peninsula in northeastern Venezuela. An arid land, the sun beats down implacably upon the salineros, the workers of Araya’s salt marshes. Salt has been mined here for almost 500 years—the ruins of a nearby fortress testify to a time past when salt was as precious as gold, creating wealth for an empire long gone. Yet the salineros toil on, their endeavours carried out in almost exactly the same manner they have been for generations. Shot in breathtaking black and white, Araya is a lyrical account of a day in the life of the inhabitants of this land. The film follows three families: the Peredas, who work in the marshes, the Ortiz, who are fishermen, and the Salaz, who pile the salt into vast white luminous pyramids for bagging. An exploration of the intimate relationship between humans and their environment, as well as the fraught dialogue between the camera and its subject, Araya is a loving, moving tribute to a people and their ability to endure.

Francis and Kevin are two teenagers living with a mother who abandons her role to the benefit of her lovers. Francis makes a living selling marijuana around his high school while the younger brother, Kevin, is a good student and athlete. One day, a sordid series of events comes to have an irreversible impact on their lives.

“The only real Caribs are dead Caribs.” In this revealing film, Tracy Assing seeks to put to rest that historical saw. Assing was raised a member of the Santa Rosa Carib Community, the only recognised group representing indigenous descendants in Trinidad and Tobago. Until now, Amerindian descendants have depended on the stories of their grandparents and great-grandparents for their history, while the indigenous story of survival has been written out of the history books. Assing walks us through her own exploration of the history of the Santa Rosa Community and, as her great aunt, the Carib Queen, prepares to join the Great Spirit, ponders an uncertain future.

Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights is arguably the greatest romantic novel of the nineteenth century, with the handsome, sadistic Heathcliff at its centre. Yet who is Heathcliff? Where does his destructive anger come from? Might Emily Brontë be hinting at a far darker secret than has previously been suspected? This provocative documentary—featuring commentary by acclaimed writer Caryl Philips—examines the themes of slavery and race coded into Brontë’s book, and discovers some uncanny parallels in the slave-owning families of Yorkshire.

Every year on Carnival Monday at dusk, the blue devils come out to play in Paramin, high in the hills above Port of Spain. Carrying on a tradition that has been passed down for generations, battling devil tribes compete in a portrayal of the wild and grotesque. A Land so Far is a kaleidoscopic portal into the world of the blue devils, graphically and symbolically conveying its splendour and breaking the boundary between reality and surreality.

Banco Chinchorro, on the Yucatán peninsula, is one of the richest coral reefs in Mexico. The native people, descendents of the Mayas, live on the water, in huts propped up on stilts—the reef is a nature reserve, and no building is allowed on the islands. One day a fisherman who lives in one of these huts receives some visitors: his son, Jorge, and his five-year-old grandson, Natan, who is on a visit from Rome, where he lives with his Italian mother. Alamar quietly observes these three characters as they spend their days fishing, swimming and tending to their boat, their existence in harmonious rhythm with their surroundings. At the film’s poetic heart is the subtly delineated relationship between Jorge and Natan. Enveloped by sea, sand and sky, father and son grow ever closer, and a bond is formed that not even the fact of Natan’s looming departure can break.

WHEN NAWAL, an Arab immigrant to Canada, passes away, she leaves in her will a request. Her adult children, Simon and Jeanne, must take two envelopes to the Middle East, one each for their father and brother. But as far as the siblings know their father is dead, and they have no brother. This is an unforgettable epic about the search for the past, about family, roots, never-ending wars and enduring love.

IN THE REMOTE Brazilian village of Jotuomba, life goes on as it has for decades. One day a photographer, Rita, arrives looking for a place to stay. At first wary, the villagers soon warm to her. Yet Rita is puzzled: why are there no young people here? And why are the cemetery gates always locked? The title of this film translates as ‘Stories that only exist when remembered’ – the film itself is an unforgettable, moving gem.

IN THIS TRIP down memory lane, Alfred Brother Grey remembers his past in the Tobago community of Delaford, and different aspects of life, agriculture, fishing, music, and religious worship in the village.

TWO KINGSTON street boys, Brinks and Moses, make a living selling stolen items from freshly laid graves. One night in the graveyard they discover a stash of buried firearms. Brinks decides to sell the guns to an unscrupulous customer despite Moses’s objections – with serious repercussions.

GOUDOUGOUDOU is the name Haitians invented for the 2010 earthquake. For those who made it through, the notion of ‘being alive’ was superseded by that of ‘being survivors’. This film explores how people, in the aftermath of tragedy, grieve, struggle to regain a semblance of normality and aspire to new dreams.

THE EARTH IS dying, and a young girl named Sarah must help save it. Together with her guardian, Jonathan, she must restore the earth from the shadow that has stolen it.

SHOT IN nine countries, Forward Home reveals the economic power of the people of the Caribbean diaspora living in global cities, and the significance of their contribution to their homeland, both as travellers and entrepreneurs.

FLOODPRINT highlights flood damage in Trinidad through the stories of a farmer’s damaged crops, a young boy’s near-death experience and a woman’s damaged home. The film makes the case that through our own actions, we as citizens can determine the type of development – sustainable or otherwise – that takes place.

WITH LITTLE money and few resources available, a group of children from an underprivileged community create their own entertainment by building kites out of the most basic materials.

BURSTING ONTO THE Los Angeles music scene in the late 1970s, Fishbone were an explosive cocktail of funk, ska and punk. Yet, despite their brilliance and influence on acts like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and No Doubt, the band never broke beyond cult status. Recounting three decades of Fishbone’s ups and downs, Everyday Sunshine is a joyful tribute to both success and failure, and to a band and their commitment to what matters most: the music.

A DISOBEDIENT little boy is told a scary bedtime story by his babysitter, about a douen. When the story is over, however, will truth become stranger than fiction?

A DEPRESSED wife seeks an end to her abusive marriage.

TOMAS CHOC, a widowed farmer from Guatemala’s highlands, has been searching for his daughter ever since she was kidnapped as a baby during the country’s civil war. When, after 20 years, he receives word that she is alive, he sets out on a journey cross country to meet her. Gently, beautifully observed and subtly ingenious in its evocation of the horrors of the past, this is an immensely moving and emotionally satisfying film.

ADAPTED FROM a poem by Tameka Jarvis-George, Dinner is the sultry chronicle of two young lovers on their quest to get home after a hard day’s work, spend time with each other and have a romantic dinner.

THE AWFUL LEGACY of colonialism pervades this clinical, unflinching and at times shocking portrait of Curacao, formerly a territory of the Netherlands. This is a place of apartheid-recalling separation, where wealthy white expatriates live and play in luxury, while locals work as servants or low-level employees for Dutch-owned companies. Slavery-era texts narrated over contemporary images of the island provocatively suggest the unstated: the past, in a new form, is very much alive here.

AS NATHAN gets ready to celebrate the new year, he begins receiving messages that the end of the world is nigh.

IN THE BEAUTIFULLY photographed Corta (Cut), agricultural labourers in southwest Colombia harvest a field of sugarcane using cutlasses. The hypnotic tempo and rhythm of their handiwork is a formidable but rapidly disappearing skill and has a meditative effect, as the men sharpen their blades and chop, chop, chop. When they’re finished, enormous trucks drive back and forth and the countryside is set on fire. This is contemplative cinema at its most potent, with undeniable historical undertones. https://youtu.be/TY52E_Afuls

CLARA, A light-skinned black girl with kinky blonde hair and grey eyes, is incessantly teased by her dark-skinned peers. Then she ventures into the magical waters of the bioluminescent bay to change her skin colour and possibly herself.

CHOCO LIVES with her abusive, unemployed husband, Everlidés, and their two children, Candelaria and Jeffrey. When she loses her job at a gold mine, Choco is desperate to find another, if only so she can afford a cake for Candelaria’s birthday. The village shopkeeper, meanwhile, is willing to let Choco have the cake for a price. A bold act of filmmaking with a jaw-dropping finale, Choco is also an incisive portrait of the modern Afro-Colombian reality.

IN JAMAICA, from the 1930s to the 70s, Chinese-owned groceries were located on street corners from Kingston to remote towns in every parish. This revealing documentary explores the relationship between the Chinese shopkeepers and their Jamaican customers, and the myriad ways in which this ethnic minority has contributed to Jamaican society. In association with the High Commission of Canada and RBC Royal Bank.

IN THE 1950s in Salvador, Bahia, a motley gang of abandoned street urchins survives by committing petty thefts and sophisticated mansion robberies. But when the orphaned Dora joins their ranks, the camaraderie of this boys-only outfit is threatened. This is a glorious, heartwarming film about a magical year in the life of a group of kids, a time in which they fly like birds, have wonderful dreams, visit hell, and discover love, sex, death and freedom.

UGANDA HAS recently made global headlines for the persecution of its gay or kuchu community. This extraordinary film documents the brave fight-back against this persecution. When the de facto leader of the gay-rights movement and first openly gay man in his country, David Kato, is brutally murdered, a rallying cry goes up around the world. More than ever Uganda’s gays are emboldened to stand their ground and declare: “We are here.” https://youtu.be/EGiRMaJydWg

THIS EMOTIONALLY charged documentary tells the story of three young women living and working in the Chureca, a landfill on the banks of Lake Managua in Nicaragua. Dominga is a glue addict with Aids; Fabiola is being enticed by evangelical Christians to leave her family and Maryuri is at risk of losing the child she is expecting. By My Side follows the women as they seek a way out of the Chureca and towards a better life.

WHAT IS IT about this region that produces so many incredible sports people? Built to Last follows the stories of the amazing men and women competing in a range of Olympic, Paralympic and non-Olympic sports in the Caribbean. The story takes us across eight Caribbean countries to look for the answer.Featuring interviews with Wyclef Jean, Professor George Lamming, Asafa Powell, Shelly Ann Fraser, Yohan Blake and many more.

WHEN AUDI picks up some Guyanese nationals in his taxi, he unknowingly picks up another, mysterious passenger. And when he learns that this mysterious creature could bring him good luck, he is overjoyed. Audi soon realises, however, how quickly good fortune can turn bad . . .

BERTRAND JOSEPH is an expert maker of palm-leaf brooms. In this film he demonstrates this skill, which dates back to pre-Columbian times.

DESTROYED IN the devastating earthquake of 2010, the cathedral of Port-au-Prince was one of the most beautiful and symbolic edifices in all of Haiti. Amidst its post-apocalyptic-like ruins children play, foreign missionaries pray for lost souls, and men and women roam almost aimlessly. Part historical meditation, part political invective, this is a captivating documentary which uses the reconstruction effort as a metaphor for the rebuilding of the Haitian self. https://youtu.be/x3Ev4x7UBaM

THE SITARIST, Mungal Patasar, is one of Trinidad and Tobago’s greatest musicians. This documentary goes behind the scenes to tell his story, and that of his band, the fusion group, Pantar.

BRIAN, OWING money to two gangsters, attempts a kidnapping to get the cash. Unfortunately, he kidnaps the worst possible guy, Jonah, who doesn’t have a care in the world‚ nor a cent to his name.

AS THE NAME suggests, The Black Power Mix Tape is not the definitive story of Black Power. It is, however, an incisive look back to a critical period in American history when the struggle for black liberation took a decidedly militant turn. Comprised entirely of archival footage, and narrated by the likes of Erykah Badu and Harry Belafonte, the film includes never-before-seen interviews with Trinidad-born Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Ture), Angela Davis, Eldridge Cleaver and others.

AWA BRAK (Brackish Water) tells the story of a young woman, Glenda, who lives in a wooden house on the beach. She survives on fish, water and memories. Her search for herself is an intricate game of coping with the past and luring the infinite future.

THIS IS THE story of the love between Rishi and Stacy. Specifically, it is the story of Rishi’s proposal of marriage to Stacy, a story that she will be telling her friends, family, children and even her grandchildren for years to come.

THIS FILM pays tribute to the renowned Bahamian intu artist Amos Ferguson, known for his paintings of island ritual, flora and fauna, and biblical scenes. The film documents his life from the 1930s to his international “discovery” in the 1980s, right up to his death.

A MIDDLE-AGED woman tries to get her beer-drinking, baseball-obsessed husband to fall in love with her again, with heartbreaking results.

After being provoked by a decision of the Indian Supreme Court, a claustrophobic man cages himself into a circle of hallucination. This work follows his fantasies frame by frame.

Soleil Magma is an interactive video installation that uses the spectator’s arm movements to modify the positions of graphic organic-like shapes, and to create an ongoing, evolving real-time music composition. Inspired by the living, Soleil Magma takes its cues from the Caribbean landscape—particles in water, invisible creatures living in swamps and dried savannahs burned by flaming sunlight in Lent.

Otherness is a multiple-screen video installation, which was done in collaboration with Guyanese-Jamaican traditional storyteller Jean Small. The work is based on the concept of otherness expressed through the body, and narrated through an original semi-abstract sound composition.

In Orishas, technology processes the spatial, colour and brightness information of choreographed dancers into a virtual three-dimensional mathematical representation of their movements—building blocks of dance. Here spirituality is preserved, in spite of the logical, technical aspects of video-making.

The ttff is pleased to be presenting three works by Cuban born performance artist, Ana Mendieta. Ochún and Flower Person have been exhibited on a limited basis, and all three works were chosen as pieces that represent and tie Mendieta’s work to the Caribbean. Although she spent the majority of her life and artistic career in the USA, Mendieta’s work reflects a longing for her Caribbean ancestry and a reimagining of her return to her real and imagined homeland. Ochún is © The Estate of Ana Mendieta Collection, Courtesy Galerie Lelong, New York

My Dreams, My Works Must Wait Till After Hell is a single channel video inspired by African-American and Pulitzer Prize poetry winner Gwendolyn Brooks. It shows a nude female torso lying on her side resembling a mountain buttressed by stone and is accompanied by a soundtrack from Kaoru Watanabe. My Dreams, My Works… challenges the classical art-historical presentation of the nude by portraying the black body and by denying the visibility of the subject’s physical attributes.

They Say You Can Dream a Thing More Than Once… revolves around ideas of desire and loss / desire and unfulfilled fantasies. The character goes on a journey through a changing landscape, encountering paraphernalia from Walt Disney animations. She grasps at images and objects in an attempt to create or experience the fantasy of the Disney animations, yet these things continuously elude her.

films4peace, an annual short film commission by PUMA. Peace, curated by Mark Coetzee, features some of today’s most innovative contemporary artists visually interpreting the subject of peace. These art films are released each year at cultural and educational venues globally and online on World Peace Day, September 21. For the second year running, films4peace will be shown as part of the New Media programme. This year’s artists include: Rob Carter, Wilmer Wilson IV, Athi-Patra Ruga, Zanele Moholi, Anthony Goicolea and Assume Vivid Astro Focus.

Curated by Erin Christovale and Amir George, Black Radical Imagination is a touring programme of visual shorts that delve into the worlds of new media, video art, and experimental narrative; it focuses on aesthetics of futurism, surrealism and the magnificent, through the context of cinema. Films include: Reifying Desire Jacolby Satterwhite Split Ends, I Feel Wonderful Akosua Adoma Owusu The Golden Chain Adebukola Bodunrin + Ezra Clayton Daniels Mae’s Journal Amir George American Hunger Ephraim Asili Moonrising Sanford Biggers + Terence Nance Get the Bones from 88 Jones Because She Also Eats Meat Lauren Kelley The Baptist Lewis Vaughn

HIS CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED documentary is the story of Jason Holliday, a gay, African-American hustler and aspiring cabaret performer who narrates his troubling story to the camera. Filming took place in director Shirley Clarke’s Hotel Chelsea penthouse apartment in New York one night in December 1966, and ended 12 hours later. Hailed as “a masterwork of great intimacy” by The New Yorker, Portrait of Jason employs avant-garde and cinéma vérité techniques to reach the tragedy underlying Jason’s theatrical, exaggerated persona. The film’s long-lost original print was re-released in April 2013, following a successful Kickstarter campaign to have it restored.

In May 2011, history was made when the flag of the Dominican Republic crowned the world’s highest mountain, Mt Everest, marking the first Caribbean expedition to reach the mythical peak. That mission inspired three young Dominican boys, fishermen’s sons, who set out to conquer the highest mountain in their country, and the Caribbean: Pico Duarte. The Mountain unites both missions, intercutting one with the other. The result is an epic adventure, built on motivation, inspiration, determination and achievement.

Rene and Naomi are a young married couple. One night Naomi disappears without leaving any hint of her whereabouts. Rene receives a phone call from someone who claims to have seen her in a car accident, but there is no evidence whatsoever of this. Rene later discovers that he and Naomi were both in the accident, but he can’t remember because they were taken right after to an experimental lab, where they are both connected to a computer that provides them with virtual life.

The Mrs, an old widow, and Aridia, her young domestic servant, live together in an orchid-filled house in Santo Domingo. Aridia cleans, the Mrs gardens; sometimes they gossip. But the atmosphere can get tense: when the Mrs gets angry with Aridia and Aridia defends herself, the Mrs reminds her “where her place is.” You and Me is a moving, closely observed portrait of the complex relationship between two women that goes beyond merely employer and employee.

34 is Blind Man, 14 is Money is a commentary on corruption in Trinidad and Tobago. The film highlights the late Gene Miles and the stand she took against state corruption, as depicted by playwright Tony Hall and masman Peter Minshall in the 2014 Carnival band Miss Miles.

Leoneidi is a 12-year-old girl with a baby living in Sierra Maestra, Cuba, where the incidence of child pregnancy is high. Forced to abandon school, and verbally abused by her baby’s father, she struggles with her childish urges to play, the demands of motherhood and the obligations of family life. This film is presented in association with Muestra Joven ICAIC and the International Festival of New Latin American Cinema.

The Absent House is a portrait of Fernando Abruña Charneco, a designer from Puerto Rico and a pioneer of green architecture. He confronts climate change with sustainable constructions such as a roofless house that is independent of power and water utilities, a micro-eco-house on wheels and a solar-electric car. This screening takes place in association with Sustain T&T and will be followed by a panel discussion.

Trinidad and Tobago contemporary artist Wendell Mc Shine goes on a captivating journey where art, animation, music and Carnival-like mythology are used to stitch together a tapestry that unites a community in the city of Liverpool in the UK.

Bad Dog!? investigates the issues surrounding Trinidad and Tobago’s Dangerous Dogs Act of 2013, and its impact on pet owners and non-owners. The film considers the effect the law will have on all citizens as well as on animal rights.

Chan Lee and Gloria meet in a bar. He takes her to his place, cooks a feast and fantasises about an erotic encounter with her. As they are about to eat, Chan Lee discovers Gloria’s awful table manners and the evening takes a different turn. This film is presented in association with Muestra Joven ICAIC and the International Festival of New Latin American Cinema.

In the middle of nowhere, a man is surprised by the ring of a telephone booth. He hesitates to answer. Finally, he picks up. On the other end is a woman, who talks to him thinking he is someone else. This film is presented in association with the Guadeloupe International Film Festival (FEMI).

Several pregnant women needing particular attention live in a maternal waiting home in Cuba known as the Big House. Yudi, a 15-year-old girl tries, just as the others, to maintain a distant and dysfunctional relationship with the father of her future child. This film is presented in association with Muestra Joven ICAIC and the International Festival of New Latin American Cinema.

Sofia is disappointed when her father has no time to teach her to ride her new bicycle. So she gets her hyperactive, hyperbole-prone friend Ren to teach her instead. Things come to a head when Ren introduces Sofia to a time-honoured tradition: free-wheeling down the largest hill in town.

In the wilderness of Santo Domingo in 2048, Oscar Perez struggles to survive the system, society and finally himself.

Richard, a politician’s son, is friends with Kendell, who comes from a humble background. Despite their differences, the boys bond over a mutual love of football, girls and big dreams. When fate and circumstances step in and impact the friendship, Richard is forced to make a life-changing choice.

In a small village in the Dominican Republic, Anna, a 12-year-old girl, is living a difficult childhood. Faced with an irresponsible mother, she must take care of her two younger sisters. Meanwhile she dreams of making her first communion, and of wearing an immaculate white dress.

How does an entertainer come to forbid his daughter from entering the world of entertainment? Alongside vintage 16mm footage, Karen recounts her father’s story—his struggle as an Afro-Caribbean entrepreneur in 1960s London, the lengths he goes to for success, and the sacrifice of one of the most important relationships of all.

A man walks down a dusty road under a merciless sun. He holds in his hands a seemingly endless, tattered rope, by which means he attempts to keep hold of something that, in fact, is pulling him. Bullock is a story of defiance, rebellion and death—or a primitive love story.

When Jonas loses a package that may cost him dearly, it is up to his quick-witted friend Paz to help him come up with a solution to his problems.

Havana, 1989. Raul, Camilo and Armando are three friends who plot to kill a neighbour’s cat to get meat to eat during Cuba’s “Special Period”. This leads to a series of conflicts, with an unexpected finale.

Fredo, the best man at a wedding, gets a call from the groom, who is at a cock fight. Fredo goes to convince the groom to come to the church, and takes his daughter for the ride. When he returns to the car he finds it and the child missing.

Ana, a single mother living in a country town, is surprised by the sudden death of her father, the head of the family. With the arrival of her brother Ulises, Ana is forced to take stock of her life. This film is presented in association with Muestra Joven ICAIC and the International Festival of New Latin American

Hélène spends the afternoon in high anticipation as she prepares her traditional Sunday soup for her family. A sudden call from one of her children will change the direction of the rest of the evening. This film is presented in association with the Guadeloupe International Film Festival (FEMI).

Crisálida (Chrysalis) is an 86-year-old Cuban woman who interacts with the world through her bedroom window. As she reveals her contradictory past and present, both converge in a deeply ironic way. This film is presented in association with Muestra Joven ICAIC and the International Festival of New Latin American Cinema.

Crude Processions juxtaposes two “movements” of people: the carnival practices in Buenos Aires and Cologne, and the forced migration of Africans across the Atlantic. It is a largely non-verbal exploration of the filmmaker’s reaction to witnessing black-facing in Germany: one of confusion, fear, anger and compassion.

A seemingly average office serves as the backdrop for Sean’s first day on the job. He quickly realises things are far from normal when he shows interest in his co-worker Candice, which piques the ire of the boss.

Rapso group 3Canal are known for their hard-hitting lyrics and penchant for speaking out against societal injustice. This film showcases their use of music as a forum for voicing their opinions or “making a statement” about issues affecting citizens of Trinidad and Tobago

Dark Light follows two men who live parallel lives and who cannot see or communicate with each other. The main protagonist’s research finally unearths an object that allows the two to communicate in unexpected ways.

A young Guyanese woman migrates to Barbados to work as a domestic servant, to make a better life for herself and her young daughter. When her employer exploits her, she reluctantly becomes a sex worker.

A young woman from London attempting to recover from the grief of the death of her husband visits family in Trinidad and Tobago. There she finds herself strangely drawn to a mentally ill homeless man she sees wandering the streets, and he to her. A metaphysical, spiritual journey follows.

Field Notes is an experimental documentary about the ghosts embedded in the culture of Trinidad and Tobago. The film is structured as a visual and aural field guide to the soucouyants, lagahoos and jumbies throughout the islands.

Three siblings from Harlem seek to learn about their Chinese grandfather who was forever separated from their mother—his half-Chinese, half-Jamaican daughter—in 1920. After a 91-year separation, his black-Chinese grandchildren journey from Harlem to Toronto to Jamaica to China, in search of Samuel Lowe.

Stan, a suicidal writer, is faced with a difficult decision when Luz, a young immigrant girl from Mexico, is caught in a precarious situation after an unexpected crime is committed in the border town of El Paso, Texas.

The neighbourhood troublemaker and a police officer on his first day on duty reluctantly team up in order to escape Port of Spain during the first day of the 1990 attempted coup. They trip over each other’s personalities as they stumble to escape the chaos-filled streets of the capital.

Full Circle explores the cycle of violence that plagues many Caribbean communities. It follows several characters living in a working-class neighborhood in Nassau, Bahamas, over the course of twenty-four hours.

Glass Bottom Boat is a poignant tale of enduring love. It tells the story of Janet Wells, who came to Tobago on vacation with her sister and fell in love with more than just the beauty of the island. This enduring love became her solace despite profound loss and pain.

Ricardo is hired by an old man to be the caretaker of an empty house. Unknown to Ricardo, the old man is a magician, and soon Ricardo finds himself pulled along on a supernatural adventure.

A young man is a member of a charity organisation. While he is well-intentioned, his dishonest colleagues make off with a significant amount of the charity’s money. He chooses to turn a blind eye, then finds he must pay the consequences.

In-between questions and shows how Caribbean artists express their complex relationship with their always-changing environment. The film seeks to understand the term “the ones in-between”, and the writers and artists who are, in their personal life, dealing with diverse cultural shiftings and differences.

Kei is in denial, so her six closest friends—an eclectic international set—stage an intervention to help her out. In a classic clash of personalities with a surprising twist, we find out that while addictions aren’t fun, sometimes they can be funny.

La Trinitaria Marchita is a film about the bitter process of losing someone. It concisely depicts how a confrontation with loss miraculously becomes beautiful, and how memories are transformed into bridges uniting us with those we’ve lost.

A young girl awakes in the middle of the night and has an encounter with a strange entity.

Confined to a wheelchair, former Trinidad and Tobago government minister Lincoln Myers makes a pilgrimage to the steps of the Hall of Justice to commemorate the anniversary of his 40-day fast for better governance. The film deals with Myers’ internal struggle with his health and his external struggle for a better society.

When little Luna can’t keep the dog she’s rescued, she knows just what to do. Together with her cousin, Sol, she sets off to house the dog in one of the empty old huts that held enslaved Africans on Bonaire. Things don’t go as planned, however.

Ali Taki is a Lebanese gyro vendor living and working in Trinidad and Tobago. Like many other immigrants, he has come to the country for a better future for himself and his family. This is his story.

Eight-year-old Gabriel suffers from schizophrenia and like his deceased grandfather is a timid recluse. He encounters an old friend of the family, Midnight, who gives him his grandfather’s journal. This journal opens a portal into a parallel world filled with creatures and mystics, challenging his beliefs and empowering the young boy.

A lonely doctor takes a wounded young homeless man to his house, only for the man to experience manifestations of the doctor’s dark past.

Elsa’s husband has just died and her relatives come to take their leave of him. Elsa observes with concern the relationship between her son-in-law and his daughter. Nonetheless, she continues to go about preparing food, hanging out the washing, feeding the chickens and tending the garden. Only her face gives away her unease.

In Santo Domingo, while others dream of migrating to the US, Miguel, a young Dominican, dreams of building a home on his island with his childhood love Laura, who lives under her grandmother’s roof. When the grandmother discovers her relationship with Miguel, Laura’s life changes forever.

Raul and Amanda, an elderly couple, live in the midst of the hot Cuban countryside. Amanda has an obsession to see snow, leading to absurd attempts to realise her dream. Raul decides to bring winter to her. This film is presented in association with Muestra Joven ICAIC and the International Festival of New Latin American Cinema.

Damaris and Alberto live in rural Cuba. Four months ago, their 12-year-old son committed suicide. Whilst looking to family and a new-found religion to help deal with their loss, an even more disturbing issue is revealed.

On the island of Tobago, a young horse has fallen head-first from a cliff over 40 feet high. This short film documents her courageous rescue and struggle for recovery aided by the extraordinary efforts of her loving caregivers.

Eight directors, seven short films, one theme: the number 40. This film is presented in association with Rencontres au Cinema de la Martinique.

An orphaned young girl imagines escaping from her grandmother’s punitive custody, when a sudden visit from a neighbour reveals a better way out.

Red Light is the story of a day in the life of a poor boy struggling to get by on the streets of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.

Juan Santos and his wife are kidnapped by mistake. To their surprise they are not the only couple with the name Santos kidnapped by accident. The various Santos couples decide to work together to escape their less-than-intelligent captors.

Commissioned by St Mary’s College (CIC) to mark the 150th anniversary of the founding of the school, Sons of the Old White and Blue is a loving homage to CIC’s long and impressive history. It looks at several key facets of the college including education, religion, sport, culture and ethics and values.

Tania Kross is a successful opera singer, wife and mother living in the Netherlands. But this formidable mezzo-soprano wants more. This documentary follows Tania over two years as she seeks to produce and star in a slavery-themed opera sung in Papiamentu, the indigenous language of her beloved native island of Curaçao.

Cuba, 1961. In the wake of the Revolution, one hundred thousand young people joined the National Campaign for Literacy, over half of them young women and girls. They taught their country to read and write—and were deeply transformed in the process.

Two adolescent lovers flee society, and escape to the mountainous centre of Puerto Rico.

Camelia plans to celebrate her son Ángel’s birthday at the beach. When Ángel’s father goes missing, Camelia engages in a search that turns up a dark surprise.

Pilar looks after the first ballerinas of a ballet company in Havana. After she leaves the ballet on evenings, she earns a living performing at private events as Gloria, “The Trout”. At one particular event, however, Ramoncito stands in her way. This film is presented in association with Muestra Joven ICAIC and the International Festival of New Latin American Cinema.

Vieques, Hands Up explores the music tradition of calypso and steelpan in the small municipality of Vieques, Puerto Rico. These musical rhythms have travelled up from Trinidad and Tobago to Puerto Rico, demonstrating that borders among the Caribbean islands are fluid and dynamic.

Walking with the Ancestors takes a glimpse at Orisha practice in Trinidad and Tobago, and looks toward the future of the religion through an evolving art form, dance. Featuring local Orisha and African dance practitioners, the film shows how reclaiming and re-imagining cultural heritage brings power.

A Writer in His Place presents Trinidadian novelist Earl Lovelace as a writer rooted in his Caribbean space and inspired by the people and cultures of the region. In this “docu-commentary”, Lovelace emerges as a writer who is driven by a passion for life, and a love and respect for ordinary people.

In 1958, in Cuba’s Sierra Maestra, Gregorio Rivera was ordered to fight alongside Fidel Castro’s rebel army not with a weapon, but with his camera. Now “Goyo” tells his story. However, at 93 years of age, his memory is not as precise as the photos he used to take.

Chalo is a friendless security guard with a boring, monotonous job in an abandoned factory. A cockfight lover, he is desperate to have his first gamecock. Once he gets this bird—which he names Rocky—his life changes. Not having a proper place to keep and train Rocky triggers a series of events that will put Chalo’s love for his new, feathered friend to the test, in this quirky and hilarious deadpan comedy.

Twenty-something Claudia, who has been alone all her life, is admitted to the hospital for appendicitis. Here she meets Martha, an ailing matriarch with four children by three fathers. The women bond, and when they’re released, Martha invites Claudia into her home. Claudia quickly becomes one of the family, proving a helpmeet with Martha’s biological children, especially as Martha’s condition begins to worsen. This is a joyous, beautiful comedy-drama about the true meaning of family. This film is presented in association with the Embassy of Mexico and AMEXCID.

Spanning thirteen years, American Promise follows Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson, middle-class African-American parents and filmmakers in Brooklyn, New York, as they turn their cameras on their son, Idris, and his best friend, Seun (of T&T parentage), who make their way through one of the most prestigious private schools in the country. Chronicling the boys’ divergent paths from kindergarten through high school, this provocative, intimate documentary presents complicated truths about America’s struggle to come of age on issues of race, class and opportunity.

In late eighteenth-century England, Dido Elizabeth Belle is born to a white British admiral and an enslaved, black Caribbean woman. When her father returns to sea, he entrusts Dido to the care of his appalled family, led by the imposing Lord Mansfield. Dido is raised to be a lady, albeit one with a unique status: too high in rank to dine with the servants, but too low to dine with her family. Inspired by true events, this is a stirring, thought-provoking historical drama.

Twenty-two-year-old Coralie dreams of becoming a hip-hop star. She runs away from her comfortable middle-class life in her native Switzerland and moves to the suburbs of Paris to pursue her goal. She gets a job as a cook at a local youth centre, where she meets the magnetic Issa, the rising rap star of the ‘hood. When Coralie’s skills on the mic are discovered, however, attraction is replaced by envy, in this edgy and captivating urban drama. This film is presented in association with Alliance Francaise.

“Colonialism is…violence in its natural state, and it will only yield when confronted with greater violence.” So declared Frantz Fanon in his classic indictment of European imperialism, The Wretched of the Earth. This provocative film matches astounding file footage of the fight for decolonisation in Africa with selections of Fanon’s incendiary text, powerfully voiced by musician Lauryn Hill. The result is a bold, empowering visualisation of colonial (and neo-colonial) power and its dehumanising effects on the people who exist under its rule.

Meaza, a young lawyer and women’s advocate in Addis Ababa, provides free legal services to the poor. When 14-year-old Hirut is abducted by a farmer who intends to marry her, she shoots and kills him with his own rifle in an attempt to escape. Hirut is charged with murder, and Meaza takes on her case. Inspired by this young girl’s courage, Meaza embarks on a long, tenacious battle to save Hirut’s life, in this compelling drama based on true events.

Juan is obsessed by the death of his father, who was “disappeared” by the Guatemalan military during the country’s civil war. He knows who his father’s informant was, and engages in petty acts of revenge against this man. When a filmmaker arrives in the village to make a documentary about the search for remains of the disappeared, Juan and his mother Delfina are given a chance at achieving some sort of resolution, in this sometimes painful, yet tender testament to the act of not forgetting. This film is presented in association with World Cinema Fund.

No film franchise has had more influence and staying power than the James Bond series, the longest-running franchise in cinema history. Directed by Stevan Riley (Fire in Babylon), this film tells the story of 007’s creation by author Ian Fleming, and his move to the big screen in the 1960s, a dream shared by Fleming and producers Albert Broccoli and Harry Saltzman. This is a thrilling and inspiring tale of one of cinema’s most iconic characters.

Primo is a member of Brooklyn’s Bloods gang. After John’s father is killed, Primo takes the boy under his wing. John is uncertain about committing to gang life, while Primo—with a wife and children—wants to leave the life altogether. Matters come to a boil, and both men find themselves with tough choices to make. Blurring reality and fiction, Five Star is an intense, authentic-feeling portrait of gang culture, one that raises profound questions about what it means to be a man. This film is presented in association with the US Embassy.

Atang, a young man living in South Africa, reluctantly embarks on a journey to his ancestral land of Lesotho, where he must bury his estranged father in the remote, mountainous village where he was born. Stirred by memories of his youth, he falls in love with his childhood friend, Dineo, now a radiant young school teacher. Through her, Atang is drawn toward the mystical beauty of the people and land he had forgotten, and faces his own bittersweet reckoning.

Patagonia, 1960. A German doctor becomes the first guest at a hotel that an Argentinean family have just inherited. Eva and Enzo welcome the doctor into their home and entrust their young daughter, Lilith, to his care. What the family don’t know is that they are harbouring one of the most dangerous criminals in the world—the former Nazi officer Josef Mengele, known as the “Angel of Death”. Inspired by true events, The German Doctor is an unsettling, enthralling thriller.

Ximena, an illiterate woman in her fifties, lives alone and tries to keep her illiteracy a secret. Jackeline is a young unemployed school teacher who seeks to convince Ximena to take reading classes. Persuading her proves to be almost impossible, till one day Jackeline finds something Ximena has been keeping as her only treasure since she was a child: a letter her father left when he abandoned her many years before. Gradually, the two women embark on a learning journey together.

Simón Bolívar (1783–1830) is arguably the greatest figure in the struggle for independence in the Americas. This sweeping, stirring epic—anchored by a star-making turn by Édgar Ramírez—tells the story of his life. It depicts the childhood that laid the seeds of Bolívar’s determination to defend the rights of the indigenous and enslaved, and his decadent years in Europe after his wife’s tragic death. Finally it shows his return to South America, his social conscience reawakened, to lead the fight against the Spanish crown for freedom.

As a child growing up in a Jewish family in upstate New York, Lacey Schwartz was always told that her relatively dark skin and curly hair were the result of a certain Sicilian ancestor. As a young woman, however, she began to pull back the curtain on matters of race and family secrets as chronicled in this deeply personal and riveting documentary. The film raises larger questions: What factors make us who we are? And what happens when we are forced to redefine ourselves?

Saajan is a taciturn, middle-aged widower about to take early retirement. Ila is a young housewife caught in a loveless marriage. One day the lunchbox that Ila sends to her husband via Mumbai’s celebrated delivery system accidentally starts going to Saajan. Ila and Sajaan begin sending secret handwritten notes to one another via the lunchbox, until the day that they decide it is time for them to meet. Deftly avoiding trite sentimentality, this is an utterly charming and poignant romantic drama.

In the foothills of the Nepalese Himalayas is a temple dedicated to Manakamana, the Hindu goddess of good fortune. To get there pilgrims travel via cable car above a lushly forested landscape. In this absorbing documentary, a fixed 16mm camera placed inside the car records various groups going to and from the temple: first a trio of elderly women, now a pair of young American tourists, now a small herd of goats. The cumulative effect is near transcendental, creating a unique (and uniquely cinematic) experience.

May has it all—a celebrated book, a sophisticated New York life and a terrific fiancé. But when she heads to Amman, Jordan, to plan her wedding, she lands in a bedlam of family chaos. Her Christian mother disapproves of her marrying a Muslim and threatens to boycott the wedding. Her younger sisters lean on her like children, and her estranged father suddenly comes out of the woodwork. Meanwhile, doubts about her marriage surface, and May’s carefully structured life spins out of control.

Ayodele, owner of a Nigerian restaurant in Brooklyn, weds his fiancée, Adenike, and the couple start a new life together. Their traditional Yoruba wedding culminates in a ceremony where Adenike is named for her yet-to-be-conceived son, George. But as the months pass without pregnancy, Ma George is torn between her Yoruba culture and her new American life, as she faces uncomfortable choices in her struggle to save her marriage. This is a beautifully shot, astonishingly radiant portrait of Nigerian immigrant family life.

Parker arrives in a poor rural township to begin a new job as a teacher at the local school. He appears to be of unimpeachable character, yet almost immediately he begins an affair with a student, 16-year-old Nolitha. Soon the true nature of this seemingly mild-mannered man is revealed: Parker is a bloody psychopath. Of Good Report is a stylishly made, provocative and disturbing noirish thriller that boldly challenges the usual representations of South Africa’s contemporary reality.

Every day young Omar, a Palestinian baker, risks being shot by Israeli military forces as he traverses the occupied West Bank to visit Nadia, his girlfriend. Tarek, Nadia’s domineering older brother, enlists Omar and another friend, Amjad, to execute a hit on an Israeli soldier. Omar is then caught and tortured by the Israelis, who set him free with an ultimatum: give up Tarek or suffer the consequences with Nadia. This is an unforgettable, heart-stopping thriller, with an absolutely astonishing finale.

With arresting insight, vulnerability and a delightful sense of humour, this explosively creative film documents the relationship between a young man and a young woman as it teeters on the divide between platonic and romantic. An Oversimplification of Her Beauty creates an exquisite tapestry of live action and various styles of animation to delve deeply into the male psyche, as the young man sweats and stretches toward maturity. The result is an exciting and breathtakingly original film.

Marta lives in a Caracas apartment building with her young son, Junior, and baby. Fired from her job as a security guard, she is desperate to get it back. Junior, meanwhile, is obsessed with straightening his curly hair, as his gaze starts lingering on a neighbourhood teenage boy. This unleashes a tidal wave of homophobic panic in Marta, which threatens to wreck the already tempestuous relationship between mother and son.

India, 1947. Umber Singh, a Sikh, is forced to flee his village due to ethnic cleansing with the coming of independence and partition. He decides to fight fate and build a new home and life for his family. After his wife has two daughters, Umber is overjoyed at the birth of a son, Kanwar. But when Kanwar marries Neeli, a girl of lower caste, both families are forced to confront a painful hidden truth, in this exquisitely wrought tale.

After sending away his twelve-year-old son Siddharth to work in a factory, Mahendra, who fixes broken zippers on Delhi’s streets, is relieved—his financial burdens will be alleviated. But when Siddharth fails to return home, Mahendra learns he may have been taken by child traffickers. With few resources and no connections, he travels across India in pursuit, a fervent sense of hope his only comfort. Inspired by true events, Siddharth is a simple yet profoundly resonant social-realist drama.

Troop 491: The Adventures of the Muddy Lions follows Tristan, a naive young boy coping with life in the inner city. When he witnesses a homicide, the neighbourhood gang leader demands his silence. Tristan’s mother enrolls him in the Boy Scouts in an effort to keep him off the streets. With the help of his new friends Tristan learns that doing the right thing isn’t easy, but will he follow the code of the Scouts, or the code of the streets?

Fifteen-year-old Leo is best friends with Giovana. Tired of his parents’ overprotective attitude, Leo, who is blind, applies to go on a school exchange abroad. When Gabriel, a new student, arrives at the school, Leo reassesses his plans. Yet as Leo becomes aware of his feelings for Gabriel, he finds he must also deal with Giovana’s jealousy. This is a sweet and charming coming-of-age drama, a film of fierce attractions, shy games of hide-and-seek, and timid encounters in the name of first love.

Goopi loves to sing (badly) and Bagha loves to the play the drum (badly too). When the villagers cannot bear to listen to them anymore, both are banished to the forest. They manage to enchant the king of ghosts, who gives them four boons: they can always be well fed, transport themselves anywhere in an instant and mesmerise anyone with their music, with the fourth boon to be granted when they need it. And thus begin the extraordinary adventures of Goopi and Bagha!

Lullabies is a fake autobiography in which the artist explores the semantics and signification that add to the complexities and chaos of Dominican Spanish, and uses them as inspiration to create narratives. It is the story of a boy who speaks in images – sometimes revealing himself and sometimes remaining invisible through abstraction.

Maki, a ten-year-old boy, is friends with Zarafa, an orphaned giraffe. Hassan, Prince of the Desert, is instructed by the Pasha of Egypt to deliver Zarafa to the King of France. But Maki will do everything in his power to stop Hassan and bring the giraffe back home, to fulfill a promise to Zarafa’s late mother. During an epic journey that takes them from Sudan to Paris, Maki and Zarafa have many adventures, in this heartwarming tale of everlasting friendship.

Yolanda, a single mother, struggles to raise her children on the outskirts of Santo Domingo. Tired of hustling in the streets, she decides to leave it all behind and illegally emigrate to Puerto Rico on an overcrowded wooden vessel.

Yema (Mother) opens with an audacious sequence: Ouardia, who lives in the mountains, drags the body of her beloved dead son, Tarek, who was a soldier in the Algerian army, to her hut, where she washes and buries it. She despises her other son, a rebel leader, whom she blames for Tarek’s killing. When the rebel son is injured in combat and comes to Ouardia seeking help, she is torn between lingering resentment and maternal duty. Whether viewed as political allegory or pure human drama, this is a beautifully spare, intimate and unforgettable film.

Who Needs a Heart is a parable of political becoming and transformation. It explores the history of British black power through the fictional lives of a group of friends caught up in the metamorphoses of the movement’s central figure, the Trinidadian Michael Abdul Malik, formerly known as Michael X and christened Michael De Freitas. A largely silent film, the soundtrack (which includes John Coltrane and Ornette Coleman) investigates the expressionist potential of music to create the conditions for the movement of images.

Beginning with an unexpected encounter surrounding a lost dog, Welcome to Pine Hill blurs the line between documentary and fiction. The story follows its protagonist, Shannon — a reformed drug dealer who is now an insurance claims adjuster — in the days following a grim medical diagnosis. Shannon, portrayed in an extraordinarily intimate performance by first-time actor Shannon Harper (of Trinidad and Tobago descent), sets out to make peace with those around him and, in turn, find his own peace beyond the cacophony of New York City.

A teacher asks her class, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” While his joyful classmates respond, Tom, a quiet 12-year-old boy, slips away.

“Creation is a bird without a flight plan,” the singer, artist and folklorist Violeta Parra (1917–1967) once said. “It never flies in a straight line.” It’s fitting, then, that this film about one of Chile’s heroes goes beyond linear biography, to present a poetically episodic portrait of a woman whose songs, like Edith Piaf’s, echoed the soul of her nation. Key moments of Parra’s life — from her impoverished childhood to her international stardom — are beautifully woven together, like one of her own tapestries. At the core of the film is a rapturous performance by Francisca Gavilán, who brilliantly captures the essence of Parra’s magnetic, tempestuous and self-contradictory being.

This film chronicles a Brooklyn man’s three-day journey through New York’s infamous central booking jail system, notoriously known as the Tombs, and the interesting personalities he encounters while incarcerated.

When Camille is rebuked for being a sex worker by her teenage daughter — after finding out that the daughter too is sexually active — she decides it is time to find a new line of work. However, finding a job that can support her family is easier said than done.

A steadfast friendship binds Mickenson, Pierre and Vitaleme, three 12-year-old boys living in a children’s home in Port-au-Prince. When an earthquake devastates the city, the lads escape to seek their fortune on the streets. Mickenson and Pierre then have an accident, and are placed in care. This separates them from Vitaleme, who refuses to accept the new situation. Three Kids—Twa timoun in Haitian Creole—is a moving portrait of three boys’ attempt at survival; it also shows their exuberance in the midst of a devastated city where life must go on.