The film industry in Trinidad and Tobago is on the rise. Trinbagonian actor Winston Duke, best known for his role of M’Baku in the Marvel Cinematic Universe Black Panther is indicative of the talent that is emerging from these shores.  Recently local films are being highlighted in film festivals and shown in cinemas around the world; hence providing a welcoming increase in television and film opportunities for the movie creatives to showcase their skills.

Spotlighting local and regional films, the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival (TTFF) recently held the thirteenth edition of its Awards Ceremony to acknowledge and celebrated the many outstanding Caribbean Film Producers, Directors and Actors.

Here are a few outstanding films and the production teams responsible for propelling this new era in the local film industry:

‘HERO’

‘Hero’, this documentary was inspired by the life and times of Ulric Cross, Trinidad’s most decorated war hero, which stars Trinidadian actor Nikolai Salcedo as Ulric Cross and was shot in Ghana, the UK and Trinidad & Tobago.

The film won the ‘People’ Choice Awards for a Narrative feature film’ at the TTFF and was written and directed by Britain-born, Trinidadian filmmaker Frances-Anne Solomon. And was executive produced by media maven, Lisa Wickham with international film credits already under her belt such as ‘Home Again’ (2012), and ‘Girlfriends Getaway’ (2014).   The world tour for ‘Hero’ kicks off in Toronto on February 28^th 2019

‘GREEN DAYS BY THE RIVER’

‘Green Days by the River’ which is based on the West Indian novel by Michael Anthony was a previous winner at the TTFF 2017, where it won both the ‘Best TT Film feature’ and ‘People’s Choice for Best Feature Film Narrative’. This drama is now available on Vimeo on Demand and is still being featured in film festivals regionally and internationally, such as the Grenada Global Film Festival, and nominated at the annual American Black Reel Awards.

The film was produced by Christian James and directed by Award-winning director and producer, Michael Mooledhar. This is his third time winning the ‘People’s Choice Award’, having previously won with ‘Coolie Pink and Green’ (2009) and ‘City on the Hill’ (2015). The film also starred Trinidad actor Sudari Tafari as the lead character ‘Shellie’.

‘BAZODEE’

Another local film continuing to gain international success is the melodrama feature ‘Bazodee’ which stars the king of Soca himself, Machel Montano.  Although, produced in 2016 it was selected to be screened at the 16^th Chennai International Film Festival in December 2018 in Chennai, India. Which is also the location for a film festival featuring a wide selection of films from Germany, Australia and for the first time, films from Trinidad & Tobago.

‘SHE PARADISE’

On the local film horizon, anticipation is in the air for the ‘She Paradise’ feature that has been creating a major buzz on social media. Directed by Maya Cozier, the synopsis depicts a teenage girl in an attempt to make a better life for herself, joins a dance troupe in Port-of-Spain but soon realizes that everything isn’t as it seems on the surface.

As our local movies continues to give an insatiable taste of what our shores have to offer, film enthusiasts and onlookers have begun to take notice to what is now being recognized as a progressive film industry in Trinidad and Tobago.

 

Photo courtesy: Brandon Kalyan and Vishala Jabar

To see our catalogue and trailers of Caribbean Movies visit: https://wp.caribbeanentertainmenthub.com/movies

 

Sources includes: www.ttfilmfestival.com, www.trinidadexpress.com, www.looptt.com, and Films featured social media information.

 Related Articles:

• Barbados Films Upping The Game
• 2018 Barbados Visual Media Festival Winners

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