TTFC BRINGS SHOWCASE FILMS TO SCHOOLS & COMMUNITIES

As a sponsor of the Second Travelling Caribbean Film Showcase 2009, the Trinidad and Tobago Film Company (TTFC) was very enthusiastic about this initiative, particularly since a significant percentage of content for the 2009 showcase was produced in T&T. This included “I Spy: things in my garden” and “Invisible” produced by Elspeth Duncan and “Old Rabbit Die Hard” by Camille Selvon, who both awardees in the TTFC’s Production and Script Development (PASD) programme.

The focus of the 2009 Showcase was on children, youth and adolescents. Many critical social issues were addressed including HIV/AIDS, teenage pregnancy, racism, intolerance, drugs and gang violence. To widen the scope the Showcase, TTFC embarked upon an initiative to invite children to the TTFC and take films to 13 schools and communities, reaching over 500 children and adolescents.

Participating schools and communities included Eastern Boys’ and Girls’ Government, Belmont Boys RC Secondary, Paramin RC School Principals, Bishop Anstey High School, Fatima College, QRC, the Easy Learning Centre, Nelson Street Boys and Girls, Malabar Composite, a partnership with YTEPP for the Valencia Community, St. Anthony’s Confirmation Class and the Blanchisseuse Community Centre. Snacks were kindly donated by SM Jaleel, Holiday Snacks, Charles Candy and Horace Moniquette.

The films selected for the Secondary Schools included “High Grade” a Jamaican film about a young boy faced with peer pressure and family challenges who had to choose between his education or drug running. One forth former at Queen’s Royal College had the following to say about the film, “I like the part where the boy strived for the highest and he followed his heart and mind and kept away from bad company”. When asked how the Outreach Program could be improved, another student noted “by making and showing stuff like this in Trinidad and Tobago and about T&T”. The TTFC is heartened that there is a growing appetite for and appreciation of local content among our nation’s youth.

Secondary level Girls were exposed to the films “Precious” and “Doll House”. The first film, made in Belize was a short fiction about HIV/AIDS and the discrimination of an infected woman. The second, a sub-titled film from Nicaragua, focused on poverty and the shattered dreams and terribly altered lives of a 14 year old and 16 year old girl who faced pregnancy and premature motherhood. A participant from the YTEPP community screening in Valencia commented, “The films showed positive and negative aspects of life, and were very influential”.

The Travelling Caribbean Film Showcase is a non profit cultural project which will be traveling with the films to 31 countries in the region.

School Principals and teachers are encouraged to contact the TTFC at 625-3456 ext. 36 in order to arrange a screening of the films for their students.