“Rose, Calypso Diva” well received at Hot Docs!

“Rose, Calypso Diva” a musical documentary in production by Maturity Music Ltd and Dynamo Productions, was one of only 25 projects selected from a field of 160 proposals to be pitched at the Toronto “Hot Docs” Documentary Forum (TDF). The Forum held in Toronto over May 4th – 8th, 2009, provided an opportunity for qualifying projects to be presented to a cadre of international distributors, investors and broadcasters to secure funding.

Jean Michel Gibert, the Executive Producer of the film, was accompanied by the CEO of the Trinidad & Tobago Film Company (TTFC), Carla Foderingham, whom he said was instrumental in making a compelling pitch. The TTFC is an equity partner in the project which is one of three projects currently in development in the TTFC’s Feature Film Programme (FFP). “Rose, Calypso Diva” was the first local documentary to be pitched at the TDF and it received many positive reviews and interest from broadcasters, producers and the Hot Docs organizers.

The mission of the Festival as simply stated by Festival Director, Elizabeth Radshaw is “matching content to funding and funding to content”. Some of the more promising “matches” for “Rose Calypso Diva” came from international broadcasters including HBO, Sundance Channel, PBS, TVO, NHK, ARTE France and CHANNEL4. Additionally discussions were held with France Television through France O, which expressed interest in pre-acquisition of the documentary and MK2, the largest French independent theatre network which expressed interest in staging the premiere in theatres in May 2010.

Jean Michel noted that it was a “highly valuable experience and a step forward to a higher quality and professionalism of our team of co-producers (Maturity Music, Dynamo Productions, TTFC) and the author/Director Pascale Obolo”.

The forum contributes greatly to elevating the visibility of projects and will undoubtedly enhance the documentary’s potential for commercial success internationally. From all indications, the documentary film, “Rose, Calypso Diva” has a bright and prosperous future ahead.