FILM CO-PRODUCTIONS – A cultural bridge between Trinidad and Venezuela

Cultural ties between Trinidad and Tobago and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela were deepened on Friday 16th April 2010 at the conclusion of a meeting held with the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the Trinidad and Tobago Film Company (TTFC) and representatives of the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival (TTFF). The talks were held to discuss opportunities for new initiatives between the film industries of Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela.

A commitment was made by all parties to explore a number of opportunities including joint venture film co-productions between film-makers from Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela; the screening of Trinidad and Tobago films in Venezuela and the inclusion of Venezuelan films at the annual Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival.

The meeting was attended by Her Excellency Maria Eugenia Marcano Casado, Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Venezuelan film-maker Mr. John Petrizzelli-Font, Carla Foderingham, Chief Executive Officer of the Trinidad and Tobago Film Company, Dr. Bruce Paddington and Annabelle Alcazar of the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival.

The Ambassador expressed her optimism for the new film collaboration between Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago noting that, “This collaboration between both countries will foster brotherhood and respect.”

Dr. Bruce Paddington, Festival Director and Founder of the TTFF expressed his pleasure at meeting with John Petrizzelli and the commitments made by all parties. Dr Paddington noted that “the TTFF continues its commitment to consider films made by all Caribbean people, by persons of the Caribbean Diaspora, and by international filmmakers (including Central and South America) who have made films that reflect Caribbean culture and the way of life in the Caribbean or the Diaspora”.

Trinidad and Tobago audiences have responded with favour to Venezuelan films such as “Florentine and the Devil” by Venezuelan-born Michael New screened in 2008, and “Postcards from Leningrad” by Venezuelan film maker Mariana Rondón which were featured within previous T&T Film Festivals. The film “Maria Lionza” by John Petrizzelli recently screened at the Venezuelan Embassy during the Bicentennial celebrations of the Independence of Venezuela.

Carla Foderingham, CEO of the TTFC noted the perfect timing of this alliance - “Venezuela is our closest neighbour and this collaboration will provide opportunities for market penetration of Trinidad and Tobago films into the Latin American market. This alliance will also prove fruitful since there will be opportunities for collaborations on subtitling services for T&T Films to ensure that Latin American audiences enjoy T&T’s films”.

The TTFC welcomes this initiative and looks to exploring opportunities for creating new business partnerships and strategic alliances that will aid the growth and development of the film industry of Trinidad and Tobago.

For more information, please visit the TTFC’s website at www.trinidadandtobagofilm.com and the Film Company’s Face Book fan page (Search: Trinidad and Tobago Film Company).


Venezuelan co-production group shot