CaribbeanTales Film Festival

CaribbeanTales Film Festival

The 9th annual CaribbeanTales International Film Festival (CTFF), returns to Toronto beginningSeptember 3 – 13 with special community screenings on July 26 and August 30th. The festival showcases Caribbean films from 15 selected countries around the region with public, community and online screenings. This includes 10-feature length and 20 short films in competition for the CTFF Audience Prize, which will be announced on closing night – September 13. It will include an intensive four-day Market Incubator program as well as various networking sessions.

“As we continually grow in capacity and impact, the Canadian arm of CaribbeanTales is proud to present our flagship event for the ninth consecutive year” says founder and filmmaker Frances-Anne Solomon.  Presently, she is directing her attention working internationally with CTFF and its companies to educate, produce, distribute, markets and exhibits Caribbean-themed films and events for audiences everywhere.

This year’s event welcomes Malinda Francis as the new CTFF director. One of her main goals is to build community partnerships to bring access of Caribbean film throughout Toronto. The festival launches this summer with two special community screenings on July 26 and August 30. “This summer we have formed a new relationship with Scotiabank Toronto Kiddie Carnival with carnival-themed films and we continue to work with West Side Arts Hub in the North End of the city,” said Francis.

This year’s festival aims to embody Caribbean culture through the lens of filmmakers. CTFF Programming Committee member, filmmaker and Trinidad & Tobago native, Christopher Pinheiro, describes Caribbean film as “channeling our inner story-tellers into film, video and new media to re-vision old and new tales of the Caribbean for worldwide audiences.”

The fest kicks off with a delicious Caribbean reception on Tuesday September 3, in association with theConsulate General of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago in Toronto at the Royal Cinema, 608 College Street. The evening will include the World Premiere of The Glamour Boyz Again! Sparrow (Geoffrey Dunn, Trinidad and Tobago, 2014, English, PG). The feature-length documentary reveals a remarkable acoustic performance by two of Calypso’s most venerated figures, the Mighty Sparrow and Lord Superior, which was filmed during the production of Calypso Dreams in 2002 on the rooftop of the Hilton Hotel overlooking Port of Spain. The film will include reminiscences by both Sparrow and Superior, whose friendship dates back more than 55 years, to the mid-1950s. Sparrow’s execution at the Hilton is arguably his best-rendered acoustic performance ever recorded. The session will be intercut with previously recorded interviews of Sparrow and Superior at separate venues.

From September 4 – 7, the festival hosts the Market Incubator, which gives selected filmmakers an opportunity to hone their creative and business skills, through workshops and one‐on‐one mentoring by world-class specialists. It will culminate in a pitching session in front of international funders and buyers at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. The fest also organizes a number of intimate events at the University of Toronto with many opportunities to network informally with international industry players.

Festival screenings run from September 8, 10, 12 & 13 at The Royal Cinema, 608 College Street. The films will screen Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m., and Saturday at 3:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 9:30 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.caribbeantales-events.com.  Tickets also may be purchased one hour before each screening at The Royal Cinema, 608 College Street.  Please check with the schedule before purchasing.

  • Opening Night Reception and Film: $25 Early Bird till August 15th  $45 at the door while tickets are available
  • Regular Programs: $10
  • Festival Pass (10 Screenings): $80

COMMUNITY SCREENINGS:
The free screenings confirmed to date are:

SATURDAY JULY 26
Carnivalesque – CTFF Partnership with Scotiabank Toronto Kiddie Carnival – Family Afternoon Community Screening

1 p.m. – 4 p.m., Malvern Public Library – 30 Sewells Road
NOTE: Please check www.caribbeantales-events.com for any updated information.