Port of Spain, Trinidad – September 29, 2013 – Competition winners at the 2013 trinidad+tobago film festival were revealed today at a ceremony in Port of Spain as the 8th edition of the popular Caribbean film festival winds to a close. A total of 142 films were screened as part of the 2013 trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff), which began on September 17th and officially closes tomorrow night. Of the 50 feature films screened at ttff, 23 were Caribbean and diaspora films, which represented 14 countries. Five of the films were world premieres, while nine enjoyed their Caribbean premiere, and one its international premiere. 15 of the Caribbean and diaspora films were in official competition for one or more of four jury awards: Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary Feature, Best T&T Feature and Best Caribbean Film by an International Filmmaker. 26 of the features were world cinema selections that screened in the Festival’s Panorama section, which comprises films from Latin and North America, as well as from Trinidad and Tobago’s “heritage” regions, including countries in Africa and Europe, India, and, for the first time, China. In addition to the feature films, the Festival screened 56 Caribbean and diaspora shorts, as well as 36 experimental works from the Caribbean and the diaspora in its New Media section. ttff/13 competition winners are:
Jury Prize: Best Feature
MELAZA, directed by CARLOS LECHUGA
*The jury awarded a special mention in this category to GOD LOVES THE FIGHTER directed by Damian Marcano
Jury Prize: Best Documentary
There was joint first prize: FATAL ASSISTANCE – directed by Raoul Peck / SONGS OF REDEMPTION, directed by Miquel Galofre and Amanda Sans
Jury Prize: Best Local Feature Film
GOD LOVES THE FIGHTER, directed by Damian Marcano
Jury Prize: Best Short
There was a joint first prize: PASSAGE – directed by Kareem Mortimer / PREVIOUS SCENES – directed by Aleksandra Maciuszek
Jury Prize: Best Local Short
AFTER MAS, directed by Karen Martinez
Best Caribbean Film by an International Director
3 KIDS, directed by Jonas D’Adesky
*The jury awarded two special mentions in this category:
TULA: THE REVOLT, directed by Joeren Linders and THE STUART HALL PROJECT, directed by John Akomfrah
New Media Prize
Olivia McGilChrist
People’s Choice – Feature
GOD LOVES THE FIGHTER, directed by Damian Marcano
People’s Choice – Documentary
SONGS OF REDEMPTION, directed by Miquel Galofre and Amanda Sans
People’s Choice – Short
JAB IN THE DARK, directed by Robert McFarlane
RBC Focus Pitch prize
The Winner is Shakira Bourne
bpTT Student Award
The winner is Maryam Mohammed
bpTT Film in Development Award
The winner is Kevin Adams
Complete details surrounding the award winning films can be viewed at ttfilmfestival.com. Founded in 2006, the ttff is an annual celebration of films from and about Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean and its diaspora. The Festival also screens films curated from contemporary world cinema and seeks to facilitate the growth of the Caribbean film industry by hosting workshops, panel discussions, seminars, conferences and networking opportunities. The Festival is presented by Flow and given leading sponsorship by RBC Royal Bank, bpTT, The Trinidad and Tobago Film Company and the Ministry of Tourism.
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