By Stephen Weir
The nineteenth annual CaribbeanTales Movie Pageant (CTFF) kicked off final Wednesday evening in its new dwelling on the CTFF Hub on Dundas Avenue West close to Bathurst, marking a big departure from its conventional venues. The transfer to this extra intimate house, away from expensive theatres, represents a daring monetary shift for the group, permitting extra funds to be directed in direction of supporting Caribbean movies and filmmakers.
In earlier years, the pageant’s opening evening was a big, vigorous affair, usually held at outstanding venues like Harbourfront or main film theatres. The thrill prolonged to the streets, with crowds gathering to get pleasure from reside music, spot native celebrities, and catch a glimpse of massive names just like the Mighty Sparrow and Machel Montano. This 12 months, nevertheless, the scene was quieter. The CTFF Hub, a smaller venue with a 150-foot-wide display screen, changed plush theatre seats with a extra comfy setup. Regardless of the dearth of air-con, the environment was welcoming.
The evening’s movie lineup featured tales from Canada, St. Lucia, and France/Haiti. One standout was Cébé, a 25-minute movie a couple of modest housekeeper in France who returns to Haiti to carry out a Voodoo service for her late mom. One other spotlight was the Canadian movie A Letter from the Fathers by Tristan Barrocks, which acquired a tearful and enthusiastic response from the viewers. The movie explores the emotional highs and lows of fatherhood by way of the tales of 4 males. One of many fathers from the movie was current on the screening, attracting consideration from social media journalists wanting to interview him.
The night closed with the premiere of Garvey’s Ghost, a brand new Caribbean-Canadian TV collection based mostly on the lifetime of Denham Jolly, the founding father of Move Radio and a key determine in Toronto’s Black activist neighborhood. Though each Jolly and the present’s creator, Frances-Anne Solomon, have been unable to attend the premiere, the viewers responded positively to the primary episode of the comedy collection.
The transfer to the CTFF Hub might have modified the size of the occasion, however it allowed for a extra private and community-focused expertise, highlighting the pageant’s dedication to celebrating Caribbean tradition and tales.
There are nonetheless loads of occasions to get pleasure from earlier than the CaribbeanTales Movie Pageant ends on Sunday.
Friday at CTFF 2024: The pageant will function a ticketed LGBTQ+ evening on the 837 Dundas Avenue W Hub, from 7:30 to 10:30 PM. This annual Signature Evening will showcase the next movies:
• Outdoors Middle by Eli Tahchi
• Below the Similar Roof by Daniela Rojo
• Nonetheless Waters by Katia Café-Fébrissy
• The Fisherman’s Daughter by Edgar de Luque Jácome
Saturday, September 14, 7:30 PM: The pageant’s second Signature Evening, Standout Shorts, will display screen a collection of Caribbean brief movies on the Hub. The ticketed occasion consists of:
• Trinidad Stays by Karen Martinez
• A Shade of Indigo by Hanif James
• Asema by Loelle Mosanto
Sunday, September 15, 7:30 PM: The CaribbeanTales Worldwide Movie Pageant concludes its nineteenth version with the Annual Awards Ceremony at its Dundas St. W headquarters, adopted by a night of stellar screenings. The ultimate screening program consists of:
• Over the River Chronicles by Monique Johnson and Clyornique Durrant
• The Draft by Jephté Bastien
• The Life Coach by Afroglobal Tv’s Patricia Bebia-Mawa
Because the legendary Yogi Berra as soon as stated, “It ain’t over ’til it’s over.” CTFF presents a digital part, with 50 movies, many feature-length, accessible on-line till October 4. Digital passes might be bought on the pageant’s web site.
Friday, September 20, 7:30–9:30 PM: The Seashores Sandbox (2181 Queen Avenue East, Toronto) will host a ticketed wrap-up presentation, that includes standout movies from the pageant. “That is your final likelihood to benefit from the CaribbeanTales Worldwide Movie Pageant in particular person this 12 months. Uncover vibrant tales from rising filmmakers of Caribbean and African heritage training their artwork throughout the worldwide Caribbean Diaspora,” defined a pageant organizer.
