By Stephen Weir
If all went nicely final night time, after The Caribbean Digital camera was put to mattress, the nineteenth annual Caribbean Tales Movie Pageant (CTFF) is now nicely underway. Prepare, Toronto— from now till late night time on Sunday, September twenty fifth, town will likely be buzzing with digital films, quick movies, and several other not-to-be-missed in-person occasions.
This isn’t your typical movie pageant. Not like earlier years, a lot of the 50 or so films, quick movies, and tv exhibits will likely be screened on-line. Nevertheless, there are nonetheless a number of in-person occasions which might be anticipated to pack the Harbourfront Centre’s movie theatre and the CTFF West Studio at their Dundas Avenue West headquarters.
Final night time’s opening was held on the CTFF Hub, that includes movies from Canada, St. Lucia, and France, together with the documentary Courageous. This 25-minute movie tells the story of Cébé, a modest housekeeper residing in France, who returns to Haiti to carry out a ceremony she ought to have accomplished 24 years in the past, following the loss of life of her mom, a Vodou priestess.
The Caribbean Digital camera was granted early entry to observe the primary episode of Garvey’s Ghost, a Canadian-made tv present scheduled for its world premiere at CTFF’s Opening Night time.
Garvey’s Ghost is a comedy primarily based on the lifetime of Denham Jolly, the person who launched Movement Radio and was a distinguished determine in lots of Black activist actions in Toronto. On this new TV present, created by the Pageant’s Founder Frances-Anne Solomon, a younger Denham Jolly arrives in Toronto in 1995 and boards on the rooming home of Violet Williams, Woman President of Marcus Garvey’s Common Negro Enchancment Affiliation. The present captures the boarding home expertise that many new Caribbean immigrants endured within the twentieth century.
The interactions between Jolly and the strong-willed house owner Miss Violet are particularly humorous for those who’ve ever met the real-life Denham Jolly. Performed by Richard Walters (Degrassi), the character arrives in Canada naïve, timid, and really subservient round Miss Violet Williams (Melanie Nicholls-King) and her daughters. The six-part collection is supported by the Bell Fund, Ontario Creates, and the Canada Media Fund, and is a must-see.
Need to attend a celebration? The subsequent reside occasion for CTFF takes place Saturday night time at Harbourfront Centre, the place Jean Augustine, Canada’s first Black lady Member of Parliament, will rejoice her 87th birthday with a night of movie and music alongside the CaribbeanTales Worldwide Movie Pageant viewers.
“The spotlight of the night would be the screening of Iconography: Mungal Patasar, a documentary directed by Mikhail Gibbings and Teneka Mohammed. The movie chronicles the life and work of Indo-Trinidadian musician Mungal Patasar, famend for his distinctive fusion of the sitar and steelpan, mixing Japanese and Western musical traditions. Patasar, who resides in Trinidad, will likely be current on the screening, accompanied by his pannist, Professor Harold Headly, for a particular reside efficiency,” wrote Caribbean Digital camera arts reporter Lincoln DePardine in final week’s paper.
The subsequent reside occasions embrace an evening of LGBT movies subsequent Friday on the Pageant’s Hub, adopted on Saturday by a 7:30 pm showcase of standout Caribbean quick movies. All of it culminates with the Gala Awards Night time on Sunday, September fifteenth.
There are lots of extra Caribbean films to observe on-line by way of your cellphone, laptop, or different communication units from September 4th-Thirtieth. This yr’s theme, HOME, explores self-care, therapeutic, and the preservation of Caribbean traditions by way of the lens of dwelling and sanctuary. “This yr’s movies supply highly effective insights into the very important connection between our cultural roots and private well-being, capturing the essence of resilience and renewal throughout the diaspora,” says the CTFF. “Watch it on-line.”
