workshops

The Red One camera

Released in 2007, the Red One digital cinema camera has been described as a complete game-changer—the camera of the future. Able to capture astounding imagery yet light enough to hold with one hand, the Red One has been used in such films as the Hollywood blockbuster Green Zone and the science fiction hit District 9. This interactive workshop, led by Barbadian videographer Rivelino Simmons, will have participants go through the basics of the camera, including the usage of different lenses. The workshop is recommended for directors, cinematographers and editors.

Saturday 25 September from 9am–4pm
ttff office, Belmont
$300 (lunch included)
discount for students $250
pre-registration recommended call 621.0709
maximum 20 participants


The art of adaptation

The practice of turning a work of literature into a film is almost as old as the medium of filmmaking itself. Yet the potential for using Caribbean literature as a source for making films remains largely unexplored. In this workshop, facilitated by acclaimed novelist and screenwriter Caryl Phillips, participants will get to grips with adapting a Caribbean literary work for the screen. Phillips will take the participants through the necessary steps of adaptation before they attempt some writing of their own. Phillips will then critique the participants’ work.

Saturday 2 October from 9 am–4 pm
UWI St Augustine
$300 (lunch included)
discount for students $250
pre-registration recommended call 621.0709
maximum 40 participants


Directing a feature film

The feature-length narrative is the most popular type of film, the one most directors aspire to make. It is also arguably the most challenging. Daniela Thomas, a Brasilian filmmaker who has directed or co-directed a series of award winning feature films, leads this workshop in the challenges specific to making a feature film. Using excerpts from her films, research material and scripts, Ms Thomas will take participants through some of the particular obstacles she has faced in directing, and how she tackled them.

Saturday 2nd October from 9am–12noon
ttff office, Belmont
$150 (refreshments included)
maximum 30 participants
pre-registration recommended call 621.0709

Daniela Thomas is an award-winning director, screenwriter and editor. She co-directed her first feature film, Terra Estrangeira, alongside Walter Salles in 1996. In 2006 she co-directed—again with Salles—a segment of the portmanteau film Paris je t’aime. Linha de Passe (2008, co-directed with Salles) was nominated for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Her most recent film is Insolação (2009), which she made with Felipe Hirsch.


filmmakers’ panel

Two 90-minute panels give local and visiting filmmakers the opportunity to share experiences, and have dialogue with each other and film aficionados about the realities of independent filmmaking in all its genres.

Friday 24 September & Friday 1 October
10am-11:30am
Carlton Savannah
Free of charge


panel discussions

Straight talk: solutions to independent filmmaking in small-island states

So you’re a filmmaker with talent and a hot script waiting to be filmed. What next? Where do you find the funding to make your film? And once it’s been made, how do you get it distributed? This panel, an initiative of the Commonwealth Foundation, will address the solutions to a number of key problems that filmmakers face in countries like Trinidad and Tobago. The panelists will represent a range of aspects associated with film financing and distribution.

Thursday 30 September from 10am-12noon
Carlton Savannah
Free of charge


Film festivals 101

It is one of the ultimate achievements for an independent filmmaker: to have your film accepted into a prestigious festival, and perhaps even win an award. But how do you make it happen? What are the film festivals looking for, and how do you give your entry the best possible chance of being accepted? In this unique workshop, Martin Mhando (Director, Zanzibar International Film Festival) and Mike Plante (Associate Programmer, Sundance Film Festival will reveal the dos and don’ts for attaining film festival success.

Saturday 2nd October
1pm–4pm
ttff office, Belmont
$150 (refreshments included)
pre-registration recommended call 621.0709

199 belmont circular road, port of spain, trinidad+tobago
tel/fax (+)868.621.0709
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