February 28th, 2011
For Immediate Release
The CaribbeanTales 2011 Film Festival will celebrate its Gala Opening March 16th at Frank Collymore Hall, with the highly anticipated Barbados Premiere of local Film maker Russell Watson’s critically acclaimed debut feature, A Hand Full Of Dirt.
The Gala is the main highlight of a week of cultural explosion, that will take place between 14-20th March as filmmakers and film enthusiasts from around the region and the world come together to celebrate Caribbean film at CT2011.
Producer of the film, Lisa Harewood expressed her pride that the production will be featured at the Opening Night Gala. “We feel incredibly honoured to have been given the opportunity to open CaribbeanTales Film Festival 2011. The festival is becoming a very important link between filmmakers from the Caribbean and the wider Diaspora, so we’re looking forward to meeting and talking to our colleagues. More than anything though, we’re excited to screen the film for the cast, crew, friends, family and supporters who are based in Barbados.”
The movie has already attracted some major attention, copping a nomination for Best First Feature Narrative Director, at the hugely respected Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles. This recognition being well deserved as Russell Watson and his team battled for several years against the tremendous obstacles that are commonly faced by Caribbean film makers in order to complete the film. With a minimalist budget, and a lot of determination the movie is an example that against all odds, with creativity and a will, there is a way.
Shot in various locations in Barbados and Chicago, the film tells the topical family story of 3 generations , and one plantation. The men of the Redman family – father, grandfather and son – try desperately to break with the past to pursue their dreams on their own terms. Soon though, it is made painfully clear that their lives are inextricably linked and that the past exerts an inescapable grip on the future. A Hand Full of Dirt features such local and regional luminaries as Dominica’s Alwin Bully and Barbados’ own Cynthia Wilson, Luther Bourne and Marcia Burrow.
The Opening Gala starts at 6:00 pm at the Frank Collymore Hall in Bridgetown Barbados and admission is $35 a ticket at the door. Early bird seats are available for $25.00, by emailing registration@sharons26.sg-host.com. Pre-registration is advised for this hugely popular event.
CaribbeanTales 2011 @ Island Inn runs from March 14- 20, 2011. Not just a film festival the event will include screenings, talk back sessions, workshops, incubators, networking events, and a pitch marketplace, as well as a special Directing Masterclass by celebrated Hollywood Director Neema Barnette, known for her work on the Cosby Show. Audiences will also get to Preview the new film The Skin, the fourth feature film by Antigua’s prolific husband and wife filmmaking team, Howard and Mitzi Allen.
CaribbeanTales 2011 Film Festival is sponsored by: Island Inn, The Starcom Network, Ultimax TV, Lisa Wickham’s Ezone, the Commonwealth Foundation, SFa Communications, Hall-e-wood Productions, Morenamedia, HAMA Productions, Barbados Government Information Service, Caribbean Tourism Organisation, Caribbean Media Corporation, US Embassy, Animae Caribe, Merville Lynch Prods, Barbados National Bank, Steinhill Studios, Blue Light Media, and Autonomous Entertainment.
CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution the region’s first full-service film distribution company, is founded by award-winning filmmaker Frances-Anne Solomon, and principals are creative industries expert Dr Keith Nurse (Chair), economist and businessman Dr Terrence Farrell, media personality and producer Lisa Wickham, and filmmaker and writer Mary Wells. CTWD is a member of the Barbados Business Enterprise Corporation that provides Seed and Venture Capital Services.
For further information, please contact:
SFA Communications Inc
#48 Warrens Court, Warrens Industrial Park
Warrens St. Michael
info@sfacommunications.com
