Travelling Caribbean Film Showcase
Nevis Youth is positively targeted by the film industry. It is intended to educate and intruigue.
The the Federations Organising Committee said that Sunday, February 4, 2009, Nevis Island will see the opening of the Travelling Caribbean Film Showcase and the festival is scheduled to kick off with a ceremony at Pinney’s Beach Hotel.
The Federation’s Organising Committee Chairperson Marlene Phillips said this maiden showcase was mainly targeting youth: “They will be able to see incredible Caribbean-based films.”
She said public viewing would be on February 7 at 7:00 p.m. at Nite Moves in Charlestown. The films, she said, have been produced locally by Caribbean film makers. They include animation, drama and comedies as well as lifestyle.
Phillips said “we expect the same response in Nevis”. She is convinced that children would be captivated by what they see.
Asked by reporters why locally produced films were not yet popularised on local television and at local DVD outlets, Phillips said the challenges preventing distribution of locally produced films would be explored. She said scores of people are greatly talented and require exposure and one objective hoped to be achieved through the films’ showcase is to encourage youth to choose careers in cinematography.
Phillips said the Local Organising Committee has worked closely with the Ministry of Education to ensure that all primary and secondary schools on the island are able to view the films.
Among those present was Cuba’s Ambassador to St. Kitts and Nevis, Ana Maria Gonzalez, who said the travelling film showcase would facilitate cultural integration. She said children as well as adults would be able to identify with the messages depicted in the films.
“These films will allow us to share and to have more information about the different cultures… For the Caribbean down to the south it is a necessity especially in this world situation and in fact the economic situation to integrate as soon as possible and one of the ways is through cultural integration…
She outlined three key objectives of the film showcase. One, to promote cinematography and film makers in the region and Latin America. Two, to impart educational messages to children and htree, to promote cultural integration.
The Travelling Caribbean Film Showcase is a non profit cultural project, which already commenced its second tour of presentations through 31 countries in the region.
This year its focus is on children and youth in three categories 5-8, 8-12 and those older than 12. It will include shorts, features, documentaries and animation from the spectrum of countries in the greater Caribbean including 12 island nations and Venezuela, Colombia, Nicaragua, Belize and Costa Rica.
SKNvibes reported this from a recent press conference hosted by the Ministry of Social Transformation, Youth, Sports, Community Development and Culture.
Nevis Lover ~ Becca Briley 
