Caribbean film festival for the CNE

CaribbeanTales (CT), the Caribbean Diaspora’s most dynamic film festival group comes to Toronto August 17 – September 14 at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), 210 Princes’ Blvd and Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queen’s Quay West.

The festival will showcase ten feature-length and 20 short films in Official Competition, as well as many others covering all genres and themes. It hosts an intensive five-day Incubator, providing world class training to regional and diasporic filmmakers, and networking sessions. Produced in partnership with Harbourfront Centre, the festival aims to raise the international profile of Caribbean filmmakers, support the growth of the film industry in the Caribbean, and serve as a promotional platform for the Caribbean as a premier destination for film production.

This year, CaribbeanTales is partnering with the Islands of the Caribbean (OTC) for a special screening series called “Gems of the Caribbean”, on August 17 (5:30 p.m.) August 18 (5 p.m.) and August 30 (5 p.m.) at the CNE. The participating islands include: Jamaica, Antiqua & Barbuda, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, and St. Vincent & the Grenadines. From September 4 – 14 Toronto’s Harbourfront center will screen the Official Competition films, comprising the best new films of the past year from the Caribbean Region.

The Trinidad and Tobago Consulate General is hosting the annual Red Carpet Gala on Wednesday September 4, with a delicious Caribbean reception and a screening of the World Premiere of Christopher Laird’s  feature documentary No Bois Man No Fraid (Trinidad & Tobago 2013).

Frances-Anne Solomon, Chief Executive Officer, CaribbeanTales Film Festival Group says, “Our region is coming to voice in film, a testament to the creativity and growing confidence of our filmmakers. This years’ lineup features many exciting new films, as well as new acquisitions from our 2013-14 Distribution Catalogue.”

Tickets can be purchased by calling CaribbeanTales at 416-598-1410, in person at the Harbourfront Centre Box Office 416-743-4000*, or online at caribbeantales-events.com.
CNE Screenings: Free
Red Carpet Gala: $60
Centrepiece Films (@ Harbourfront): $25
Other Harbourfront Screenings: Free
*The Main Box Office at 235 Queens Quay West is open Tuesday through Saturday, 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. The Main Box Office is open until 8 p.m. when there is an evening performance.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Showcase will feature the highly respected Market Incubator, an intensive 5-day training program that provides mentorship for Canadian and Diaspora filmmakers, in the all important marketing and packaging of films. The Incubator culminates in a Pitch Breakfast at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, and is supported by Telefilm Canada.

A highlight this year is the launch of CaribbeanTales-TV, a Netflix-style video on demand platform, funded by the Trillium Foundation, aimed at students, educators and Caribbean film buffs around the world. “CT-TV aims to be the go-to Internet hub where anyone anywhere can find films on any subject related to the Caribbean,” said Solomon.

The Caribbean Camera is a key media sponsor of the festival. Other media partners include Darling Nicky, WIN-TV Caribbean HD, and Caribbean Media Partners.

*Centrepiece Films, Harbourfront Centre:
No Bois Man No Fraid, Christopher Laird, Trinidad and Tobago, 2013, English, 86 mins. (World Premiere)
Kingston Paradise, Mary Wells, Jamaica/Canada, 2013, English, 90 mins. (World Premiere)
Elliot Loves, Terracino, New York, 2012, English, 90 mins. (Canadian Premiere)
ABO SO (Only You), Juan Francisco Pardo, Aruba, 2013, Papimento, 75 mins. (International Premiere)
Songs of Redemption, Miquel Galofre, Jamaica, 2013, English, 74 mins.