The 10th Annual CaribbeanTales International Film Festival announced its award recipients on Saturday September 19, at the closing ceremonies.
This year 16 feature-length and 35 short films in Official Competition, including dramas and documentaries from 25 countries covering all genres and themes, screened over 10 days at the Royal Cinema in Toronto.
The 2015 Incubator Program that took place over 6 weeks, including a 5-day intensive workshop in Toronto, focussed on the development of sustainable long-running series, and featured 10 teams of filmmakers from the Region and Diaspora.
In announcing the awards CTFF Executive Director Frances-Anne Solomon said: “CaribbeanTales’ mandate is to build capacity in our region for the creation and distribution of film and television content that reflects the wide diversity of Caribbean stories worldwide. Through our festival and Incubator Program we seek to celebrate strong indigenous high quality content.”
She continued: “It is important for us to recognise and support the filmmakers who achieve this work despite little or no financial or infrastructural support from governments of the region. These intrepid warriors overcome odds, make great sacrifices and rarely earn a living wage from their efforts. We salute their passion, dedication and integrity.”
CaribbeanTales Incubator Program Awards
Supported this year by the REACH Project of the Inter-American Development Bank, Telefilm Canada, the French Consulate in Toronto, and the St Lucia Tourism Board, the CTI Big Pitch took place at the TIFF Bell Lightbox on September 13th.
– French GIrl NYC – Mariette Monpierre
Judges Awards
– 1st Prize: French Girl, NYC – Mariette Monpierre
– 2nd Prize: Abiola – Rommel and Karen Hall, Shane Holford
– 3rd Prize: Black Mariah – Michael Mosca and Francesca Visconti.
Festival Awards:
Under the leadership of Jury Chair Camilo Antonio, the Features Jury comprised actor and blogger Peter Williams, filmmakers Sean Hodgkinson and Faisal Lutchmedial, CTFF Board Chair Anne Marie Stewart and CBC presenter Garvia Bailey. The Shorts Jury comprised actor and songwriter Nickolai Salcedo, filmmaker Ryan Singh, and film programmer Maor Oz.
Caribbean Spirit Award
For a film that contributes to a deepening understanding of Caribbean culture and life.
– Best Overall Feature Film : Vanishing Sails by Alexis Andrews
– Best Overall Short Film: Paradise Lost by Christopher Laird.
For a film that reflects, engages and impacts on issues of contemporary relevance to Caribbean people worldwide.
– The Price of Memory by Karen Mafundikwa
– Runner-Up: Deported by Rachelle Magloire
Jury Awards
– Best Documentary Feature : Mala Mala
– Best Documentary (Honorable Commendation): Art Connect.
– Best Documentary Short : Small Man: the World of my Father – Mariel Brown
– Best Fiction Feature: Pelo Malo
– Best Fiction Short : One Good Deed – Juliette MacAulay
– Best Actress in a Feature Fiction: Geraldine Chaplin in Sand Dollars
– Outstanding Screen Personality in a Documentary: Lee Scratch Perry in Lee Scratch Perry’s Vision of Paradise.
Best Canadian Film
– Ella Cooper and Brandon Hay for Loving Men.
CaribbeanTales thanks all sponsors, partners, hosts, audiences, and friends for a wonderful festival season.
Media Contact:
Planet3 Communications Ltd. – Joanne Smale
T: 647.346.4101 E: info@planet3com.net
Photos: Mariette Monpierre, winner of the Audience and Jury awards at the CTI Big Pitch with Lucie Carette and Julien Lamy of the French Consulate, which sponsored her participation in the event.
Justin Sihera co-producer of Vanishing Sails, winner of the Caribbean Spirit Award for Best Overall Film, with actor Peter Williams, representing the festival jury, and CTFF Executive Director Frances-Anne Solomon.
Karen Mafundikwa, director of The Price of Memory, with Juror Peter Williams.