FilmTT’s Chairman with the winners of the 2017 Open Call for Small Marketing and Development Grants. (Standing, left to right): Everard McBain, Dixie Ann Archer-McBain, Leslie-Ann Wills-Caton, Annisa Cadogan, Carver Bacchus, Mariel Brown, Christian James and Christopher Din Chong, (seated, left to right) Abigail Hadeed, Chairman of FilmTT, Dionne Mc Nicol Stephenson, Lesley-Ann MacFarlane, Tenielle Newallo.
In its dedicated mission to develop the local film and audio-visual industry, the Trinidad and Tobago Film Company (FilmTT) will be awarding small Film Marketing and Development Grants to nine local filmmakers to advance their productions and careers. These grants will solely go towards the marketing and development of projects, including (but not limited to) attending regional or international film festivals, markets, incubators, labs or workshops. The selected filmmakers will use their funding from FilmTT to develop and promote their active projects which include feature length films, animated shorts, television series and even short documentaries.
To receive these micro-investments, the nine filmmakers would have applied to FilmTT’s Open Call for Film Marketing and Development Grants earlier this year. Twenty applications were received and reviewed against specific criteria including focused clear objectives, measurable outcomes, whether attending a film festival, market, incubator, lab or workshop, or advancing a film-related project. All applicants must have been residing nationals or permanent residents of Trinidad and Tobago with at least three film credits for three different productions on their film résumé.
Based on the panel’s review, the following are the filmmakers and projects that have been selected to receive support from FilmTT:
- Michael Mooleedhar – social media marketing for his upcoming feature length film Green Days by the River
- Leslie-Ann Wills-Caton – marketing of FIXERtales, a Trini-Caribbean television series
- Abigail Hadeed – inclusion of Spanish and French subtitles in Play the Devil for distribution to foreign audiences
- Lesley-Ann MacFarlane – production of 60 sec. sizzle reel for new feature film Scattered
- Tenielle Newallo – social media marketing for The Cutlass
- Everard McBain – online and international distribution for the animated short Celflux Reluctant Heroes: The Secret Weapon
- Mariel Brown – production of a trailer for the feature length film Unfinished Sentences
- Clarence Carver Bacchus – attend the CaribbeanTales International Film Festival to seek distribution agreeements for the Green Screen’s library of content
- Christopher Din Chong – attend ScriptFest 2017 and take part in the Great American Pitchfest including masterclass, one-on-one meetings and consultations for his slate of films
Each filmmaker will use their funding differently but all with the aim of bringing regional and international attention to their project. Their marketing and development activities with the grant assistance will contribute to the sustainable development of the local film industry.
As with all FilmTT projects and initiatives, these Small Marketing and Development Grants are a way of helping local filmmakers advance their careers but also allows the country to earn revenue from the export of film products.