The Caribbean Film Academy (CaFA) along with its partners – Groundation Grenada, Audiovisual Society of Dominica, ChantiMedia and SASOD Guyana – is set to launch Caribbean Film Project, an initiative which aims to showcase the talent of unknown and emerging writers in the Caribbean and the Diaspora.
Through Caribbean Film Project, CaFA and its partners will not only tackle storytelling in films coming out of the Caribbean, but will provide an opportunity for Diaspora filmmakers to have their work included in a Caribbean film compilation.
The initiative will focus on assisting in the production of films in countries which have mostly been absent from the current Caribbean filmmaking renaissance, such as Dominica, Guyana, Grenada, and St Kitts and Nevis, as well as Caribbean filmmakers in the Diaspora.
The Caribbean Film Project will be run as a script competition open for entries from January to February 2015. The winner from each country will be paired with a coach who will work with the writer to make their script production ready. With the help of each producing partner, the films will then be produced. CaFA plans to raise the funds needed for the project through sponsorship, fundraisers and crowd-funding.
This focus on writing is long overdue, according to CaFA’s Co-founder, Romola Lucas, who has led the effort to organise this new project. “Spurred by the availability and increasing affordability of filmmaking equipment, the Caribbean is currently experiencing a surge in filmmaking.
More people who may never have considered filmmaking an option are making films encouraged by new opportunities to have their work screened at the growing number of Caribbean film festivals.
Many of the films are excellent, well-written, professionally produced, and visually appealing. However, there are many others which suffer from technical issues and incomplete storytelling,” Lucas said.
“From our perspective, well-written stories underpin every sustainable film movement, and in order for Caribbean storytellers to be counted among the best in the world, specific focus and attention must be given to the development of great writers,” Lucas continued.
The Film Project competition is open to writers/filmmakers who are residents/nationals of Dominica, Guyana, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, and to those of Caribbean descent/heritage living in the Diaspora and writing Caribbean stories.
Submissions opened on January 2 and close on Friday, February, 28, 2015. To learn more about the project and submit a script, visit www.caribbeanfilm.org or email us at submissions@cafafilmproject.org.