Strategic Vision-Film Trinidad and Tobago

2. PRIMER FORO SOBRE LOS SERVICIOS AUDIOVISUALES EN EL EPA: OPORTUNIDADES Y RETOS DEL SECTOR NACIONALJueves 29 de Julio del 20102010, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

4. Strategic Vision-Film Trinidad and Tobago establish Trinidad and Tobago as a premier film and television production centre generate new opportunities for cultural and social expression create opportunities for youth with new skills, training and learning exchanges create programmes that empower, enhance, improve lives – establish the arts as a viable industry of the region

5. growing the Trinidad and Tobago film industry a diversification process underway to move away from oil and gas more support for the arts, film entertainment from government incentives in law and dedicated agency to manage the audiovisual industry’s development created Incentives to encourage private sector involvement in the audiovisual industry

6. on-location in T&T, 2006-2009 a perfect location UK Chef Gary Rhodes – Caribbean Cuisine Contract Killers Hit for Six

7. on Location in Trinidad and Tobago 1999-2009 approximately 350 crews selected Trinidad and Tobago as a preferred location, creating expenditure on goods and services. Fiscal incentives introduced in 2007 to attract more productions. 4 features from US and Europe to date and 2 expected within coming months.

8. Location Statistics Employment of Local Crew/Cast – 3,000. Spend on Local Goods and Services – US$15M-n Multiplier effect of tourism promotion of from films – screenings of local films at Toronto Film Festival, New York, Moscow, Norwegian Film Festival, Portobello, Edinburgh Festivals.

9. GRANT FILM PROGRAMMES

10. Production Assistance and Script Development Grant funded programme designed as incubator programme. Grants of US$2,000 – US$15,000 awarded to first time script-writers and film-makers. Project partnerships encouraged between experienced and emerging film-makers, supported by public/private partnerships and funding Monitoring and Evaluation critical.

11. content development programs developing capacity

12. PASD 2004-2008 Production Genre

13. EQUITY FILM PROGRAMMES

14. Feature Film Programme “Rose, Calypso Diva” is the first equity FFP film in production scheduled for completion in December 2010. TTFC invested US$150,000 in “Rose, Calypso Diva” a T&T-French co-production which has generated positive interest among international buyers and distributors. The Feature Film model an example of public - private partnerships with national and international capital.

17. Short Drama Series / Linked Feature Model – developing capacity Call for Short Dramas made in 2009. TTFC invested approximately US$35,000 in three 30 minute shorts Shorts will be distributed individually and film-makers will share in profits. TTFC to provide additional investment to edit the 3 into a feature length film and for marketing and distribution. T&T Film Festival 2010 – 1st screening prior to sales and distribution.

18. INTERNSHIPS

19. Encouraging Competitiveness TTFC supports placement of interns on all productions filming in T&T. Interns understudy in technical areas such as camera, lighting, continuity Production Directory Database developed – AV personnel encouraged to become registered businesses Support to BA Film programme, UWI, St Augustine; regional training needed EPA offers technical assistance

20. DISTRIBUTION

21. Screening Content -TV • There are 11 TV stations in T&T – the majority of stations show mainly US film content. • One station that makes a difference is Gayelle-the Channel

22. Screening Local Content - Cinema The Caribbean • The promotion of local and regional cultural content not valued in the Caribbean. • There are 288 screens across the region (no figures for Cuba, Grenada, French Guinea, Curacao, St. Vincent and St. Barts. • Trinidad and Tobago has 2 Cineplex's and 2 cinemas. No cinemas based in rural areas. • Very few local / regional films shown on Caribbean screens

23. Screening content – community • Taking CINEMA to the people! Rural communities suffer most cinemas in urban areas. • To develop appetite for local films, and to promote content, film screenings started in 2010 • Each month local films are screened in different areas within Trinidad and Tobago

24. Film Nights Arima Film Nights Belmont Film Nights Mayaro

26. Integrating the cultural dimension, promoting cultural diversity • Cinemas throughout the Caribbean are shrinking in number, and those that remain are satellites of Hollywood • Can the Caribbean know itself though the Hollywood looking glass? • Is there audience appreciation for local and regional content? • Co-productions one opportunity for the region

31. FESTIVALS

33. TV film festival … .. . • 2008 – broadcasters refused air time. TTTF was required to pay about US$75,000.00 to screen one-week of films on 6 stations • 2010 – broadcasters offered FREE air time, TTFC paid the producers and created a marketing campaign in support of the Festival

36. film and animation festivals • the Trinidad and Tobago film festival celebrates its 5th year 2010 • the Animae Caribe Festival celebrates 9 years in 2010. • ACP Film Exchanges - the TTFC joined hands with BFM UK and Zambia’s View Images Festival to screen local films through the ACP Film programme in 2010

39. T&T Diaspora Film Festivals • Carrying local films to the diaspora! • In 2010, TTFC began to screen films to the wider diaspora community • New York was the first stop in June 2010 and we will present at other diaspora cities of Toronto, Miami, London and Atlanta

41. Inclusion of Regional Films Many films from the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Venezuela, Cuba, Antigua are screened at the annual Trinidad and Tobago film festivals. TTFF – 22 September–05 October Animae Caribe – November 2010

42. THE FUTURE

43. Creating a regional film industry • Diaspora Festivals – creating our own platforms - Muestra Caribe – one platform for regional films • CAN – the regional platform is forming • What regional models can be adapted to promote production and exchange of cultural goods and services.

44. expanding possibilities • EPA – the Economic Partnership Agreement seeks to integrate the cultural dimension at all levels of development cooperation. • EPA – is the region ready to enhance exchange opportunities for cultural goods • CARIFORUM – will regional governments, act to place the cultural industries at the front and center of new development models?

45. THE TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO FILM COMPANY THANK YOU