Past film festivals have always eluded me because of my typically onerous schedule. With my own film in production, missing this year's T&T Film Festival was just not on.I managed to squeeze in ten (most of them were shorts) and at least four of them left an indelible impression.It was my first visit to the Little Carib Theatre in many years. At first it felt considerably smaller than I recall but I quickly realised that I was actually bigger.
Earth, water, woman was screened at this charming and minimalist theatre. A short documentary, it tells the story of Akilah Jaramogi and the Fondes Amandes community reforestation project. Akilah has inspired a community to not only throw themselves down in defence of the Northern Range hillsides during the annual onslaught of forest fires, but to become ambassadors for the environment.
This film shows the immense strength and commitment of one woman whose resolve has had a contagion effect well beyond the lush hillsidesshadowing this verdant hamlet in St Ann's.Another standout for me was a short directed by Mariel Brown. In just about ten minutes, I was nearly reduced to a blubbering mass of sentimentality. Based on the e-book written by Richard Rawlins, Smallman, The World My Father Made was a delightful story told (not narrated) by Richard about his father Kenwyn Rawlins.
http://www.guardian.co.tt/digital/new-members
