Guyanese will have an opportunity to change, inspire and uplift society through film with the launch of the Loyola Documentary Film Festi-val 2014.
The festival, launched on Wednesday by Catholic TV, Guyana, aims to engage skilled young people in the development of their talent and equip them with the tools needed to make valuable contributions to Guyana.
Bishop Francis Alleyne emphasised the uniqueness films possess in the way that they are able to change, inspire and uplift people without the use of force, coercion or violence. This characteristic, he said, was used by recently deceased humanitarian Nelson Mandela, who was able to change millions of lives without violence.
The hands-on initiative is also expected to put young people in touch with social realities and challenge them to effectively communicate with others the many untold stories about Guyana. It is also intended to highlight socio-economic issues facing the nation such as domestic violence, trafficking in persons and widespread corruption.
Minister of Culture Dr Frank Anthony pointed out that though there are many persons who can do things, they lack the necessary outlets to do so. The film festival, he said, will serve to do just that.
“The film festival provides a wonderful opportunity for the creative minds of our society to take the stories from our communities and bring them out to us,” he said.
Anthony also revealed that the ministry is working on creating an institute of creative arts and will soon develop a film school.
Guyana is not unfamiliar with the film production. However, Director of the Centre for Communication Studies at the University of Guyana Carolyn Walcott pointed out that a lack of copyright law in Guyana has stymied the widespread distribution of these films.
Registration for the festival is open to amateur and professional producers and forms can be found on Facebook at “Loyola Film Festival 2014.”
Registration can be done in groups, individually or with an organisation.
After five months of production, the festival will conclude in June 2014 with a gala viewing of the winning entries and an awards ceremony.
