By Jairo Rodrigues in Haiti
After a few challenges in Haiti, all thirteen films entered by Guyana will be shown at CARIFESTA XII and four have already had their premieres.
This was confirmed by Film Coordinator of the Guyana contingent, Richard Pitman. He told Stabroek News that upon arrival in Haiti the Film Director told him only four out of thirteen films from Guyana would be screened. Unhappy with this, Pitman said he met with the Director, Reginald Chevallier.
Pitman described the challenge he faced with the local film coordinator who was busy scheduling all the films for CARIFESTA XII in a short space of time. Chevallier was still receiving films from other countries even though the screenings had started on Sunday. The Director only took over the organising for the film screenings in Haiti about three weeks ago since he revealed that the original film coordinator was no longer in charge.
After meeting with the Director, Pitman told him he would assist in scheduling Guyana’s films so that they could all be screened. Initially, Chevallier had said that only four films would be shown because of all the other films from the participating countries and location restrictions. Pitman said he however kept insisting that the Guyanese films, which were generally short films, all be shown and he succeeded in the end.
At festivals of this type there are usually several master classes in film: skill teaching and exchanges on direction, writing, sound and light effects, production and the various aspects of the media arts so that persons can learn from each other about the film-making process.
“We cannot have film screenings and no networking or workshops for the producers and writers and anyone involved to share their knowledge and learn new skills”, Pitman said in the interview with Stabroek News. “I suggested this be done since we have all these filmmakers already present and I even offered my assistance to organise such event with the team in Haiti – I am awaiting their feedback though the Director agreed it was an excellent idea, he promised to work on that.”
The proposed date for this workshop is Sunday, August 30.
Controversy in Guyana
Meanwhile, controversy arose on Facebook where some members of the Guyanese public questioned the films being screened, the producers of those films and how it was decided who would be allowed to accompany their film.
Pitman told Stabroek News that what the Guyana contingent aimed to do is to promote all the films that were submitted and to equally support their screening and representation. Most of the films were from CineGuyana and of the three persons who responded to the public advertisement placed for interested persons to submit their films to be screened in Haiti, Kojo McPherson was selected.
“Guyana is now seeing a new, refreshed interest in film making and CineGuyana Incorporated has just one month ago been launched and (is) trying to push towards the development of the film making industry”, Pitman stated.
Chairman of the Guyana CARIFESTA Film Committee Enrico Woolford lobbied the CARIFESTA committee to support at least two film producers to accompany their films but the committee decided that only one could go on the state budget. McPherson was selected because of his versatility in the arts, doubling as a photographer, being an award winning film producer and his association with CineGuyana.
“I do understand the importance of film makers travelling with their films and networking but there were restraints and restrictions in finances. Usually, what I would do is take the materials and knowledge learned at the film festivals and workshops and share it with the other producers after I return”, Pitman said.
Woolford commented on Facebook that no film was left behind. “We sought to accommodate every filmmaker’s work. The CineGuyana films and two films: one from Mike James and the other from Amanda Wilson were sent. Another film got to us late but we brought it. The films are what we are seeking to promote here.
“As Chair of the Guyana Carifesta Film Committee let me state that all the Guyanese and CineGuyana films were accepted. Guyana’s film sector is now making a comeback. We have 13 films to be screened. We could not possibly take 13 film makers. In the same way, the literary exhibition has several authors but they are not in Haiti. The Film Committee was allocated 3 spots, the chair, coordinator and 1 filmmaker. All the filmmakers submitted their work. It was the work, the art, which Guyana seeks to promote in the first instance”, Woolford said on his Facebook post.
When asked by a commenter why the coordinator and chair didn’t double their roles to make space for other producers, Woolford responded “We already are doubling and tripling etc. As chair, I doubled as coordinator of the flight arrangements to Haiti, engaged the business community for the rum and food festival, sat as a juror for Drama and Guyana night. The other persons on the committee and several of those selected are playing several roles. The screenings have been arranged more as just a movie show rather than an interactive session.”
Two film makers are in Haiti but are not listed under “Film – Media Arts”. Margaret Lawrence and Mosa Telford are both listed under Drama – Performing Arts.
Screenings
Guyana commenced its first screening on Monday with Michael James’ Breadwinner. Yesterday featured three more Guyanese screenings at the Triomphe theatre in Port au Prince: Cuffy: Face of a Rebellion, a documentary by Amanda Wilson and Kojo McPherson’s To the Night and Standing.
Tiffany Vasquez and Denise Harris’ film Backyard along with Hope by Shaundel Phillips will be screened today. Tomorrow will feature another of McPherson’s works, Beached and that of Luck beat handsome by Errol Chan.
Guyana’s final screening will be on Friday with Three Cards by Michael James, The Bottle by Smolana Varswyk and Tradition by the quintet of Margaret Lawrence, Richard Pitman, Ayanna Waddell, Russell Lancaster and Yaphet Jackman.
