Trinidad and Tobago Film Company
 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 2006 |
| Jurisdiction | Republic of Trinidad and Tobago |
| Headquarters | 47 Long Circular Road, St James |
| Parent agency | CreativeTT, Ministry of Trade and Industry of Trinidad and Tobago |
| Website | http://www.filmtt.co.tt/ |
The Trinidad & Tobago Film Company Limited (FilmTT) is a national agency established in 2006 to facilitate the development of the film industry in Trinidad and Tobago.[1] FilmTT provides logistical support and services such as location scouting and research and acts as a liaison between industry partners, the community, production houses and Government agencies. The agency is also a leading sponsor of the annual Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival.
FilmTT came under the purview of the Trinidad and Tobago Creative Industries Company in 2013.[2]
Film Commission Services
Rebate
FilmTT, in an attempt to attract more production crews to the country, offers a production-expenditure rebate of up to 35% for local and international filmmakers who film on location in Trinidad and Tobago.
Industry Liaison
FilmTT is responsible for coordinating the necessary permits for crews to film. As a state agency, FilmTT organizes with various ministries within the government for clearance for various aspects of the production process.
Location Scouting
FilmTT researches and proposes a range of locations in and around Trinidad and Tobago to production crews for filming. The agency executes the legal negotiations involved in the acquisition of locations for filming.
Projects/Initiatives
Secondary School Short Film Festival
The Trinidad and Tobago Secondary Schools Short Film Festival was founded by MovieTowne and passed on to The Trinidad and Tobago Film Company Ltd (FilmTT) in 2010.[3] Winning films are shown at the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival annually and winning schools awarded with high-tech equipment to sustain their film programs and productions. [4]
Smartphone Film Festival
The national Smartphone Film Festival was launched in 2013. The competition which invites amateur filmmakers from Trinidad and Tobago to film mini-movies using only smartphone/mobile technology has no age limit.[5] These short films must be no longer than 5 minutes in duration. The winner of the 2015 Smartphone Film Festival, Ayesha Jordan, had her film, “Good Ole Days” submitted into the 2016 Toronto Smartphone Film Festival.[6]
Film Festival Season
FilmTT has established an annual local film industry event by encouraging and facilitating collaboration among Trinidad and Tobago’s three major festivals – trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff), Animae Caribe Animation and Digital Media Festival and Green Screen Environmental Film Festival. In 2016, Film Festival Season takes place from September – November.[7]
1. Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival – 20th – 27th September: trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff) is an annual event that celebrates films from and about the Caribbean and its diaspora, as well as from world cinema. Ttff also seeks to facilitate the growth of Caribbean cinema by offering wide-ranging industry programmes and networking opportunities. FilmTT has been a leading sponsor with this festival since its inception in 2006.
2. Animae Caribe – 24th – 29th October: Animae Caribe’s Animation and Digital Media Festival is the Caribbean’s biggest and most prestigious animation festival, providing a platform for the development of animators, as well as the exposure of animation as a viable business. The Animae Caribe Festival attracts top animators from studios such as Dreamworks, Aardman, Pixar, Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon to Trinidad and Tobago to present and host workshops for potential, novice and professional animators. This festival is based on information sharing allowing participants to gain vital information on trends and career possibilities in this dynamic industry. Animae Caribe was sponsored from inception in 2001 firstly by the Tourism and Industrial Development Company, and thereafter by FilmTT which emerged out of this company in 2006.
3. Green Screen: The Environmental Film Festival – 1st – 12th November: Green Screen the Environmental Film Festival is an annual film series that screens movies about environmental conservation, climate change, green energy, sustainable development and social justice. These films are shown free of charge to audiences all around Trinidad and Tobago. This festival is a production of Sustain T&T. FilmTT is one of the leading 2016 sponsors for this festival.
References
- ↑ Chan Tack, C (November 10, 2006). "TT developing Film Industry". Newsday.
- ↑ "Film, music and fashion to fall under Creative TT".
- ↑ Fraser, M (February 3, 2014). "New Category for Schools Film Festival". Trinidad Express.
- ↑ Phillip, R. "). NorthGate College tops FilmTT's Secondary Schools Short Film Festival". Loop Trinidad and Tobago.
- ↑ "Smartphone Film Festival launched". Trinidad Express. December 15, 2013.
- ↑ Phillip, R. "FilmTT announces winners for the Smartphone Film Festival". Loop Trinidad and Tobago.
- ↑ "FilmTT and Loop News form media partnership". Loop Trinidad and Tobago. September 20, 2016.