CARIBBEAN TALES FILM FESTIVAL SAYS IT IS A WRAP

But Wait it isn’t Over (if You Have Access to the Internet)

If you don't mind watching movies on your Iphone, Ipad or computer, there is good news. The annual Caribbean Tales Film Festival (CTFF) didn't end on Sunday. While the curtain has fallen for films shown at the Harbourfront, there are still movies to watch on the CTFF website for the next week.

On Sunday evening, the final live screening for CTFF took place at the Harbourfront Centre theatre. The three-film lineup included "Dolapo is Fine," a 15-minute short about women’s haair from the UK; "Behind the Blue" as in the Blue Devils from Trinidad & Tobago; and "Yubism: Life and Art of Yubi Kirindongo" from Curacao.

"All three films were wonderful... the first had you cheering for Dolapo, and the last two made you want to visit the countries to experience what you just saw in person," reported film fan Dorothy Abbott. "And those wonderful Oxtail Empanadas (served in the lobby after the show)... someone tell me where to buy some!"

After 18 years, the Film Festival got it right this time around. The CTFF returned home to Harbourfront after a less than successful stay at Imagine Cinemas Carlton Cinema, at Yonge and Carlton in downtown Toronto. The Harbourfront Centre provided a comfortable 422-seat theatre (and the 466-seat Fleck Theatre) to showcase 24 films, including full-length documentaries and many short films, all with a Caribbean focus.

The screenings were easily accessible, and parking (at a price) was available adjacent to the building. If there were any concerns about the success of the film festival, it was the size of the audience. Although the Caribbean Camera did not attend all six nights of film, those that we did attend had many empty seats. Blame the Toronto International Film Festival for siphoning the audience away from CTFF as it ran over the same period with sold-out shows.

If you missed any of the film nights, you can visit the CTFF website for the next week and watch the movies you missed, along with many other Caribbean-related titles!

The 2023 Caribbean Tales International Film Festival award winners are...

Best Feature Documentary: "It is not Past 08 12 1982" - Ida Does

Best Short Documentary (TIED): "Territory" - Jael Joseph "Negra, Yo Soy Bella" - Vashni Korin

Best Short Film: "Here Ends the World We’ve Known" - Anne-Sophie Nanki

Best Comedy: "My Maxi" - Andrei J Pierre

Best Animation: "It's Nice in Here" - Robert-Jonathan Koeyers

Caribbean Spirit Award: "Tabanca" - Lauren Marsden

Intersect Award: "My Lady of the Camellia" - Edouard Montoute

Impact Award: "Powerlands" - Ivey Camille Manybeads Tso

Innovation Award: "Yubism: Life and Art of Yubi Kirindongo" - Corry van Heijningen

Best Cinematography: "Eden River" - Jack Evans