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How to defend yourself against a gangsta with jerk chicken and other bon mots from Zeen? Zeen? is a “mocumentary” film that takes a comedic view on making highbrow White movies about Jamaica.  Zeen (got it?)? This made-in-Markham shorty is the Caribbean Tales Film Festival’s (CTFF’s) marquee movie for this fall’s Red and White Comedy Night. The September 14th online screening is showcasing five Canadian comedic short films, and organizers guarantee Zeen? will “have you laughing out loud” as you watch on your smartphone or laptop. The 15th annual CaribbeanTales Film Festival runs from September 9th until October 2nd. This year, because of the virus shutdown, the CTFF will take place online with nine nights and more than 25 short and feature films of live stream entertainment. “My goal with the movie was to examine the reasons why white people might misrepresent, misinterpret or place judgment on Black culture and realities, “said director, writer and star Carlyx Passailaigue.  “

Sit back. Relax. Turn On Your Smartphone.  Caribbean Tales Film Festival goes online in September 2020 Generation Lockdown By Stephen Weir Break out and bags of Orville Redenbacher's popcorn. You will need a shopping basket full to get through this year’s Caribbean Tales Film Festival  (CTFF) - and, oh gosh you are going to have to make it yourself.  The festival is going online this year, so all the movies will have to be enjoyed at home on computers, phones and pads. Last night the CTFF held a digital media launch for the coming virtual film fest. They announced the names of nine feature films and hinted at a coming lineup of 25 short movies that will be part of the 15th annual CTFF. CTFF runs from September 9th to October 2nd and will take place on the Video-On-Demand CaribbeanTales-TV (CT-TV) platform with livestream entertainment.  The film festival describes “CT-TV is an innovative subscription-based digital streaming platform that provides access to African and

Coming to a computer screen near you is this year’s  Caribbean Tales Film Festival  (CTFF). by Stephen Weir Because of the current virus shutdown, the CTFF will be holding a virtual festival this summer., the Caribbean Camera has learned. “ Like every other festival in the city, we have been impacted by the virus,”  explained Dianne Webley, director of the festival. “This is our 15 th year and there is no way we are going to shut down.,” she told The Caribbean Camera. ” However, those events that we had hoped to put on in the summer months will now be held online. Information will be posted on its website soon.” According to the Webley the festival was set to hold a July 8th media launch, the Festival’s first annual Fundraiser and Reveal of this year’s films. This will, in one form or another, be held online.  “ We also were set to do a number of community outreach projects including film showings with Regent Park (community group). We have contacted the movie

Jimmy Jean Louis in the Royal Cinema Theatre  lobby after screening of Rattlesnakes  -sweirsweir Caribbean Tales Film Festival Over For Another Year by Stephen WEIR The lights are on. The seats are empty. The popcorn has been swept off the floor. The 14th annual Caribbean Tales International Film Festival (CTFF) is over for another year.  After eight presentation nights and the screening of some twenty films, CTFF wrapped up last week with the screening of Sacred Water, an odd 3-year old African documentary about Kunyaza (a technique which Rwandese women use to ejaculate). “CTFF 2019 was a diverse and wonderful year filled with the best films from Caribbean filmmakers,” said Frances-Anne Solomon, CTFF Founder & Executive Director.  At closing night, the following awards were announced. Best Feature: Rattlesnakes directed by Julius Amadume. Best Documentary: Paradise Discovered: The Unbreakable Virgin Islanders directed by Peter Bailey. Best Short Film: M

--> Proposed Jamaican Film Gets The Nod From The Big Pitch By Stephen Weir Horrific crashes are the stuff movies are made of. The Titanic. The Hindenburg. The Twin Towers. And if the judges at the Caribbean Tales Film Festival (CTFF) are right the next Jamaica feature film to be made is sure to be the second biggest train wreck of them all. The CTFF has given the nod to a film proposal that wants to create a drama around the most famous Jamaican train wreck you have never heard of! The 1957 crash of a packed train near Kendal, Jamaica. “Yeah you probably never heard of the Kendal. I didn’t, and I am Jamaican,” said award-winning filmmaker Gabriel Blackwood.   “When I did learn about the Kendal crash I knew I had to tell the story. You know when the train derailed over 60 years ago, it was the world’s second worse train wreck!” filmmaker Gabriel Blackwood picture by sweirsweir Kendal is the name of the feature length film the young Jamaican is geari

Grab your popcorn. CTFF About to Open. Annual Filmfest has Snakes on the Brain for Gala Night By Stephen Weir When the  Caribbean Tales Film Festival (CTFF)  opens in a couple weeks, the first film of the annual flickfest will have the audience thinking they have snakes on the brain when the theatre lights come back on.   Rattlesnakes  is a full- length feature that has rattlers not just in the personalities of the principal actors but literally on camera too.  The Canadian debut takes place September 4th, right on College Street in Toronto’s Little Italy.    The film will be feted at the festival’s early evening 2019 kick-off and street party, followed by an 8pm VIP filled screening across the street at the Royal Cinema! This is probably going to be the first movie an audience will ever see where they will see the names of three snakes in the final credits! Slash and Strike don’t get much screen time or any lines to speak, but they do rattle audiences when the hiss and sh