September 3, 2013 - Fifty feature-length fiction and documentary films from the Caribbean, its diaspora and world cinema will screen as part of the 2013 trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff), which takes place September 17^th through October 1^st, the Festival announced during a press conference today at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad.

Of the 50 features, 23 are Caribbean and diaspora films, which represent 14 countries. Five of the films will be world premieres, while nine will enjoy their Caribbean premiere, and one its international premiere.

Additionally, 15 of the Caribbean and diaspora films will be in official competition, for one or more of four jury awards: Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary Feature, Best T&T Feature and Best Caribbean Film by an International Filmmaker.

Twenty-six of the features are world cinema selections that will screen in the Festival’s Panorama section. This section comprises films from Latin and North America, as well as from Trinidad and Tobago’s “heritage” regions, including countries in Africa and Europe, India, and, for the first time, China.

The Nigerian-British co-production Half of a Yellow Sun, directed by Biyi Bandele, will be the opening night gala film, while Jeroen Leinders’ Tula: The Revolt, one of the Caribbean features, will close the Festival.

In addition to the feature films, the Festival will screen 56 Caribbean and diaspora shorts, as well as 36 experimental works from the Caribbean and the diaspora in its New Media section. Overall, 142 films will screen at the ttff/13.

“Now in its eighth year, the ttff continues to grow in terms of the number and diversity of the countries we screen films from, as well as the quality of those films,” said Jonathan Ali, Editorial Director, ttff. “In particular, we are proud to be screening more films from more Caribbean countries than ever before.”

The full lineup of films, with all details, can be viewed at ttfilmfestival.com. The schedule of screening locations, dates and times will be announced shortly.

Founded in 2006, the ttff is an annual celebration of films from and about Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean and its diaspora.

The Festival also screens films curated from contemporary world cinema and seeks to facilitate the growth of the Caribbean film industry by hosting workshops, panel discussions, seminars, conferences and networking opportunities.

The Festival is presented by Flow and given leading sponsorship by RBC Royal Bank, bpTT, The Trinidad and Tobago Film Company and the Ministry of Tourism.

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