New films herald the rebirth of Guyanese cinema

Aug 07, 2011 News

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Eight new short films produced by locally-based Guyanese filmmakers burst onto the scene in July this year spiking international interest and local hopes that Guyana, once a global contender in film, will once again rise to international prominence.
The first international outing of these eight films, and a documentary on the making of the films, will be in New York at the Billie Holiday Theatre in Brooklyn on August 21.  The New York Premiere of the CineGuyana Set – as the eight Films are now being called – is expected to draw a record audience of local and international media and aficionados of independent films.
The event is being organized by the Guyana Cultural Association based in New York in collaboration with the Centre for Communication Studies at the University of Guyana and the budding association of new Guyanese filmmakers – GIndiVi ( Guyana Independent  Visual Industry).   Several important names in the industry are expected to be present. These include Spike Lee and Third World Newsreel as well as Guyana’s Ave Brewster and Louis Kilkenny.

Several of the filmmakers, many of whom are students of the Centre for Communication Studies at the University of Guyana, have been invited to attend the premiere in New York.  They are standing by to travel pending the issuance of visas by the local United States Embassy in Georgetown.
Some of the films are being considered for a Caribbean Tales Scholarship to Canada and the films will also be shown at Warwick University in the UK’s prestigious International Arts and Environmental Conference next month and the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival in November.
Locally, the question is probably being asked “When will Guyanese audiences be able to see the films?”  This is a question that is currently occupying the minds of the GIndiVi Group. The films cannot be shown on Television because they are going to be entered into international festivals, many of which bar films from being broadcast in this manner.
This is because part of the importance of international festivals is in the distribution and broadcast interests that can be piqued from winning a prize (prizes can range from a little as US$150 to US$50,000) at a festival. At this point, distribution royalties and broadcast fees can become lucrative.
There is also the educational market for films of certain cultural, scientific and academic significance, in which films from the Caribbean are at the moment most underrepresented.  However, these will all be pipe dreams if the Guyanese content produced by independent film makers is not protected by copy and intellectual rights legislation which Guyana has been reticent to embrace completely.
So for the moment, Guyanese audiences at home will have to view the films in cinema-type events which are currently being organized by the group. There is expected to be a caravan which will tour Guyana’s villages and towns with the films and some of the film makers, in small settings, so that Guyanese who wish to see the films before they are released on DVD about two years from now, can do so.
The first of these small viewings was held at the Theatre Guild immediately after the red carpet premiere of the films on July 7. The responses were very good prompting an extension of the screenings. Another viewing will be held at the University of Guyana next Friday (August 12), from 5 to 7pm.  The screening will be free and is targeting students and the University Community, although members of the public are welcome to attend.
Another important spin-off from the CineGuyana endeavours could be the opening up of Guyana as a location for international films.  The eight films in the CineGuyana Set, showcase a range of locations available in Guyana from the urban to the natural. In fact, Guyana has such a wide range of natural settings including rivers, mountains, beaches, indigenous villages and a variety of urban settings as well as rich architectural and scenic advantages that could be a filmmakers dream.
Moreover, the cost of doing business in Guyana, because of the current exchange rate, could be up to 75 percent less than in other similar locations.  If Guyana can attract even two major films a year to the country there could be immense benefits to local communities in services which large productions require such as food, transportation and accommodation.
There could be benefits for local artistes and filmmakers also, as Guyana now has over 75 persons trained who can support any international film production touching down in Guyana. These persons’ skill sets range from lighting technicians, to gaffers to sound men and cinematographers.  There are also actors, actresses, set and costume designers and so on.  There also needs to be a proper regime in place which will govern permits, landing fees and location possibilities in order to realize their full potential.
The films were produced under an endowment from the President of Guyana. Training was provided by Brian Zham, MFA from Ohio University under a USAID grant. The project was managed by Director of the Centre for Communication Studies at the University of Guyana, Dr. Paloma Mohamed. Dr. Mohamed and Mr. Zham served as executive producers of the project in association with several other companies and producers including Kross Kolor Records.
Here are snapshots of the eight films:

HOPE – Ganesh, the son of a Hindu priest falls in love with Ayanna, a destitute Afro-Guyanese dancer. Written and Directed by Shaundell Phillips. It was shot entirely on location in Berbice.

THE BACK YARD – A rising pop star moves in next door to a reclusive geek who makes her fall in love with him on Facebook. When she discovers this duplicity sparks fly.  Directed by Denis Harris, from a concept by Denis Ward. Written by Tiffany Vazquez and Denise Harris.

THREE CARDS – A family drama about how far a father will go to save the life of his ailing daughter and how help can sometimes come from the most unexpected places. Written and directed by Michael James. Shot entirely on location in Linden.

TRADITION – A family is battling with personal loss and the anger that this brings while a young boy is trying to hold on to the traditions of his father and the yearnings of his heart. Directed by Margaret Lawrence and Russell Lancaster. Written by Richard Pitman, Margaret Lawrence, Ayanna Waddell and Russell Lancaster.

BEACHED – A man is grappling with the loss of his wife following a fire which claimed everything from him. This is a story of love and redemption, written and directed by Kojo McPherson and shot on location at the Kingston Seawall in Georgetown.

LUCK BEAT HANDSOME – A Rastaman who is down on his luck plays the numbers of his bad events and is able to win and turn his life and that of his family around.  Written and directed by Errol Chan. Shot on Location in Rasville, Georgetown and on the East Coast of Demerara.

THE ENCOUNTER – A love-starved murderess haunts a hotel room looking for redemption in requited love of a living man. This film is written and directed by veteran film maker Bunny Alves and is shot in Georgetown.

THE BOTTLE – The daughter of a poor farmer finds the enchanted bottle which contains the Baccoo. The wily creature will grant any wish except he must have the young girl’s hand in marriage. Written and directed by Smolana Varzwyk. Shot entirely on location in Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara.

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