Caribbean Creatives Jan-Mar 2011 | Page 14

C A R I B B E A N C R E A T I V E S Going Global with CaribbeanTales Founded by acclaimed ?lmmaker FrancesAnne Solomon, CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution (CTWD) is the ?rst-of-its-kind ?lm distribution company in the Englishspeaking Caribbean. Positioned to become the go-to solution for Caribbean-?lmed products, it already boasts a distribution catalogue of over 60 ?lms and television series by Caribbean, European, British, Canadian and American p ro d u c e r s . Launched internationally in 2010 at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), and regionally in Barbados, CTWD also offers market-driven activities and events, including an annual ?lm festival in Barbados, a market development program during TIFF, and coproduction services. CTWD is a member of the Barbados Business Enterprise Corporation that provides seed and venture capital services. Toronto - September 2010 In September 2010, CTWD held its ?rst Market Development Program, which brought together 40 industry stakeholders from the English-speaking Caribbean, UK, Canada, USA and Africa to develop longterm, international industry partnerships and to create business opportunities for their products. Participating tutors shared knowledge on ?nancing, distribution, coproducing and production, through participatory workshops and pitching sessions aimed to make participants’ projects market-ready. The program supported content creators in their efforts to raise ?nancing, ?nd matching funds, and connect with appropriate buyers through the facilitation of networking sessions and participation at the Toronto International Film Festival - the largest ?lm market in North America. Bridgetown - March 2011 The Caribbean Tales Film Festival 2011 at Island Inn, Barbados runs from March 14- 20, 2011. The festival will include an Incubator Program for Caribbean audio-visual content development starting on March 14, a Symposium, Marketplace and Workshops as well as Screenings of ?lms from the Caribbean and its diaspora. Our proposed program is (subject to revision): Brunch (NYC VIPS), Screening Block 1,  Panel Discussion (Industry), Wine and Cheese and Screening Block 2. The proposed venue is at the New School in New York City. We   are looking to bring   an audience of the   Caribbean public and supporters in the Tri-State area of New York;   as well as Mainstream Media attention to the company and ?lms screened. Since we are ultimately a distribution company, we're also targetting the New York ?lm community of buyers and distributors for Broadcast the NY ?lm and arts community, and all other media in the city. We're also hoping for some help to bring on board a couple of catering/drink sponsors for the brunch and wine and cheese. Toronto - September 2011 CaribbeanTales will be going to Harbourfront, Toronto. See you there! CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution the region's ?rst full-service ?lm distribution company, is founded by award-winning ?lmmaker Frances-Anne Solomon. CTWD is a member of the Barbados Business Enterprise Corporation that provides Seed and Venture Capital Services. Under the theme “Going Global”, the CaribbeanTales 20 11 all-day Symposium event scheduled to take place on March 17th at the Island Inn. Featured speakers include Mia Mottley, MP, QC and former leader of the Opposition in Barbados, and Derwin Howell, CEO of the Barbados National Bank, as well as international visitors like Sonia Heinen, Director of the World Cinema Fund and CoProduction Market of the Berlinale Film Festival,  Michelle Materre, US Marketing and Distribution Consultant, and Mark Walton EVP of the Africa Channel in the US. New York - June 2011 CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution   will be hosting a very special one day event and screening of CTWD ?lms in New York City on June 11, 2011 as part of the Caribbean Tourism Organization Week in New York.   14 www.creativeindustriesexchange.com Volume 2 January - March 2011