Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival's blog

The line-up of films for the fifth annual trinidad+tobago film festival, which takes place from September 22 to October 5, has been confirmed. As ever, the festival will be showcasing the best in Caribbean and Caribbean Diaspora films, as well as films from Latin America countries in the Caribbean basin. The festival screens feature-length narrative and documentary films, and also short films.

One of the most anticipated films in this year's line-up is Moloch Tropical, the latest offering from acclaimed Haitian director Raoul Peck (Lumumba, Sometimes in April). Inspired by Moloch, Aleksandr Sokurov's dramatic take on Adolf Hitler, Peck's film is a Shakespearean study in power that details the last hours of the rule of a fictional Caribbean dictator.

Another anticipated film is Children of God, the impressive debut feature film by the Bahamas' Kareem Mortimer. The story of a young gay man seeking acceptance within his society, the film closed the London Gay and Lesbian Film Festival earlier this year. Other Caribbean films include Orpailleur, also a debut, by French Guiana's Marc Barrat, and The Butcher's Son, from the Dominican Republic, directed by Josh Crook and written by and starring Manny Perez.

Films from Latin America include Alamar, by Pedro Gonzalez-Rubio of Mexico, which has been making waves on the festival circuit this year, and the stunning Wind Journeys, written and directed by young Colombian auteur Ciro Guerra. Both directors will be present at the festival. Also being screened is the classic, lyrical documentary Araya, by Venezuela's Margot Benacerraf, which won the Critics Prize at Cannes in 1959 and was recently restored and re-released. 

Also at this year's festival, there will be a celebration of the cinema of Africa, as well as a focus on Brazilian cinema. The African films will include the ground-breaking Pumzi, a science fiction short by up-and-coming Kenyan filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu (whose debut feature, From a Whisper, will also be shown, and who will be at the festival), plus a selection of films from the Zanzibar International Film Festival. The Brazilian focus features a celebration of the filmmaker Daniela Thomas, whose films Linha de Passe and Insolacao will be shown, and who will be attending the festival. The classic Brazillian short Ilha das Flores will also be screened.

The trinidad+tobago film festival is presented by Flow, and supported by the Trinidad & Tobago Film Company, the Tourism Development Corporation, RBC/RBTT and the National Gas Company. For more information on the festival, visit: www.trinidadandtobagofilmfestival.com