Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
caribbeannetnews.com

Antiguan film director says Caribbean distribution network needed
09-28-2006

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Antiguan film director, Howard Allen, said events like the CARIFESTA Film Festival provides a channel for their work to be dispersed.

Speaking just after his second film was screened to another packed room, Allen said "This event is important because it exposes our Antiguan film to a Caribbean audience because one of the things I have realized in the Caribbean is that a lot of films are being made but no one knows."

Allen who is now working on his fourth film, which he hopes will be produced in time for World Cup, confessed that a distribution network would be a great ingredient in ensuring that Caribbean "homegrown" films are successful.

"The thing that is missing right now for us is a distribution network, which is the ability to have your film shown right through the islands when it is released."

Howard said that he has been speaking with at least two other Caribbean film makers with the intension of setting up such a network. However, it might be sometime before the fruits of the labour can be seen.

"Well it's still in its infancy stage," Allen said.

Nevertheless, the young film maker said the reviews he has been receiving have been encouraging.

"Most of the independent films they see coming out of the Caribbean they are usually lighting issues and persons have been extremely proud of the way we are able to attain good lighting."

He also said that viewers were pleased with the characters/actors in The Sweetest Mango and felt they were very real and natural.

Although extremely happy to be given the opportunity to represent his island at the festival, Howard said more promotion of the event would have made the event more successful.

"I think the major thing that I notice is the lack of good promotion, I would take flyers out and most of the people didn't even know there was a film festival happening." He calls for more promotion and signage to help promote the film festival.

All of HAMA's three films will be screened at this festival -- The Sweetest Mango, No Seed, and La Diablesse.

Other Caribbean countries participating in the festival include Bermuda, St Lucia, Barbados, Cuba and host Trinidad & Tobago.