Scriptwriters project launched

In an effort to showcase unknown and emerging writers in the Caribbean and the diaspora, the Caribbean Film Academy (CaFA) has launched the Caribbean Film Project, a scriptwriters’ competition.

According to a CaFA press release, the competition was open to entries from January 2 and will close on February 28, 2015. It will focus on film production in countries such as Dominica, Guyana, Grenada and St Kitts & Nevis, who have been absent from the current Caribbean filmmaking renaissance and also to Caribbean filmmakers in the diaspora.

Competition winners from each country will be paired with a coach who will assist in making the script production ready and with the assistance of the producing partner, the films will be produced. This CaFA project is a collaborative effort with Groundation Grenada, Audiovisual Society of Dominica, Chantimedia and SASOD Guyana.

Co-founder of CaFA, Romola Lucas, said the project has been spurred by the availability and increasing affordability of filmmaking equipment. Further, she said, although the region is experiencing a surge in filmmaking and has produced well written, professional and visually appealing films, other have suffered from technical issues and incomplete storytelling. Besides, Lucas said, more people are now considering the option of filmmaking and are encouraged by the upsurge in screening opportunities for their work at the growing number of Caribbean film festivals.

To learn more about the project and to submit a script, visit www.caribbeanfilm.org or email submissions@cafafilmproject.org. The Film project will accept entries from writers/filmmakers who are residents/nationals of the countries as specifically mentioned above and those of Caribbean descent/heritage living in the diaspora and writing Caribbean stories.

More information can be had from Chantal Miller, Chantimedia hello@chantimedia.com, Jessica Canham, Audiovisual Association of Dominica jessica@earthbook.tv,

Joel Simpson, SASOD Guyana

manager@sasod.org.gy, Malaika Brooks, Groundation Grenada

malaika@ groundationgrenada.com and Romola Lucas, CaFA romola@caribbeanfilm.org