Repeating Islands

On February 2, 1911, when the London Electric Theatre opened its doors at the corner of French and Baden Powell Streets in Woodbrook, a local love affair with cinema was born.

One hundred years on from the opening of that first cinema, the trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff), presented by Flow, is celebrating a century of cinema in T&T.

The ttff/11 takes place from 21 September to 4 October, and comprises screenings of the best new and recent films from T&T, the Caribbean and its diaspora at venues across the country.

At MovieTowne in Port of Spain, in addition to film screenings, an exhibition on the early decades of the cinema industry in T&T will be held. The exhibition, which is supported by bpTT, traces the birth and rapid growth of cinemas in the country, including the phenomenon of “tent cinemas” in rural areas.

The exhibition also looks at the rise of film-going culture, and the popularity of various genres of films, including the Western and Indian films.

A number of the pioneers of the cinema industry—including cinema owners and film distributors—are highlighted in the exhibition. These pioneers will also be honoured at the ttff/11 awards ceremony on 2 October, and will be the first inductees of the ttff’s Caribbean cinema and film industry hall of fame.

The ttff, which is in its sixth year, is given leading sponsorship by RBC Royal Bank and is supported by the Trinidad & Tobago Film Company, the National Gas Company, the Tourism Development Company, bpTT and the Tobago House of Assembly.

For more information on the Festival go to www.ttfilmfestival.com.