The Trinidad & Tobago film festival will be giving away over $100,000 in awards for the best films of the fourth annual t+t film festival. At a press conference the Executive Director of the Festival, Marina Salandy-Brown, said it was “the first time in this country that such a thing has been achieved for film.”

The Film Festival, which takes place from 16-29 September in venues around the country, will be screening seventy films made in the Caribbean and by people of Caribbean origin living outside of the region. This year two new jury prizes have been announced. The most coveted award is to be the National Gas Company Award for best film. The winner will receive $10,000US. Speaking about the decision of the NGC to sponsor the award, Acting Head of Community Relations, Wynda Chandler, said the company was being “progressive and visionary in taking this step” to fund an endeavour “far removed from the science of natural gas”, but that the NGC is “pleased to become involved in a project to educate and entertain ourselves about ourselves.”

The Trinidad and Tobago Film Company (TTFC), established in 2006 by the government with the mandate to develop the national film industry, is the sponsor of the other first-time jury award. The most outstanding locally made film by a resident filmmaker will receive a cheque for $30,000TT. Carla Foderingham, CEO of the TTFC, said the “TTFC’s goal is to ensure that the national film industry is a sustainable one that provides employment and opportunity.” The six-person Jury for both these awards will be made up of local and international jurors. Ms Salandy-Brown said, “we had no problem in finding jurors, everyone is excited by the momentum that is building around the Film Festival. They all understand the importance of people having their work recognised and rewarded especially in an area that has been struggling for a long time and has only just begun to celebrate itself. We have to give a lot of credit to the sponsors of all five awards this year, especially given the present economic climate.”

The People’s Choice Awards, selected by the audience during the two-week event, was introduced back in 2007 but the cash prizes attached to them is one of the new developments of the trinidad+tobago film festival 09. The Intercommercial Bank Limited is the sponsor of the Best Dramatic Feature, the Best Documentary is sponsored by the TSL Group, and Agostini Insurance Brokers Ltd is sponsoring the Best Short Film of the Festival. Each of the recipients of the People Choice Awards will receive $5000TT.

The award ceremony will take place at the end of the Festival on 29th September. For more information about the Festival visit http://www.trinidadandtobagofilmfestival.com/ Follow on Twitter @TTFilmFestival

On Wednesday 5th August rapso-fusion pioneers Chantwell will perform at The Corner Bar on the corner of Gatacre Street and Ariapita Avenue in Woodbrook.

The band Chantwell is back with a new line-up, full band, new songs and the same commitment to make good Trini music. The new line-up features some of Trinbago’s best young fusion musicians including Jeremie Charlerie (vocalist/rhythm guitar). Lead vocalist and song-writer Rubadiri Victor is calling out fans of 90s music, “All fans of music that was passionate, melodic and conscious, come down! All fans of that period in the 90s when there was hope, vitality, and a feeling that we could better our country and the world - come down and get your booster shots!”

Chantwell made a triumphant return to the local scene last year at Songshine held at Trevor’s Edge in Tunapuna. The show- hosted by musician Gillian Moor was a warm entry back into the fold of the live local music scene for the band. Chantwell was one of the Rapso groups of the early 90s that re-ignited young T&T music, along with groups like Kindred and Home Front. Chantwell expanded the sound of Rapso by including alternative rock, folk and jazz inflections into the music, as well as live band accompaniment.

The band was nominated twice for Sunshine Music Awards—Best Rapso recording in 1995 and 1997—and has songs on more than 30 compilations worldwide including France, Germany, and Sweden. Chantwell completed a three-month tour of England in 2003, and has done dozens of local performances. The popular video for their song ‘Clear D Way’ has been shown on all local TV channels, CSN, BET Jazz and BET Caribbean Mix.

On the Caribbean plantations African Griots became Chantwells, preserving the tribe’s history. They would sing to the heroes and to the Gods. At first the Chantwells were women and on Emancipation they would sing lavways cheering on champion stickfighters. As the country became urbanized Chantwells reverted to a male function- but the portfolio remains the same. The Chantwell is the Call- the tribe and the audience is the Response.

The gig at Corner Bar on Wednesday 5th August begins promptly at 10 pm. On sale will also be special collectible Generation Lion t-shirts, magazines and other merchandise. The after-party will be DJ-ed by Ozy ‘Magic’ Merrique of rapso group Home Front- another artist from that rich 1990s vein of creativity that culminated with the Kiskadee Karavan.