Dr. Keith Nurse, Chair of CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution, this week announced the launch of a ground-breaking region-wide broadcasting initiative to screen Caribbean content on local television stations. The project was created and brokered by CaribbeanTales in partnership with the Caribbean Broadcasting Union, under the leadership of its Secretary General, Patrick Cozier.
 
The first project of the initiative – called CaribbeanTales Movie Nights – will debut on CNMG in Trinidad and Tobago on November 9th. Participating stations include TV6 in Trinidad, CBC in Barbados, and TVJ in Jamaica, with other regional stations expected to sign on in the coming weeks.
 
Dr Nurse said: “This deal with CBU represents a paradigm shift in relations between Caribbean broadcasters and content producers, in that it proposes for the first timea potentially viable model for the sustainable economic development of the regional audiovisual and broadcasting industries.”
 
“We are delighted to put this new arrangement into place as it will bring important local and regional works directly into easy access of Caribbean audiences, as well as give necessary exposure to emerging creative talents.” added Mr Patrick Cozier, CBU’s Secretary General
 
The first project of this initiative – called “CaribbeanTales Movie Night” – will feature 26×90-minute weekly films, including some of the best productions of recent years, and will debut on CNMG in Trinidad and Tobago, on November 9th at Xpm.
 
Paul Richards, General Manager of CNMG, said: “CNMG and CTV are extremely pleased to be associated with the Caribbean Tales series of Caribbean films. We see the association as win win situation for CTV and CNMG as state media. Our support for and investment in indigenous content from Trinidad and Tobago and Caribbean film makers is part of our stated mandate for the development of our Trinidad and Tobago and Caribbean film industry.. “
 
The first season’s opening film is Bahamian filmmaker Maria Govan’s award-winning 2008 movie RAIN, that had its international premiere at the renowned Toronto International Film Festival,  before being screened on Showtime in the US to some 21 million viewers.
 
“CaribbeanTales continues to lead the way in creating sustainable opportunities for filmmakers, and I am honored to have RAIN open this important initiative to bring Caribbean films to television screens across the region” said Maria Govan.
 
Other films to be screened include :
 
Wk 2: Antillean Green Card, by St Maarten based producer Peter Sagnia
Wk 3: Devotion by Barbados-born, Canadian-based film-maker Dawn Williams; and
Wk 4: Hit for Six, by Barbadian/Trinidadian filmmaker Alison Saunders.
 
The full schedule of the 26 films will be posted in the coming weeks.
 
For More information and for media enquiries:
 
Lesley-Anne Macfarlane

[email protected]