UVI’s First Film Festival A Success

The University of the Virgin Islands Department of Communication, Art, Theatre and Music hosted its inaugural weekend-long Caribbean Film and Artistic Cinematic Festival on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix, UVI has announced. The cultural festival brought students and community together to celebrate some of the best in Caribbean film.  

The festival featured original films  by UVI students and local film enthusiasts. Caribbean artists and filmmakers from the Virgin Islands, Georgia, Texas, Colorado, Puerto Rico and Barbados screened their work and hosted presentations, UVI said.

A panel of judges selected the following  winners

Most Creative Feature Film, “Under Her Wings,” Toni Lance, Narrator; Elizabeth Hertzfeldt-Kamprath, filmmaker. Funded by the Center for Environmental Filmmaking and The Neel Foundation.
Best Documentary Short, “Guasabara,” (subtitles) Roberto Lebron and Cristian Carretero, producers

Best Original Feature Film – “Proudly We Serve: VI Veterans of the Korean War,” Joan Keenan (producer), Jean Picou (director)
Best Visual Art Film– “Three Baja’s Plastic Bottles,” Carla Bellot (animation producer, Julie McNeal (executive producer), Jehroum Wood (narrator), made possible by Waste O/* Resources Trust     *no sign-
Best in Show Music Video. “Lovely Wedding,”Khalil James (producer)
Most Creative, Best Dramatic Short Film, “The Basis of Communication,” Stephon Smith, (producer)
Community entry, (short), “Water Sustainability: HBCU Making & Innovative Showcase,” sponsored by the National Science Foundation.  George Ellis, producer
Best Production, Dramatic Short Film,“Yolanda,” Cristian Carretero, producer/director
Best in show, movie trailers.”Life at Traxco,” “Dangers of the Tongue,” “The Womanizer”, & “The Rats,”  Raymon Richardson, producer.

According to Robin Jones, educator and long time resident of STX, “I enjoyed attending the Caribbean Film & Artistic Cinematic Festival. The films were thought-provoking and riveting. The festival provided a wide variety of filmmakers from various parts of the Caribbean along with varying perspectives.”  

The festival will also featured interactive ‘Sip and Paint’ sessions which were conducted by visual artists Don Matthews from Atlanta and Danica David from St. Croix.“Response to this first-time film event was extraordinary, and the film artists were eager to showcase their talents.,” said Dr. Sharon Albert Honore, UVI Communication Department chair and festival coordinator. “The festival served as the primary fundraiser for our department and we are extremely grateful to the USVI community, local businesses and festival participants.”

Honore stated that she received help from as far away as Philadelphia,  Los Angeles and Denver and gave special thanks to creative consultants, Margarita Sweet, Fraser Kershaw and Toi Matthews.

Panelists included CBSUSVI correspondent, Kellie Meyer, digital marketing executive Lawrence LeBee, screen/online journalist Taylor H., educator/business owner Dr. Glennis Gaines, and film animator, Carla Bellot.

The closing “Sunset Soiree,” sponsored by the Fred Hotel management in Fredricksted was thoroughly enjoyed by all.  The Caribbean Film and Artistic Cinematic Festival was made possible by generous sponsors, including: U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, Virgin Islands Council on the Arts (VICA), Crucian Gold, V.I. Lottery, Cape Air, First Bank, CBS and ABC USVI News, and Economic Development Authority (EDA).