The third iteration of the prestigious Barbados Independent Film Festival – also known as BIFF – began this past Friday at the Walled Garden Theatre of the Barbados Museum and Historical Society. This year the length of the festival has been extended; it has gone from being held over six days last year – and five days the year before – to ten days. The festival will be ongoing until the 20th of January,
In his opening address to those in attendance, co-founder of the festival Sir Trevor Carmichael spoke of volunteerism; it’s history in Barbados and it’s relationship with the festival. Stating that volunteers make up 95% of BIFF’s staff, Sir Carmichael also said:
“…BIFF thrives on the spirit, the strength and the sincerity of its many volunteers. BIFF is volunteer led, it is volunteer driven and volunteer embraced. Its ethos further thrives on the character and the content of the forces of Barbadian volunteerism. A volunteerism that has never been narrowly focused, or jingoistic, or parochial. For it is Barbadian, yet it is also international and together that combination ensures that it is universal. And the independent movie industry represents well these strands of universalism.”
In her speech BIFF’s other co-founder, Jennifer Smith-Bent, stated that this year’s festival is a celebration of music and “the stories behind some of the world’s most talented artists.” She also shared a bit of trivia about the Martin Scorsese film Hugo, which was screened yesterday; the film’s composers Howard Shore and Elizabeth Contoir composed the score while in Barbados.
The first screening of the night was of the much too short film Liquid Gold: The Story of Rum in Barbados, the product of BIFF’s Film Collaboration Grant which was awarded to local filmmaker Rommel Hall, the winner of last year’s Local Filmmaker Award. Hall directed and produced the film along with American filmmaker Dan Mirvish, with whom he was paired to work on the film as part of the grant.
In keeping with the festival’s music theme for this year, the second screening was of the feature length documentary Satan and Adam. Filmed over twenty-three years by filmmaker Scott Balcerek, the documentary covered the lives and careers of the blues duo of the same name, comprised of musicians Sterling “Mister Satan” Magee and Adam Gussow.
Following the screenings Balcerek and Gussow held a Q&A with the audience and Mirvish gifted Hall with a back back from the Director’s Guild of America.
Broadway singer/dancer/actor/director/choreographer Ted Louis Levy, a favourite at the Broadway to Barbados shows, will be performing at the Honey Jazz Gala fundraising concert coming up on Saturday, January 26 at Frank Collymore Hall. This was announced at the recent launch at Corky’s Garage. Mr. Levy has received an Emmy Award and been nominatedfor a Tony as well as an NAACP award. He has worked with Spike Lee, Gregory Hines, Harry Connick Junior among other luminaries and is recognized as one of America’s premier Tap Dance Artists.
Mr. Levy said:“I am looking forward to being a part of your awesome Honey Jazz event. I believe “Art” helps in the elevation of our complete lives, as it is all around us. JAZZ is one of the loves of my life. I hope I can compliment the show and help raise the awareness and funds for the artist development programmes that will help them continue the great work with young artists. I adore Barbados and any opportunity to enjoy its peaceful elegance is one not to be missed. I’ve also always wanted to collaborate with local artists.”
Mr. Levy will be joined by a local cast including Toni McIntosh, Leigh Phillips, Jabari Browne, Jessica Rose, Adrianna Myers, Akeiba Innis, Hashim Durant, Alyx Alanis, Dannyele Leslie and a band led by Mylon Clarke.
Photo provided by Ebonnie Rowe. Domanique Grant.
Canadian Artist Domanique Grant will also be joining the lineup: “I’m excited to kick off 2019 by travelling to Barbados and performing at Honey Jazz! Aside from taking the stage, this showcase means a lot to me because proceeds will go towards supporting programs for young women in music, a similar program to Honey Jam Canada, which really helped me develop and find my voice as a young artist. With music in Barbados known for being World renown, I’m even more ecstatic to hear the line up of Barbadian artists and to share the stage with them to celebrate a new generation of talent. “
Photo provided by Ebonnie Rowe. Photography by Lex Events. Host Caroline Reid
Back again to host will be Caroline Reid: “I am so pleased to be back for another exciting Honey Jazz Gala event. Over the years it has been amazing to see the event grow and the talent continue to wow audiences. I am truly excited for this year and especially because we get to welcome my friend Ted Louis Levy, to add a new element to the show. Also, for the first time we’re going to have a co-host and I’m happy to welcome Kirk Brown to the Honey Jazz family to share the stage with me as we introduce this year’s great lineup.”
Organizers are doing their sponsor a music student drive once again encouraging individuals and corporate Barbados to help young students experience the concert and introduce Jazz to a new generation. Two past beneficiaries of this initiative will take the stage at the concert. Pannist Hashim Durant and vocalist Jessica Rose.
Photo provided by Ebonnie Rowe. Mylon Clarke announced as the 2019 Bandleader.
Producer Ebonnie Rowe mentioned that Canadian radio station Jazz FM was promoting the event and doing a contest for listeners to win a trip to Barbados to attend. “I’m so excited to add these new elements and for the show to grow and continue to raise it’s profile outside of Barbados. Just yesterday I received an email from someone from the Ukraine who had heard about it online and will be flying in.”
Patrons can look forward to a great night of live entertainment starting with the a pre-show mixer featuring a Maybelline sponsored red carpet, door prizes, entertainment by the jazz band Blue Lagoon and the re-launch of Purity Bakeries Cravings deserts. This will be followed by the concert and after party.
Photo provided by Ebonnie Rowe. Photography by LEX Events. Click for full size image.
It’s that time of year again! The start of a new year when we look ahead to a few of the Hollywood films that will be arriving in cinemas this year. This is the second of two lists of films slated to be released in 2019 which look the most promising. There’s no guarantee that all of these films will be the best of the year, simply that they have the potential to be, at the very least, enjoyable.
Here are the franchise and blockbuster films that will be in cinemas this year.
JANUARY
Glass
Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan.
Starring: Bruce Willis, Samuel .L. Jackson, James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy and Sarah Paulson.
Synopsis: Security guard David Dunn uses his supernatural abilities to track Kevin Wendell Crumb, a disturbed man who has twenty-four personalities.
FEBRUARY
Alita: Battle Angel
Directed by: Robert Rodriguez
Starring: Rosa Salazar, Christoph Waltz, Jennifer Connelly, Mahershala Ali, Ed Skrein, Jackie Earle Haley and Keean Johnson.
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
Directed by: Dean DeBlois
Starring: Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchett, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Kit Harington, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Justin Rupple, Kristen Wiig and F. Murray Abraham
Synopsis: When Hiccup discovers Toothless isn’t the only Night Fury, he must seek “The Hidden World”, a secret Dragon Utopia before a hired tyrant named Grimmel finds it first.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLTDtbYmdW
The LEGO Movie: The Second Part
Directed by: Mike Mitchell
Starring: Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Charlie Day, Alison Brie, Nick Offerman, Tiffany Haddish, Stephanie Beatriz and Maya Rudolph.
MARCH
Captain Marvel
Directed by: Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck
Starring: nBrie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Djimon Hounsou, Lee Pace, Lashana Lynch, Gemma Chan, Annette Bening, Clark Gregg, and Jude Law.
Dumbo
Directed by: Tim Burton
Starring: Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Eva Green, and Alan Arkin.
Synopsis: A young elephant, whose oversized ears enable him to fly, helps save a struggling circus, but when the circus plans a new venture, Dumbo and his friends discover dark secrets beneath its shiny veneer.
APRIL
Avengers: End Game
Directed by: Joe and Anthony Russo
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Don Cheadle, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Letitia Wright, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Josh Brolin, Chris Pratt, Jeremy Renner, Evangeline Lilly, Jon Favreau, Paul Rudd and Brie Larson.
Synopsis: Part of the journey is the end.
Hellboy
Directed by: Neil Marshall
Starring: David Harbour, Milla Jovovich, Ian McShane, Sasha Lane, and Daniel Dae Kim.
Synopsis: Based on the graphic novels by Mike Mignola, Hellboy, caught between the worlds of the supernatural and human, battles an ancient sorceress bent on revenge.
Pet Sematary
Directed by: Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer
Starring: Jason Clarke, Amy Seimetz, and John Lithgow.
Synopsis: Louis Creed, his wife Rachel and their two children Gage and Ellie move to a rural home where they are welcomed and enlightened about the eerie ‘Pet Sematary’ located near their home. After the tragedy of their cat being killed by a truck, Louis resorts to burying it in the mysterious pet cemetery, which is definitely not as it seems, as it proves to the Creeds that sometimes, dead is better.
Shazam!
Directed by: David F. Sandberg
Starring: Asher Angel, Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Jack Dylan Grazer, Grace Fulton, Ian Chen, Jovan Armand, Faithe Herman, Cooper Andrews, Marta Milans and Djimon Hounsou.
Synopsis: We all have a superhero inside us, it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In Billy Batson’s case, by shouting out one word – SHAZAM! – this streetwise 14-year-old foster kid can turn into the adult superhero Shazam.
MAY
Aladdin
Directed by: Guy Ritchie
Starring: Mena Massoud, Will Smith, Naomi Scott, Marwan Kenzari, Navid Negahban, Nasim Pedrad, Billy Magnussen, and Numan Acar.
Synopsis: A live-action retelling of the 1992 Disney film of the same name.
No trailer available.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters
Directed by: Michael Dougherty
Starring: Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga, Millie Bobby Brown, Bradley Whitford, Sally Hawkins, Charles Dance, Thomas Middleditch, Aisha Hinds, O’Shea Jackson Jr., David Strathairn, Ken Watanabe, and Zhang Ziyi.
Synopsis: The crypto-zoological agency Monarch faces off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah.
John Wick: Chapter 3/ John Wick 3: Parabellum
Directed by: Chad Stahelski
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry, Mark Dacascos, Ian McShane, Lance Reddick, Boban Marjanović and Laurence Fishburne
Synopsis: John Wick is still on the run following his assassination of a member of the High Table in The Continental, and with a $14 million global contract on him. Banned from every Continental service, John’s objective is to fight his way out of New York City.
POKÉMON Detective Pikachu
Directed by: Rob Letterman
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Justice Smith, Kathryn Newton and Ken Watanabe.
Synopsis: In a world where people collect Pokémon to do battle, a boy comes across an intelligent talking Pikachu who seeks to be a detective.
JUNE
Toy Story 4
Directed by: Josh Cooley
Starring: Tom Hanks and Tim Allen
Synopsis: When a new toy called “Forky” joins Woody and the gang, a road trip alongside old and new friends reveals how big the world can be for a toy.
X-Men: Dark Phoenix
Directed by: Simon Kinberg
Starring: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Sophie Turner, Tye Sheridan, Alexandra Shipp, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Evan Peters, and Jessica Chastain
Synopsis: Jean Grey begins to develop incredible powers that corrupt and turn her into a Dark Phoenix. Now the X-Men will have to decide if the life of a team member is worth more than all the people living in the world.
JULY
Spider-Man: Far From Home
Directed by: Jon Watts
Starring: Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Jon Favreau, Zendaya, Marisa Tomei, Jake Gyllenhaal, Cobie Smulders, and Samuel L. Jackson
Synopsis: Peter Parker and his friends go on summer vacation to Europe, where Peter finds himself trying to save his friends against a villain known as Mysterio.
No trailer available.
The Lion King
Directed by: Jon Favreau
Starring: Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Billy Eichner, John Oliver, Keegan-Michael Key, Beyoncé, and James Earl Jones.
Synopsis: CGI re-imagining of the 1994 Disney classic.
AUGUST
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw
Directed by: David Leitch
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Vanessa Kirby, and Idris Elba.
Synopsis: A spinoff of The Fate of the Furious, focusing on Johnson’s US Diplomatic Security Agent Luke Hobbs forming an unlikely alliance with Statham’s Deckard Shaw.
No trailer available.
The New Mutants
Directed by: Josh Boone
Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Maisie Williams, Charlie Heaton, Henry Zaga, Blu Hunt, and Alice Braga.
Synopsis: Five young mutants, just discovering their abilities while held in a secret facility against their will, fight to escape their past sins and save themselves.
SEPTEMBER
Downton Abbey
Directed by: Michael Engler
Starring: Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Michelle Dockery, Joanne Froggatt, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith and Penelope Wilton.
Synopsis: Plot unknown. Movie based on the popular British television show, Downton Abbey (2010).
IT: Chapter 2
Directed by: Andy Muschietti
Starring: Bill Skarsgård, James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain, Jay Ryan, Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa, James Ransone, Andy Bean, Jaeden Lieberher, Sophia Lillis, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Finn Wolfhard, Chosen Jacobs, Jack Dylan Grazer and Wyatt Oleff.
Synopsis: Twenty-seven years later, the Losers Club have grown up and moved away, until a devastating phone call brings them back.
No trailer available.
OCTOBER
Joker
Directed by: Todd Phillips
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Bill Camp, Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen, Glenn Fleshler, Douglas Hodge, Marc Maron, Josh Pais, and Shea Whigham.
Synopsis: A failed stand-up comedian is driven insane and becomes a psychopathic murderer.
No trailer available.
Zombieland 2
Directed by: Ruben Fleischer
Starring: Emma Stone, Zoey Deutch, Abigail Breslin, Woody Harrelson, Bill Murray, Jesse Eisenberg, Dan Aykroyd and Avan Jogia.
Synopsis: Columbus, Tallahasse, Wichita, and Little Rock move to the American heartland as they face off against evolved zombies, fellow survivors, and the growing pains of the snarky makeshift family.
No trailer available.
NOVEMBER
Frozen 2
Directed by: Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee
Starring: Kristen Bell, Evan Rachel Wood, Sterling K. Brown, Jonathan Groff, Idina Menzel and Josh Gad.
Synopsis: Elsa, Anna, Kristoff and Olaf are going far in the forest to know the truth about an ancient mystery of their kingdom.
No trailer available.
DECEMBER
Jumanji 3
Directed by: Jake Kasdan
Starring: Karen Gillan, Dwayne Johnson, Awkwafina, Kevin Hart Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Danny DeVito, Darin Ferraro and Sal Longobardo.
Synopsis: Plot kept under wraps.
No trailer available.
Star Wars: Episode IX
Directed by: J. J. Abrams
Starring: Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, Billie Lourd, Naomi Ackie, Richard E. Grant, Keri Russell, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Billy Dee Williams and Carrie Fisher.
Synopsis: The monumental finale of the Skywalker Saga.
It’s that time of year again! The start of a new year when we look ahead to a few of the Hollywood films that will be arriving in cinemas this year. This is the first of two lists of films slated to be released in 2019 which look the most promising. There’s no guarantee that all of these films will be the best of the year, simply that they have the potential to be, at the very least, enjoyable.
To kick off this look forward to 2019 in movies, here are some of the original films (films that are not a sequel, prequel, interquel, reboot, re-imaging, remake etc of a previous film or television series and are not based on a pre-existing intellectual property) moviegoers will be watching in cinemas this year.
JANUARY
Serenity
Directed by: Steven Knight
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Diane Lane, Jason Clarke, Djimon Hounsou, and Jeremy Strong.
Synopsis: The mysterious past of a fishing boat captain comes back to haunt him, when his ex-wife tracks him down with a desperate plea for help, ensnaring his life in a new reality that may not be all that it seems.
The Kid Who Would Be King
Directed by: Joe Cornish
Starring: Louis Ashbourne Serkis, Tom Taylor, Rebecca Ferguson, and Patrick Stewart.
Synopsis: A band of kids embark on an epic quest to thwart a medieval menace.
The Upside
Directed by: Neil Burger
Starring: Kevin Hart, Bryan Cranston and Nicole Kidman.
Synopsis: A comedic look at the relationship between a wealthy man with quadriplegia and an unemployed man with a criminal record who’s hired to help him.
MARCH
Us
Directed by: Jordan Peele.
Starring: Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss, Tim Heidecker, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Anna Diop.
Synopsis: A mother and father take their kids to their beach house, expecting to enjoy time with friends, but their serenity turns to tension and chaos when some visitors arrive uninvited.
APRIL
Missing Link
Directed by: Chris Butler
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana, Timothy Olyphant, Emma Thompson, and Zach Galifianakis.
Synopsis: Mr. Link recruits explorer Sir Lionel Frost to help find his long-lost relatives in the fabled valley of Shangri-La. Along with adventurer Adelina Fortnight, this trio of explorers travel the world to help their new friend.
MAY
Brightburn
Directed by: David Yarovesky
Starring: Elizabeth Banks, David Denman, Jackson A. Dunn, Matt Jones and Meredith Hagner.
Synopsis: What if a child from another world crash-landed on Earth, but instead of becoming a hero to mankind, he proved to be something far more sinister?
Rocketman
Directed by: Dexter Fletcher
Starring: Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell, Richard Madden, and Bryce Dallas Howard.
Synopsis: The story of Elton John’s life, from his years as a prodigy at the Royal Academy of Music through his influential and enduring musical partnership with Bernie Taupin.
JUNE
Ford v. Ferrari
Directed by: James Mangold
Starring: Christian Bale, Matt Damon, Caitriona Balfe, Jon Bernthal, Josh Lucas, and Noah Jupe.
Synopsis: The true story of the battle between Ford and Ferrari to win Le Mans in 1966.
No trailer available.
JULY
Once Upon A Time in Hollywood
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie.
Synopsis: A faded TV actor and his stunt double embark on an odyssey to make a name for themselves in the film industry during the Helter Skelter reign of terror in 1969 Los Angeles.
No trailer available.
October
A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood
Directed by: Marielle Heller
Starring: Tom Hanks, Matthew Rhys, and Chris Cooper.
Synopsis: Two-time Oscar®-winner Tom Hanks portrays Mister Rogers in Untitled Mr. Rogers / Tom Hanks Project, a timely story of kindness triumphing over cynicism, based on the true story of a real-life friendship between Fred Rogers and journalist Tom Junod. After a jaded magazine writer (Emmy winner Matthew Rhys) is assigned a profile of Fred Rogers, he overcomes his skepticism, learning about empathy, kindness, and decency from America’s most beloved neighbor.
Following their successful debut earlier this year in Barbados, Vujaday Music Festival has returned to announce a stacked phase one lineup in preparation for their second year. The 2019 edition will take place from April 3-7 and will once again take place in different venues all across the stunning Caribbean island. This will give festival-goers the chance to take in a new experience and venue each day.
The phase one lineup for Vujaday 2019 features legendary Welsh DJ and producer Sasha, a DJ set from iconic Canadian electronic duo Bob Moses, Detroit house and techno staple Moodymann, All Day I Dream founder Lee Burridge, a live performance from the Detroit based sibling duo Octave One, Vivrant label founder and renowned Swedish musician Jeremy Olander, Brooklyn house duo Bedouin, Life and Death founder DJ Tennis, Berlin house aficionado YokoO, members of the fan-favorite Desert Hearts collective Mikey Lion and Lee Reynolds, American production duo and Crew Love members Soul Clap, Women on Wax founder DJ Minx, Sheik ‘N’ Beik founder Rechulski, respected Toronto resident Nitin, and fellow Toronto native and current Barcelona resident Jade.
Artwork provided by The Confluence. Click for full size image.
Many more names will be added to the lineup in the near future. Vujaday will also be announcing what venues they will be taking over shortly, and have also announced they will be hosting a new daytime party series for the first time this year. Details regarding this exciting new addition to the already jam-packed Vujaday experience will be announced as the festival nears closer.
Venue highlights from last year included Bellevue Plantation, a 100-acre property built in 1735 that included a pool, polo fields, and lush gardens surrounding the property. Another favorite was Cornwall House, which allowed those in attendance to witness a breathtaking sunrise while overlooking the gorgeous Eastern Coast of Barbados. Other venues were located directly on the beach and gave those in attendance the chance to sink their feet in the sand throughout the event.
Photo by The Confluence. Click for full size image.Photo by The Confluence. Click for full size image.
With its dedication to providing attendees with an experience they’ve never seen or felt before, Vujaday pulls all the stops to create an unforgettable journey for attendees. The event spans over the course of five days, allowing festival-goers to be fully immersed into the culture of Barbados while traveling throughout the island to experience the unique venues that Vujaday takes place at.
Early bird tickets for 2019 are currently on sale and can be purchased here. Super early bird tickets have already sold out. More info about travel and additional details can be found on the Vujaday website, and you can watch their 2018 aftermovie to get a better taste of what the festival has to offer.
A recently improved Walled Garden Theatre of the Barbados Museum and Historical Society is the hub of the upcoming third Barbados Independent Film Festival (BIFF) from 11- 20 January 2018. During the 10 day festival, the tranquil grounds of the museum will be transformed into a haven for film enthusiasts.
The Walled Garden Theatre is an intimate space within the UNESCO World Heritage Property that offers artisans, artistes and performers the opportunity to showcase their talents. The recently upgraded facility features a new tensile ‘Undercover’ tent that will allow performances and events in all weather throughout the year.
Director of the Museum, Alissandra Cummins explained: “In response to repeated requests to host a variety of performances and events in the Walled Garden Theatre, we focused on improving the space. With completion of the staging area and dressing rooms in 2016/7 and now the new tensile tent, this ensures the museum is seen as a world-class performance venue, unaffected by the elements.
She continued: ‘We have been a proud partner of the film festival since its inception and continue to support its growth. The spotlight on the festival exposes the museum and our various exhibits to new visitors and reminds local residents of what we have to offer.”
BIFF is committed to supporting the local film industry and seeks to create an avenue for them to compete on an international level. Local filmmakers are encouraged to enter their films alongside regional and international submissions to also vie for the Collaboration Grant. This grant pairs the winner of the ‘Local Filmmaker’ Award with an international filmmaker to create a short film about a unique aspect of Barbados and premieres at the opening gala of each festival. 2019 will see LIQUID GOLD: THE STORY OF RUM IN BARBADOS, produced by Bajan filmmaker Rommel Hall and American Dan Mirvish.
Film enthusiasts can also look forward to watching a range of over 40 local, regional and international films with a number of post-film discussions with the filmmakers. Additionally, the visiting filmmakers undertake a number of masterclass series on independent filmmaking, screenwriting and directing. This year’s masterclass in residence is Oscar-nominated and winner of the 2018 BIFF Lifetime Achievement Award, Lone Scherfig.
The festival has also introduced a Director’s Circle All Access Pass for those who seek the behind-the scenes-experience, with unrivaled access to all events throughout the festival, priority seating and a host of other benefits. This pass is available only on the festival website (www.barbadosfilmfest.org).
Volunteers are an integral part of the festival and the Committee are seeking their assistance. Anyone wishing to volunteer can register an interest by emailing their name and telephone number to volunteers@barbadosfilmfest.org to 6 January 2018.
Jennifer Smith-Bent/Sir Trevor Carmichael said: “We are excited to have the museum, a venue in a UNESCO World Heritage Property as our hub. It is the perfect setting for our events as the developments allow the stage and seating area to be fully covered. We have a fantastic line-up of films and events for all ages and encourage everyone to come out to both paid and free events.
She added: “We will also be running competitions to win tickets to various film events on our social media, in the run-up to the festival.”
For a complete schedule and more information about BIFF films, events, masterclasses and volunteering, please visit www.barbadosfilmfest.org. Tickets to the free and paid events are available at Ticketpal.com under “BIFF”.
Bitt, Central Bank and FSC on right track with Regulatory Sandbox Framework
November 14th 2019 may not seem like a historic day to most, but for those in the Digital Currency world, it was seen as a watershed moment, as the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund stated at a Fintech forum in Singapore “I believe we should consider the possibility to issue digital currency. There may be a role for the state to supply money to the digital economy. This currency could satisfy public policy goals, such as (i) financial inclusion, and (ii) security and consumer protection; and to provide what the private sector cannot: (iii) privacy in payments.”
On its own initiative, and before this recent recommendation on Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC) from the IMF, the Central Bank of Barbados and the Financial Services Commission (FSC) established a Regulatory Sandbox Framework and the first participant in that Sandbox is Bitt Inc. This follows the Honourable Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley’s announcement at Bitt’s annual Central Bank Meets Blockchain conference in September 2018, of an mMoney pilot.
In the November 2018 official IMF Staff Discussion Note titled “Casting Light on Central Bank Digital Currency”, Bitt was featured among a short list of financial technology (FinTech) companies that are providing digital payment solutions to boost financial inclusion in their respective jurisdictions. Bitt, the only FinTech company currently servicing the Caribbean, was mentioned in the IMF Staff Discussion Note, as utilising the ‘stored value facilities’ model to create a CBDC.
The IMF Staff Discussion Note also stated that the establishment of a CBDC is a possible and “potentially close to risk-free” starting point for countries interested in exploring Fintech solutions aimed at boosting financial inclusion, greater efficiency, and transparency. Listed among the benefits of developing a CBDC are increased security and greater financial inclusion. However, each Central Bank must consider its country’s cultural factors and conduct SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analyses to determine the best framework for mass adoption.
Bridegtown, BARBADOS; December 3, 2018 : Shyft the global blockchain-based network that facilitates the secure sharing of attested and compliant data, has announced the signing of a Letter of Understanding with Bitt Inc., a Barbados-based fintech company that facilitates secure peer-to-peer transactions through its mobile payments software, mMoney. As part of this partnership, Bitt will become an active ecosystem participant utilizing the Shyft network for data transaction needs across Caribbean territories.
Shyft’s data transaction network allows participating financial institutions to act as ‘trust anchors’, perform attestations, and share trusted and verified data among customers participating in the pilot. The two leading companies will leverage their respective strengths in a mandate of strengthening corresponding bank connectivity while reducing costs associated with KYC and AML compliance.
“There are strong synergies between our two companies to propel Barbados and the broader emerging markets of the Caribbean and to boost economic growth and competitiveness”, said FredricoNassire, Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) of Shyft Network. “We will focus on creating a highly-secure, transparent and inclusive financial environment for all citizens of all these regions”
“As we continue to make inroads in the Caribbean, Shyft will bring their services to institutions and clients that need it”, said Simon Chantry, Co-Founder and Chief Business Development Officer(CBDO) of Bitt. “This is particularly relevant in Barbados with the deployment of mMoney, where institutions are seeking to leverage the extensive KYC verification functions of mMoney in combination with Shyft’s secure KYC warehousing network.”
END
About Bitt
Bitt is a fintech company that utilizes blockchain and distributed ledger technology to facilitate secure peer-to-peer transactions with seamless mobile money across a suite of Bitt’s Software and Mobile Applications. They aim to financially empower everyone and provide infrastructure to support a digital financial ecosystem throughout the Caribbean in order to stimulate economic growth and financial access across future generations.
For more information on Bitt please visitwww.Bitt.com
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Shyft is building a blockchain-based ecosystem that allows for the secure and private sharing of data for industries, governments, and consumers. Shyft’s ecosystem helps to streamline and reduce the amount of individual records that need to be collected while allowing for data monetization and the secure transfer of verified, encrypted attested data.
The Joy to Your World Essay Contest winners were announced last Sunday evening at the Searocks Dome Joy! family event.
In this Christmas season of giving, leading up to Sunday’s event, in a campaign to encourage young children to have empathy, to be generous and to help others, there was a Joy To Your World Essay Competition where the children were asked: “How are you bringing Joy to your World? How are you helping your family, neighbour, community? How can we all make Barbados better?”
All of the children were honoured at the event, each receiving prizes and 3 were selected to receive special recognition.
Photo provided by Ebonnie Rowe. 2nd place winner Naiyah Wurdeman with her baby sister enjoying a pony ride
12 year old Natanya Weekes won top prize which included a Discovery Kids Prize Pak, $400 Scotiabank account, a Wibisco Gift Basket, Chefette party, a family Atlantis Submarine trip, gift bag from the US Embassy, a free eye examination donated by Eye Q Stylist Opticians, a book of Children’s stories written by Lady Roberta Simpson and more. Natanya thinks we can make Barbados better by encouraging others to stop littering, stop violence and misuse of drugs, stop abusing children and start feeding those who are hungry. She believes we must teach youth to be caring and loving reasoning that if we love our neighbours we will not want to harm them. Joining wholesome activities such as sports, music debating and volunteering are activities she feels can steer youth in a positive direction. In terms of what she personally is doing to help others, Natanya says “My mother calls me a mother hen because I am always concerned about others. At church I am always helping the little ones to complete their work. I help my teacher at school and at home I help with chores and when my mother is sick I help her by making breakfast. In my community there is an after school care for the physically challenged. I donate books and toys for the children and play games and dance with them. I loved the interaction. It made them Happy and it is my greatest joy.”
The other 2 students who placed 2nd and third were 12 year old Naiyah Wurdeman and 10 year old Yohan Foster.
Photo provided by Ebonnie Rowe. Ebonnie Rowe with Read for Life’s Gillian Rowe
Organizer Ebonnie Rowe said “I’m so inspired by the children’s commitment to being good citizens and positively impacting the lives of others. I am touched every year hearing about how much they care about the environment, the elderly, their school and communities and how passionate they are as such a young age about taking the initiative to do what they can to affect change. It’s also a testament to their parents and the good values they are being brought up with. These are the young people who will shape the future of the nation, and if they continue on this path we will be in very good hands.”
Joy! proved to be a fun family afternoon featuring free face painting by Faces of Colour, Animekon booth, Read for Life Children’s Circle, a drum circle, ending with a Sunset Concert hosted by Caroline “Cici” Reid and featuring the Ascending Stars, John Yarde, Alix Cage, Faith Callender, Toni McIntosh, Dannyele Leslie and Taahirah Mohamed. Nicholas Brancker was spotted in the audience to cheer on his neice who was performing with Ascending Stars.
Photo Provided by Ebonnie Rowe. Host Caroline Cici Reid with top 3 essay contest winner 3rd place Johan Foster, 2nd place Naiyah Wurdeman and 1st place Natanya Weekes with producer Ebonnie Rowe
It’s Independence Day here in Barbados and local pop-punk band Sundown Superhero has decided to mark the occasion in their own special, unique way. This morning the band released their take on the Barbados National Anthem; a minute long high-energy, rock infused version of the song.
Speaking to Zeitgeist, bassist and lyricist for the band Craig Haniff said:
“We wanted to pay tribute to our country but in our own style of music. We certainly wanted it to be different from the traditional Independence posts. It was actually a pretty last minute idea. We were brainstorming how we could make an Independence post our own and it just popped in our heads and we arranged and recorded it [in about three days]. Our anthem is a pretty awesome musical piece!”
Listen to it below.
Hit up the band on their social media pages (Facebook & Instagram) to get your limited edition copy of their debut album Wake Up the Neighbourhood.
In his opening address to those in attendance, co-founder of the festival Sir Trevor Carmichael spoke of volunteerism; it’s history in Barbados and it’s relationship with the festival. Stating that volunteers make up 95% of BIFF’s staff, Sir Carmichael also said:
