Press Release
Wednesday, February 15th, 2009

BELIZE SET TO HOST SECOND TRAVELING CARIBBEAN FILM SHOWCASE
PRESS RELEASE

The Caribbean Region’s Travelling Film Showcase will be officially declared open in Belize during ceremonies at the Bliss Institute of Performing Arts in Belize City on the night of Sunday, February 15th, 2009.

Sponsored regionally by UNESCO and supported by the Cuban Institute of Art and Cinematographic Industry in collaboration with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Travelling Caribbean Film Showcase is as its name proclaims, is a Showcase of Caribbean films that this year has been dedicated to Children and Adolescents of the Caribbean.  It is a non-profit cultural Project that is bringing together the works of filmmakers from 12 different countries as it makes its rounds around the Caribbean.

The Final Selection of the Second Travelling Caribbean Film Showcase features films that should be particularly attractive for children and adolescents, but some of the films address - in a variety of ways - critical issues that affect and threaten our Caribbean youth today. Some films document daily living, others discuss puberty and growing up and some offer a serious look at social issues such as HIV/Aids, child prostitution and abuse. Although geared for the youth, the films the social commentary provided by these films deserve to be appreciated not only by our children and adolescents, but by all audiences in general.

Over the course of eight days at the Bliss Centre in Belize City (Sun. Feb. 15th – Sun. Feb. 22nd), the Showcase will screen films at 10:00 a.m, 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. daily.  The films are in three categories: Films suitable for audiences Ages 5 – 8 yrs, Ages 8 – 12 yrs and Ages 12 +.   All films not spoken in English are subtitled in English. Entrance is FREE for all films including those screened at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. A copy of the screening schedule can be found in the weekend newspapers or at www.belizefilmfestival.com in the next few days

A special feature of this year’s Showcase is a Writing Workshop (for plays and films) to be facilitated by Norman de Palm, the distinguished writer / producer from Curacao, who produced ZULAIKA, a film also presenting in the Showcase. His  workshop dedicated to the essentials of storytelling will take place Tuesday, Feb. 17th at the Bliss Centre from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 

For more information or copies of the schedule and/ or film synopses please contact the BLISS CENTRE at 227-2110 / 227-2458 or email suzette@nichbelize.org    

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