Activities of the CHFS
Film Presentations:
The CHFS was launched with a screening of The Darker Side of Black (Isaac Julien, UK/St. Lucia). This documentary by a Caribbean diasporic director, focusing on some of the less tolerant aspects of black culture in the Caribbean and North America, stimulated lively debate and so marked a fitting beginning to our activities. Since then, the Society has shown films from over 15 countries from the Caribbean, Africa, Latin America, North America, the Far East, the Middle East, Europe and Australia. Many showings have been enlivened by expert presenters, sometimes from the country portrayed in the film: Camp Thiaroye (Ousmane Sembene, Senegal) was presented by the director's biographer and compatriot Dr. Samba Gadjigo, whilst When We Were Kings, Leon Gast's documentary on the Ali vs. Foreman fight in Zaire, was presented by Congolese French lecturer - and Foreman supporter - Dr. Claver Mabana. Members of the Department have also contributed academic expertise to the Society by presenting films, including Wide Sargasso Sea, presented by Dr. Evelyn O'Callaghan, Orfeu negro, presented by Dr. Anthea Morrison and Rosemary's Baby, presented by Carmel Haynes, whilst guest lecturers such as Kevin Arthur (Doña Flor and her Two Husbands) and Ronnie Carrington (presentation on making a feature film in Barbados) have shared their own specialized knowledge.
Presentations by Directors:
Director Isaac Julien and producer Mark Nash's very well attended presentation of Black Skin, White Mask marked the Anglophone Caribbean première of this provocative documentary on the Martiniquan intellectual Franz Fanon. In common with subsequent guest directors, Isaac Julien also delivered valuable workshops for students and staff on aspects of filmmaking. Trinidadian director Horace Ové and UK/St. Kitts writer Caryl Phillips provided insights into the challenges of filmmaking in a diasporic context with their informative presentation of Playing Away. Award-winning Trinidadian filmmaker Yao Ramesar revealed some of the secrets of documentary and experimental filmmaking and discussed the growing importance of video, whilst Cuban Rigoberto López presented fascinating documentaries on the US invasion of Grenada and the legacy of Chinese immigrants in Cuba.
Seasons:
The Society has already run several mini-seasons, focusing on Caribbean, Italian, and Brasilian films.
ANNUAL PROGRAMMES
Please click on the links below for further information concerning our annual programmes and special events:
- 2005-2006 Programme - Semester I
- 2004-2005 Programme - Semester II
- 2004-2005 Programme - Semester I
- 2002-2003 Programme
- 2nd Festival of African and Caribbean Film, October 15-19, 2003
- 2001-2002 Programme
- 2000-2001 Programme
- African Film Festival: the Films of Sembene Ousmane: October 9-13, 2000
- 1999-2000 Programme
