The program was hosted by Carrie Mullings (Canadian Ambassador to Reggae Music) of Rebel Vibes on CHRY radio. On the panel was Canadian reggae singers Tanya Mullings and Ammoye along with the producer of JAB! Elizabeth Topp.

Tanya Mullings award winning music can be found on myspace. Canada’s upcoming, Ammoye, nick named “Canada’s best kept secret”, can also be found on myspace. Elizabeth Topp, Trinidadian born Film producer can be contacted through CBFF. We look forward to her next film.

QUEENS OF SOUND

Reggae and Dancehall music, the sounds grown and developed in the streets of Jamaica have always been dominated by men. For example the two genres of music has been spread to all corners of earth by superstars like Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Beenie Man and Vybz Kartel, yet of the global Billion dollar industry, less then 12% of people involved are women. QUEENS OF SOUND documents the experiences of women, and their social histories in the rather new genre of Reggae and Dancehall music, which is a culture of its own. The visual document begins with the difference between reggae and dancehall music. Dancehall is usually fast pace dance or party music with elements of rap and is typically based on a simple syncopated base rhythm. It is generally associated with crass, slackness and violent lyrics. Reggae is the antithesis to Dancehall. Reggae is much slower than dancehall usually based on the classic ‘one drop beat’ with sung lyrics rather than rapping and are typically based on love or a social consciousness which educates its listeners on world corruption and poverty. Although there is no concrete rule separating the two, both genres were born out of Jamaica and often share elements of other.

Austrian director Sandra Krampelhuber interviews almost every Jamaican female reggae and dancehall artists to gain their perspective and their experiences on the industry. Everyone from Marcia Griffiths and Tanya Stephens to Queen Omega, Queen Ifrica, Lady G and Lady Saw share their stories. She also covers the perspectives of music video director Nordia Rose, Jade Lee of the Jamaican Artist Development Enterprise, entertainment lawyer and President of JAFA (Jamaican Association of Female Artists) Sandra Alcott and social studies professor and author at the University of the West Indies Carolyn Cooper. QUEENS OF SOUND covers a lot of ground and places Jamaican music as a central figure in Jamaican Culture.

Artists like Chevelle Franklyn who performed in, arguably, Jamaica’s most popular film DANCEHALL QUEEN, with Beenie Man at the height her career also voices her opinion on the industry. The popularity of the film set off both their careers in 1997. Just as Chevelle was about to reap the benefits of performing in a hit film, she made the life altering decision to end her secular career and use her musical talent in church. She has since continued to record and perform Christian reggae music. She states that dancehall music was not doing anything for her spiritually and that the culture was destroying the youth. She goes on to explain with examples of young women spending valuable time and money to indulge in the dancehall culture yet cannot afford to lift their lives above the poverty line.

Artist Ce’Cile addresses the sexual explicit lyrical content which seems to be a staple of dancehall culture. After recording so many songs about sex, she feels it’s her duty to record one about safe sex. The crew follows her to a Big Yard studio, Kingston Jamaica to record it. Recording artist Sasha describes her music as ‘sexy yet sweet, hardcore but discrete’ and continues to explain that her latest album ‘Sexy Body Sasha’ was named by her record label as she laughs and shrugs it off. Other artists discuss the pressures that record labels place on female singers to dress sexy in little to no clothing in order to sell records. Sex Sells. Queen Ifrica and Lady Saw put into plain words that men will see a pretty face before they see talent and market sex before music. Carolyn Cooper addresses the female sexual dichotomy by stating that “the only thing worse than being a sexual object rather than a person, is not be being a sexual object”.

Tanya Stephens, arguably Jamaica’s most popular and successful reggae and dancehall singer, claims that she finds it insulting when people tell her she is pretty good for a women, and that she sees herself as a Jamaican musical artist rather than a Female Jamaican musical artist.

The audience found the film very informative. A member of the audience described the film as ‘a breath of fresh air. I have never seen anything like this.’ Due its over whelming response, the Canadian Black Film Festival plans to screen QUEENS OF SOUND again prior to Toronto’s annual Caribana festival in 2010.

Jab! The Blue Devils of Paramin

Jab! The Blue Devils of Paramin was also very entertaining as it documented the preparation for Parmain’s annual Carnival. Paramin is a small village outside Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad & Tobago. The film follows Kootoo, a middle aged farmer who lives in the hills as his family and friends prepare for carnival. This is not just a documentary about carnival in the small village, it is a film about the beauty and culture a Paramin. Its striking imagery of the horizons thick forests, farm land and people, places you right there in hills beside Kootoo as he tells his story. We also get to meet the neighbours like 92 year old Augustine, who speaks fluent patois. Patois is the mixture of French Spanish and English concocted in an effort for African slaves to communicate with their European masters. The term Patois is usually associated with Jamaica which is constantly evolving, but perhaps Augustine’s patois is the oldest, thus closest to the original language which is slowly being eroded as a colloquial dialect.

Paramin seems like another world. The houses seem like shacks according to large city standards and are formed from old wood and sheet metal; water flows not from faucets, but from pipes sticking out of the ground, yet the residents are happy and refuse to leave its beauty, comfort and beloved community.

We see the village gear up for carnival by practicing their dances, preparing their costumes, body paint, and pans; not to be confused with the steel pan formed from oil barrel lids (Trinidad’s famous pitched percussion instrument). These pans seem to be aluminium garbage bins which are placed over a flame to create a certain tone when beaten with sticks. Jab! Concludes with the streets filled with people young and old dressed up in various costumes and most covered in blue body paint dancing to the rhythm of the pan. Blue Devils seem to be the most popular costume as they play Jab and parade through the streets like wild beats at night seeking their prey.

JAB! THE BLUE DEVILS OF PARAMIN creates an excellent and beautiful portrait of Paramin in preparation for carnival.

Expert help was on hand from many of those driving African-Canadian filmmaking forward and we would like to extend special thanks to Jude Idada, Powys Dewhurst, David Sutherland, Tabby Johnson, Jani Lauzon, Louis Taylor and Nicole Brooks who either screened work or were incredibly supportive in participating in Q&A sessions.

The Tenant Cast and Producer Jude Idada at the CBFF Opening Night

As we look forward to launching 2010 activity, one of the key successes of the three days was the launch of the CBFF Youth on Camera program. This started on Saturday September 26th, bringing together groups from Schools Without Borders, Shoot With This and the Regent Park Focus Group for a screening day and discussion session.

The festival culminated in an emotional tribute to The Honourable Lincoln Alexander and the premiere screening of the documentary on his life – A Linc in Time – by Nicole Brooks, please make sure you see this film for yourself whenever you get the opportunity, truly a landmark in Canadian filmmaking!

Michael Pinball Clemons and Karen King pay tribute to Lincoln Alexander, pictured centre with cast from A Linc In Time

Our closing ceremony also saw the introduction of the ‘CBFF Linc Award’. This award (pictured below), was presented to Lincoln Alexander for his lifetime of achievements and contribution to Canadian society. This will also be the award handed out to filmmakers and category winners at all future festivals. We were delighted to have the opportunity to recognise The Honourable Lincoln Alexander in this way.

We would also like to pay a special thank you to our volunteers who helped to make our first year such a wonderful success. One of our volunteers, Stephanie Edwards, spent some time during a busy festival schedule writing reviews on some of the films shown, please read below for some quick reviews!

Drama, Drama, and a little too much Drama!

The Tenant kept us all on our toes in anticipation of how the story was going to unfold. Each opened door that provided key information always brought a new twist to the story. You could never predict what was going to happen next. Leaving the audience crying out exclamations of “oh my goodness” or “this is too much”, it really was a picture that seemed to connect with the audience.

A thoroughly engaging Q&A session with producers and members of the cast continued well into the night, which was a testament to the interest, intrigue and questions this award-winning Canadian feature has had at festivals around the world.

ATTENTION! – To all persons who have influence in allowing films to be shown in schools.  This should be one of them!!!

I highly recommend this film to be shown in schools and made easily accessible to people who would like to learn more about Kwanzaa or for people who would like to incorporate this celebration into their lives.

Kwanzaa is a holiday, yet many people are not informed about what Kwanzaa is, or what it means to some people in our community. This is an educational, informative and family oriented film that gives a sense of pride to all black communities worldwide and was a fitting way to open a Canadian Black Film Festival. Two thumbs up!

I was glad to see a film in the Canadian Black Film Festival that acknowledges Sickle Cell, which is a disease that mainly affects the black Community.

I didn’t feel as though this short film captured enough emotion from the parents, the stepmother or the child, about how they were really feeling going through this ordeal. Some may argue that the film was a bit toned down because the family was in a hospital. Regardless of this story being portrayed in a hospital setting, when someone you love or someone close to you is in need, hurt, sick or near death your emotions will tell a powerful story of how you feel, in addition to, how this sudden change will affect your daily life.

Due to the lack of honest emotion, I would find it hard for an audience to understand its true essence, however this was a powerful and brave first foray into filmmaking for the emerging young York graduate Brianna Brown.

A Linc In Time was amazing, inspirational and motivational!

I felt as though I was in the presence of a wise, down to earth and experienced individual, telling their story to allow another to step up and keep going even in the face of adversity and hardships. Lincoln Alexander never once gave the impression that everything in life came to him easy, but his compelling recollection of his own life story would certainly motivate anyone who sees this excellent documentary to give their very best at all times Both the number of changes he initiated, as well as the lives he touched are beautifully captured in a film that jumps seamlessly between the past and the present.

This testimony to someone who will in time be viewed as one of the forefathers of Canadian history will rest as timeless tribute to an incredible life and life-changing journey.

In what is sure to be an event attended by many celebrated film industry figures, dignitaries from the political and corporate world and also featuring a special appearance by The Honourable Lincoln Alexander, CBFF are pleased to announce that LIMITED tickets for this closing gala ceremony are on sale Friday! Please click below on the Box Office icon to reserve your tickets today for what is sure to be a sold out event.

Closing Night Program

In our closing day gala fittingly entitled ‘A Linc in Time’, the program events will build up to a tribute ceremony, including the premiere screening of Nicole Brooks’ film – A Linc in Time – as well as speeches, reflections and awards in recognition of the life and invaluable contributions made by Lincoln, to the tapestry of Canadian society.

The event will be presented by our special guest hosts, Michael ‘Pinball’Clemons and Karlyn Percil (The Karlyn Percil Show) and will also feature tribute speeches and award to Lincoln Alexander for his services to all Canadian communities.

The closing night program will also feature award-winning director Powys Dewhurst short film Delroy Kincaid which is rapidly gaining award after award at film festivals across the globe.

CBFF would also like to thank Ryerson University and the Students Association which are kindly sponsoring this tribute event.

Be sure you do not miss out on this very special event, only a limited amount of tickets will be available for purchase on the day. Book now to avoid disappointment!

CBFF are looking for a feature critic to write weekly reviews for our website, reviewing films shown at the CBFF Monthly Film Club as well as the latest films of black interest, classic or vintage titles, as well as the latest general mainstream movie releases. If you love watching movies and can regularly submit one review per week this could be the contest for you!

Entry Rules:

• Each participant can enter no more than 2 reviews for the purposes of the content.
• Each review must be no longer than 800 words
• Films to be reviewed will be the choice of those entering the contest.
• The top 5 reviews will be posted online and judged by the CBFF web community
• The CBFF executive team judge will select the top 5 for online voting. The decision of the CBFF executive team in this selection stands as final.

Deadline for entries: August 31, 2009.

Please submit entries by email, leaving your name, email address and telephone number to filmclub@cbff.ca .

The winner will be announced at the CBFF Monthly Film Club on 6th September 2009. An online announcement and review of the Film Club itself by our contest winner will be up on Monday 14th September.

*Any contest winners found to be plagiarizing from established critics, publications or copyright protected materials will be immediately removed from the post.

BFM International Film Festival has helped many new and emerging black and niche film festivals over the past 11 years to break onto the international festival landscape, by offering help to those needing assistance with curating, marketing and developing networks with all major global festivals across several continents.  Partnering with BFM will allow CBFF the opportunity to strengthen our offering to the Canadian public by ensuring:

• International programs and films are sourced globally and from the best possible avenues.
• Exchange opportunities can take place in terms of submissions to both monthly film clubs and annual festivals, enabling Canadian content to have a direct pipeline to the UK festival circuit.
• Attendance of key festival executives from the UK each year come to Canada to share in and showcase these works between two countries that are historically significantly aligned.

BFM is a media group that consists of an entertainment magazine, international film festival and a film review TV show. Founded by Menelik Shabazz, it was started in 1998 to break down barriers in the media industry for marginalised groups in the UK.

BFM International Film Festival is the largest and longest running platform for Black World Cinema in Europe.

Please visit our partner festival at www.bfmmedia.com.