3. Trinidad + Tobago Film Festival
(Port of Spain, Trinidad; Sept. 15-29)
The Caribbean film industry is on the rise, and there’s no better celebration of this than the Trinidad + Tobago Film Festival. The region’s largest and most prestigious movie competition and showcase will celebrate its 10th anniversary this year with its most extensive programming series yet. Films premiering at TTFF this year include Bazodee, a Bollywood-style musical starring Machel Montano, and Bottom in De Road, “an exploration of the female bottom as seen through the gaze of the Caribbean man.” Sweet Micky For President, former Fugees member Pras’ documentary about kompa star Michael Martelly’s election as Haiti’s prime minister, will open the festival on Sept. 15, in its Caribbean debut. To commemorate its 10th year, the festival will also screen 10 seminal Caribbean films from years past, including The Harder They Come and Trinidadian classic Bim. Read Tishanna Williams’ feature on TTFF from here, and see more info on this year’s fest here.