The Turks and Caicos International Film Festival (TCIFF) today announced the full line-up for their three-day festival, which runs 15 – 17 November 2019.
Buy your tickets today at www.TCIFF.org.
Colin Burrows, Festival Director said; “We’ve got something for everyone in the selection. Lots of interesting films around our theme of Oceans and the Environment but also brand new Hollywood features, great documentaries, independent films and local content too. I’m looking forward to welcoming everyone to a fantastic weekend on our beautiful islands”
The first day of the Festival will see screenings of The Dead Don’t Die from Jim Jarmusch and Richard LeMay’s new take on Dementia 13. Richard will also be hosting a masterclass earlier in the afternoon.
Jim Jarmusch commented; “Thank you for presenting our film, The Dead Don’t Die. Your festival’s focus on the environmental crisis is of the greatest importance and urgency. Watching nature decline at unprecedented rates for me is terrifying and concerning, and what concerns me is the apathy and failure to address something that threatens all living species.”
Executive produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, Sea of Shadows will be the opening night Gala feature. It was the winner of the Audience Award for documentary at the Sundance Festival and is a current Oscar favourite.
Saturday morning sees Tom Mustill introduce his film Humpback Whales: A Detective Story, a personal account of how a whale breached on top of him in his kayak which led to his quest to discover more about the Humpback whale. The moment was caught on video and has become a YouTube sensation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee79_7CZ0uM
Hollywood director, F Gary Gray, will be at the Festival to mentor young filmmakers with a story telling workshop and has picked his global hit film Straight Outta Compton to show early afternoon.
That’s followed by Black And Blue starring Naomie Harris in a hard hitting thriller about a rookie cop on the run from her own colleagues.
Michelle Mahony, Chair of the festival noted “We’re also thrilled to have Alan Cumming on island to participate in the festival weekend showing his directorial debut movie The Anniversary Party on Saturday evening”.
Finishing the day with a gala presentation of The Aeronauts, a festival favourite having screened at Telluride, Toronto and London. Eddie Redmayne teams up again with Felicity Jones in this account of real life researcher James Glaisher who believed in the science of weather forecasting despite his Victorian contemporaries’ ridicule. Thrilling and vertiginous scenes in their hot air balloon make this a must see big screen experience.
Sunday will start with world renowned writer and director Richard Curtis at the screening of his movie Yesterday directed by Danny Boyle.
Superpower Dogs from director Daniel Ferguson and narrated by Chris Evans will please families on Sunday afternoon with a beautifully shot look at man’s best friend. From snowy mountain tops to the bush in Africa we meet some outstanding canines who bring their super powers to the aid of man.
That is followed by another great family film Abominable. Fresh from its box office success in the US, this delightful animated tale introduces us to Everest, the yeti, and his young friends who are trying to get him home to the Himalaya Mountains.
Also on Sunday afternoon we’re excited to be showing Sea Fever, directed by Neasa Hardiman. This comes straight from screening at the Toronto International Film Festival and Sea Fever is the story of a fishing trawler crew off the coast of Ireland, who come across something in the water that starts killing them off one by one. A tense fight for survival in cramped quarters, the film makes a strong case for not interfering with nature.
Continuing the ocean theme; Fisherman’s Friends will be the closing Gala on the Sunday. An audience pleaser, the film is an inspiring true story tale of a group of Cornish fishermen who sing sea shanties and then hit the high seas when Universal Records sign them.
Caribbean films are also represented throughout the weekend in the Festivals “Made in TCI series”.
Carried By The Current is a short film from local filmmaker Dalia Engler. Screening directly before Uncivilised on Sunday, the film is a compelling reminder of the beauty beneath the waves which we are all working to preserve. Uncivilised is a delightful new film from a Dominican director Michael Lees. The film is his personal account of how he returned to his native island determined to get away from the pressures of modern life. He settles in the forest alone, planning to spend six months living off the land. He chose late summer 2017, just as Hurricane Maria was on her way.
Sharkwater Extinction, from the late Rob Stewart will screen, with his parents who are both producers on the film in attendance. Rob sadly died towards the end of production in a diving accident. It is a stand out documentary about the industrial destruction of marine life.
Chupacabra: Dark Seas is a gory romp around the decks of a cruise ship (actually a former hotel on the site of what is now Seven Stars Resort & Spa) featuring many locals as extras. Produced by Festival guest Paul Colichman and starring another festival attendee David Millbern, it’s an unashamed schlock horror fest.
Also from Paul Colichman and David Millbern comes The Paradise Virus. Grand Turk is doubling for a fictitious Caribbean island where a mysterious virus is plaguing the population. Fortunately, a skilled virologist has just landed there on vacation.
About The Turks and Caicos International Film Festival (TCIFF)
The film festival shines a spotlight on environmental issues, highlights the islands as a filming location, provides a platform for film talent and offers an invaluable cultural benefit to the people of The Turks and Caicos Islands and beyond.
The Festival will take place in the Grace Bay and Long Bay areas of Providenciales, the main tourist centre in Turks and Caicos and home to the Caribbean’s finest luxury resorts, from November 15 to 17, 2019. Grace Bay beach is regularly voted the best beach in the world and the islands slogan is justifiably “Beautiful by Nature.”
