There are more than sultry sounds and delightful bites that come out of the Caribbean.
The Caribbean is an overflowing basin of creativity, capturing the creative ability of film and sharing it with the world is the Caribbean Film Academy.
Established in 2012, the Caribbean Film Academy aims to expose new audiences with cinematic works created by Caribbean nationals and descendants. Partnering with BAMcinematek and the Brooklyn Cinematic Collective, the organization has launched a quarterly series.
“Through this series, we screen the best in modern Caribbean cinema and will be incorporating screenings of classic Caribbean films as well,” Romola Lucas, a member of the Caribbean Film Academy, said.
Started in April, Lucas intends to create a quarterly series starting next year. The hope is through uniting audiences; the film academy will continue to forge relationships with other communities including the Haitian and Latin communities.
“Brooklyn is home to the largest population of diasporic Caribbeans,” Lucas said. “With an emerging film industry in need of exposure and support we thought building a community of Caribbean film lovers are vital, not only as way for Caribbean films to be seen, but also as a means of uniting audiences who want to support Caribbean film and love our culture.”
The second installment will take over BAM’s Rose Cinemas Sept. 30 featuring Storm Saulter’s “Better Mus Come” – his first screening at the BAM cinemas. Inspired by the turbulent times that rocked the Caribbean during the 1970s, Saulter’s film is set in Kingston, Jamaica. Initially released nationwide in 2013, the Caribbean Film Academy wants to push directors like Saulter into the mainstream.
“Older Jamaican films have a storied history. Our aim is to build films like Better Mus’ Come and filmmakers like Storm Saulter into the collective memory of diasporic Caribbean audiences and general cinema lovers alike. Screening the film at BAM we hope will do just that and help make the film a part of Brooklyn’s Caribbean and film culture,” Lucas said in a statement on their website.
“BAM is a particularly great screen andit’s in the heart of Brooklyn. I’ve always wanted to show the film there,” Saulter said.
A frequent collaborator with the Caribbean Film Academy, Saulter is always happy to oblige the organization due to their frequent support to uplift and encourage Caribbean filmmakers.
Saulter will join the audience after they have viewed the film for a question and answer portion. He hopes that the audience will recognize the significance of Caribbean theater but also spark some thoughts or discussions surrounding Jamaican history many wish to forget.
“New York is one of the main communities of the Jamaican diaspora and it’s something that most Jamaicans want to just forget about it but it’s apart of who we are and where we are now. I kind’ve want them to face the reality of waht happened in our country and have more understanding of where we are now and how to improve things going forward,” Saulter added.
The Caribbean Film Series: Better Mus Come (30 Lafayette Avenue between in Brooklyn Heights, www.carib
