Culture

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION – A NIFCA film weekend

Filmmakers and enthusiasts have had much to whet their appetites and stimulate their creativity over the past few months. And on November 18 and 19, there will be much to celebrate and enjoy with the culmination of the National Independence Festival of Creative Arts’ (NIFCA) Adult and Junior Film/Video Competition and Film Challenge.

Former Film Commissioner and the National Cultural Foundation’s (NCF) spearhead in this film extravaganza, Annette Nias, has expressed delight at the Barbadian public’s response to the competitions. Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic which affected all aspects of human activity, Nias said filmmakers have still been able to make the best of that situation and encourage and foster creativity.

“The pandemic set us back a bit but we are yet happy with the responses we have had. Indeed, COVID-19 and its impact have provided material for many of the films that have been submitted,” she said, adding that this year there have been a record 48 entries to the NCF.

On Saturday, November 18, starting at 6 p.m., film buffs will get the opportunity to view some of the award-winning films in the various categories at the Daphne Joseph-Hackett Theatre.

Nias said the Film Competition had been open to both junior and adult creatives. She explained that the areas available for expression among the juniors included music video edutainment which had to be original both in lyrics and music; documentary, which had to be non-fiction scripted and produced; and narrative fiction, both scripted and produced.

Adult entrants were also asked to produce music videos; narrative fiction, long or short, and ranging from two minutes to 75 minutes. The genres included comedy, thriller, musical drama, romance, historical and action. They could also enter non-fiction documentaries and animation. With respect to the latter, participants were encouraged to use 2D, 3D, StopMotion/Claymation, Cut Out Animation, and Motion Graphics.

The entries were judged on technical quality, technique, content, originality and creativity.

Gold, silver and bronze awards and monetary prizes will be available to the top performers. Cash prizes of $1 000, $700 and $500 will be awarded in each category for the top three entries. There are also other specific awards for excellence.

The Erskine Callender Award of Excellence in the form of a trophy and a cash prize of $3,000 will be presented to the highest scoring participant achieving 91 per cent or greater in the NIFCA Film-Video competitions. This award is for both juniors and adults.

The Prime Minister’s Award for the Best Original NIFCA Film Video Entry will be offered to recognise significant creativity and innovation in a NIFCA entry that challenges established norms in the art-form. It will comprise a cash award of $3,500 and a trophy and both juniors and adults are eligible.

Two new awards in the form of two scholarships to the Barbados Community College will be offered towards higher training worth $3 000 each.

There is an innovative award in the form of a Business Entrepreneur Prizewhich will be given in all disciplines and is valued at $15 000. It will be awarded for works that demonstrate entrepreneurial value for further investment in product development. This prize will be awarded to an adult gold-awarded Barbadian filmmaker whose works involve several cross-sector services.

Nias was excited about a treat for the public the following day. She said she expected many patrons to attend the NIFCA Movie Drive-in Night in the car park of the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex at Wildey on Sunday, November 19. This event would celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of NIFCA’s contribution to cultural development in the country.

“It should be a celebratory occasion for the entire family,” she said.

Gates open at 5 p.m. (PR)

Culture

BPS Crop Over Do-Flicky Costume Competition Winners Announced

Five winning teams have emerged from the recently held prize-giving ceremony of the inaugural ‘Barbados Postal Service (BPS) 2024 Crop Over Do-Flicky Costume Competition’.

The winners hail from the Post Offices of St. Joseph; St. George; Welches Road; St. Philip and the General Post Office in Cheapside.

The overall winner of the competition is the eight-member team of the General Post Office’s Accounts Section, who each received an Island Safari Tour. Second place went to the Welches Road Post Office, third was the St. Philip Post Office, fourth was the St. George Post Office and fifth place went to the St. Joseph Post Office.

Winning Teams (flanked by BPS management), of the inaugural ‘BPS Crop Over Do-Flicky Costume Competition’, from the GPO; Welches Road PO; St. Philip PO; St. George PO and the St. Joseph PO.

Postmaster General, Joann Busby, in her address to the winners, stated, “We look forward to many more events like this in the future, celebrating both our history and commitment to excellence.”

Concept Creator of the competition, BPS Marketing Officer Neiai Hall said, “This competition aims to showcase the creativity and cultural expression of our staff, through costume design and performance. The theme of the competition is rooted in our rich heritage and the vibrant spirit of Crop Over.

On left – ‘BPS Crop Over Do-Flicky Costume Competition’ 2nd Place Winning Costume, On right – ‘BPS Crop Over Do-FFlicky Costume Competition’ 3rd Place Winning Costume.

“We have encouraged participants to design costumes that not only display their creativity but also incorporate elements that represent the services offered by the BPS”.

The judging criteria consisted of Sustainability; Creativity; Depiction of a BPS Service; Originality; Portrayal; Video Creativity and Originality; Practicality and Inclusivity and Descriptive Write-Up.

Plaques were presented to each of the winning teams and the St. Joseph Post Office also received the Postmaster General’s special award for Outstanding Advertising Video in the competition. (PR/GIS)

Culture

LAST LAP WEEKEND – Ended with Pic-o-de-Crop Finals, Foreday Jump and Kadooment

AN INCIDENT FREE FESTIVAL By David Harris

After two months of activities that included early morning breakfast fetes and late-night parties, the golden anniversary of the Crop Over Festival ended with the Grand Kadooment on Monday.

Over 10.000 revellers in 18 bands danced on the new route which began at the Helipad in Bridgetown and ended in front of Kensington Oval. The street parade was changed its 9 a.m. start to 10 a.m. by the National Cultural Foundation after the Barbados Meteorological Service placed the island under a severe thunderstorm watch.

Eventually, the Blue Box Cart band got the parade moving at 10.07 and the masqueraders began wining and chipping on the streets of Bridgetown.

Only 13 of the 18 bands on parade judged, among the revellers were Barbadian superstar and National Hero, the Right Excellent Robin Rihanna Fenty and former West Indies captain Brian Lara.

Some bands were still heading towards the Mighty Grynner Highway just before at minutes to 9 o’clock. Aura was the last band to reach the highway before the police ended the parade.

The Grand Kadooment ended an action-packed weekend that included the Pic O De Crop Finals at the National Botanical Gardens in Waterford on Friday night, the Foreday Morning Jam which began in Bridgetown in the wee hours of morning and the Grand Kadooment on Monday.

Fans were primed for thrilling contest between the defending monarch IWeb (Ian Webster) and Adrian “AC” Clarke who placed second in last year’s Pic O De Crop competition; but it was AC who captured the crown for the third time after IWeb who appeared to have forgotten the lyrics of the De Village Ram in the second half of the competition.

Clarke performed at number 16 (immediately behind IWeb) and stamped his authority on the competition with an impressive performance of the self-penned Going Fuh Crown, the judges awarded him 133 points, 28 more than Sir Ruel who came second.

Adrian Clarke the 2024 Calypso Monarch

His impressive performance won the first prize of $100,000 or a Nissan E Powe X- Trail valued at $136,000; Clarke told journalists after the competition he had opted to take the vehicle instead of the prize money. Clarke, 52, first won the crown in 2001 and in 2008.

Sir Ruel was the most outstanding performer in the first half with A Single Bullet, he wrote the calypso in memory of his brother Dario Jon-Luc Holder-Branch who was shot to death in February this year. The former Junior Monarch amassed 105 points and won a cash prize of $40,000.

*Sir Ruel, Pic of de Crop, 2nd place winner*

Perennial finalist Chrystal Cummins-Beckles placed third with De Proposal, the multi-talented musician, arranger and composer was awarded 97 points and the $20,000 prize.

Billboard placed fourth for the second consecutive his calypso earned him a cash prize of $15,000; and first timer Tae, the youngest competitor in the final took the fifth position and $10,000 with A Big Cirus.

Calypsonians placing from the sixth to tenth position received $8,000 each, those coming 11 th to 18 th got $6000.

The competition started 51 minutes after the scheduled 8 p.m. due to technical hitches with video presentations, and one contestant (Kid Site) had to start over his song because of problems with the audio. The second half started just after midnight and ended at 2.10 a.m.

In commemoration of the 50 th anniversary of the Crop Festival there were performances by former monarchs the Mighty Destroyer. Red Plastic, the Mighty Gabby and Edwin Yearwood.