CaribBe TV Sponsors the UK’s First Caribbean Film Festival and Seminar
The first ‘Film Caribbean UK’ festival and the ‘Caribbean Reflections in British Media – Diversity Matters’ Seminar, are held from 15-18 December 2014 in London, and are sponsored by CaribBe TV.
CaribBe TV, the premier multi-media platform, which launched last September, is supporting the newest Caribbean film festival coming to the UK ‘Film Caribbean UK’. The new service which streams Caribbean television live and on-demand, direct from the Caribbean to the United Kingdom, is sponsoring this important festival as part of its efforts to bridge the gap between the Caribbean and the UK/Europe.
Following the success of the Caribbean sitcom “Keeping Up With The Joneses” (which first featured on British TV in May 2013 and is now also available directly from Barbados through CaribBe TV), and the historic UK premiere of the spin-off film “Keeping Up With The Joneses: The Movie” in March 2014, Sankofa Televisual has taken the initiative to organise the first #FilmCaribbeanUK festival.
Screened in a select number of the prestigious Picturehouse cinemas across London, including at the renowned 100-year old Gate cinema at Notting Hill Gate, the newest Caribbean film festival is offering a full programme of UK and European premieres. Welcoming a mini festival of films, the Caribbean Film Festival plans to warm up what is turning out to be a chilly Christmas, with three headlining films from Antigua/Jamaica, St. Maarten and Barbados, and a wide array of programming including action, drama, comedy and even supernatural thrillers to keeping viewers entertained throughout the duration of the festival.
Alongside the festival, CaribBe TV is also supporting ‘Caribbean Reflections in British Media – Diversity Matters’, as part of the CaribDirect seminar series, to be held on 17 December 2014, from 6.30 to 10.00pm at the Westminster Kingsway College in London.
Following the success of the first seminar ‘Caribbean (In)visibility on British Television and Cinema’, which was held on 5th December 2013, the organisers’ felt that CaribBe TV would be perfectly placed to support the seminar as both organisations share a similar aim of addressing and providing a solution to the lack of diversity of UK television.
“I’m delighted that we are able to support the #FilmCaribbeanUK-2014 festival and the ‘‘Caribbean Reflections in British Media’ seminar says April Jackson, Premier Ambassador and spokesperson of CaribBe TV. “Since the organisers of CaribDirect are able to bring media leaders within the community together to discuss progress or lack thereof within British media, it is extremely important to facilitate and engage discussions with the African and Caribbean community, in order to initiate positive change and to create greater opportunities for young, talented media aspirants.”
Moderating this special seminar in recognition of the comic genius Felix Dexter who passed away last year, is Dotun Adebayo MBE, radio presenter, writer and publisher, who will be joined by celebrity/actor/ comedian Richard Blackwood, who is expected to share his journey and experience in British media with the audience.
The full panel of the ‘Caribbean Reflections in British Media’ seminar includes:
• Richard Blackwood – Legendary Stand-up Comic, Actor, Presenter, Broadcaster
• Joanna Abeyie – Senior Showbiz and News Journalist
• Sajid Javid – Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (to be confirmed)
• Michelle Riley – Director Black Visions TV
• Ruby Mulraine – former BBC 1Xtra Executive