His Excellency  High Commissioner Garvin Nicholas hosts Trinidad and Tobago Film Night featuring ‘Calypso Rose – Lioness of the Jungle’ in London.

Trinidad and Tobago’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Garvin Nicholas, together with the Trinidad and Tobago Film Company hosted a film night on Friday 23rd September 2011 at the Trinidad and Tobago High Commission, London.

In his welcoming speech, High Commissioner Garvin Nicholas listed the many benefits to Trinidad and Tobago to be gained by a striving film industry. He said that a vibrant and growing film industry would give local filmmakers exposure for their work.  Films would also bring financial benefits to the country and form part of the diversification of the economy.  Features on our local way of life would be shown around the world and be used as a marketing tool in promoting tourism.  

The Chief Executive Officer of the Trinidad and Tobago Film Company, Ms. Carla Foderingham, spoke about the work being done by the Film Company to develop the national film industry through the provision of service and support.  This work also involves promoting Trinidad and Tobago as a film location together with supporting other activities geared towards growth in the economy and film industry.

The film shown on the night was a documentary entitled ‘Calypso Rose – Lioness of the Jungle’.  The film gave an insight into the life of ‘Calypso Rose, the ambassador of Caribbean music, a living legend, a charismatic character and the uncontested diva of Calypso music.  Travelling with Rose from Paris to New York via Trinidad, Tobago and back to Africa, in each place, we learn more about the many faces and facets of her life.  It is a film not only about memory, the exchange and discovery of world cultures, but also the journey of a militant and authentic woman, an Afro-Caribbean soul, an exemplary artist, far from the glitz and glitter, at the dawn of her life’. 

The film was followed by a question and answer session to which there was great enthusiasm. Nationals commented on the quality of the film and requested that more films be shown to the Diaspora.

High Commissioner Garvin Nicholas has indicated that the Mission stands ready to support the Trinidad and Tobago Film Company in promoting films throughout the United Kingdom.