In an effort to stimulate interest in and a critical appreciation of film among young people, the T&T Film Festival (TTFF) has joined forces with leading sponsor bpTT to establish a prize to be adjudicated by a youth jury at this year’s Festival.
The bpTT Youth Jury Prize will be awarded to the Best Film at the TT as decided by a jury of young people. The inaugural prize will be handed out at the TTFF/14, which runs from September 16–30.
A release from the TTFF said they are looking for five young people from T&T to be members of the jury. They are seeking young women and men from the ages of 16 to 21 (inclusive) who love all kinds of movies. Prospective jury members must be enthusiastic about watching movies with a critical eye, with a view to gaining a better appreciation of the art form.
To apply, submit an application with name, date of birth, sex and school or occupation as well as an essay—with a 250-word limit—saying what your favourite movie is and why.
Selected jurors will meet at the TTFF/14. Under the guidance of an experienced film critic, the jury will watch a selection of Caribbean and international feature-length fiction films with young-adult protagonists, films that deal with themes and issues affecting young people.
After the jury has viewed all the films in competition, it will choose the winning film. The director of this film will receive a trophy plus a cash award of $5,000, to be presented at the Film Festival’s awards ceremony on September 28 at the Central Bank Auditorium.
For being a participant, each jury member will receive a 2014 Film Festival pass (which provides free entry to all film screenings), invitations to the opening gala, awards ceremony and closing-night film, and invitations to selected social events during the Festival.