…and now for my next instalment on Caribbean cinema.

Caribbean Film Corner (CFC), which kicks off tonight, is a free annual event showcasing feature films, short films, documentaries and animation by Caribbean filmmakers. All the films, which will be shown over the next four nights have been produced in the region including Latin American, the French, English and Dutch speaking islands in the Caribbean Basin and Caribbean diaspora.

This year’s event will celebrate 50 years of independence for Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago as well as a display of work from filmmakers in eight different Caribbean islands. If you can’t make it to Trinidad & Tobago Film Festival (the largest film event in the English-speaking Caribbean), Trinidadian native and producer Neigeme Glasgow-Maeda in collaboration with experienced events manager Marc Woods of Kalinago Entertainment have brought eight productions from Trinidadian filmmakers to your doorstep.

I bumped into Marc and Neigeme at the BFI’s screening of ‘Better Mus Come’ and ‘New Caribbean Cinema’, and they were extremely excited by the turnout and growing interest of Caribbean cinema in the UK. We had a little chat about what this means for Caribbean Film Corner, which is not a one-off event and how they intend to progress with the demand.

Neigeme Glasgow-Maeda at the BFI screening of New Caribbean Cinema

Editor: How important and relevant do you think it is to have an event like Caribbean Film Corner in UK?

Neigeme: It is massively important that this festival exists in the UK, because it is one of the only mediums for West Indian filmmakers to get their films shown to an international audience – exposure that is very important for them as artists. More importantly back in their home countries it allows broadcasters to see that their films have an international appeal and spurs them to start paying for locally produced content. It also spurs governments to start investing in film and recognising that they need to support this budding industry that has great export potential as well as developing the market for Caribbean films by expanding its audience base.

Marc: Caribbean Film Corner is extremely relevant as it allows nationals and their descendants to get a sense of their own voice and it gives non-Caribbean people a chance to watch our own stories. We get a lot of bad press here in the UK so CFC is a way for us to show off the talent our region produces.

Editor: What was the response from audiences at last year’s showcase and have you made any new additions or improvements?

Neigeme: The response as always has been great, but we seek to do more than just reach out to the West Indian community. Our aim is to bring Caribbean Cinema to the world! We want to reach out to the wider community and those who wouldn’t have normally associated Cinema with the Caribbean. The improvements that we’ve made are mainly in the quality of the films. We have teamed up with Studio3210 a Caribbean film distribution company to ensure that the films have a life after the festival, which could provide a positive financial return for the filmmakers. This is another incentive for Caribbean producers to continue investing in films.

Marc: Because of the success of last years event we were able to establish a sponsorship relationship with Caribbean Airlines (CAL). They are now our title sponsor this year so it’s a big boost for us. We aim to work with them to increase the audience in the UK, Europe and back home in the Caribbean. With their assistance, we believe we will be able to provide an even greater platform for our filmmakers to disseminate their content.

Editor: What is the criterion for filmmakers wanting to showcase at Caribbean Film Corner?

Neigeme & Marc: The festival is not only for filmmakers living in the Caribbean. It is also open to West Indians who’ve made films that have nothing to do with the Caribbean, the Diaspora, and non-West Indian filmmakers who have made a film in or about the Caribbean, its people and culture. The main criterion for selection is the quality of the film, documentary or animation.

Editor: What can we expect from Caribbean Film Corner in the near future?

Neigeme: We are hoping to start a showcase in France. We will be back in Antigua in November and Martinique and Guadeloupe in December adding workshops to our existing format. Next year we are traveling to Cannes and the Berlinale to promote Caribbean cinema and we’ll be back on the hunt for those gems of Caribbean cinema no matter where they are.

Marc Woods speaking at Caribbean Film Corner 2011

Marc: We plan to have more regular Caribbean Film Corner screenings. The aim is to be the go to place in London for Caribbean film screenings.

Caribbean Film Corner 2012 – 5th-7th September at the Tabernacle, 35 Powis Square, London W11 2AY

Find out more about what and who is showing on their website and Facebook