AIKO ROUDETTE and the Hairouna Film Festival (HFF), which she spear heads, are attempting to help preserve local heritage through the use of film and competition.
Part of this effort has seen the HFF launching a challenge, “Vincy Say So-Tell a Vincy Story your way”.
The competition is open to Vincentians of any age, including those living abroad and Roudette said that the organisers are encouraging participants to select a Vincentian saying or expression that they find interesting or inspiring and transform it into a short movie of no more than five minutes duration.
Examples of Vincentian expressions highlighted by the HFF include “Crappaud smoke yo pipe”, “Way yo catch cold go blow yo nose”, “When yo tink is bush is people”, and “Guava doh bear lime”. The challenge is open to a range of genres, including comedy, drama, horror, romance, documentary, animation and experimental films. Roudette told SEARCHLIGHT that no previous film making experience is required, and participants do not need expensive equipment to enter.
HFF is making the challenge accessible to aspiring film makers by accepting films shot on mobile phones, tablets, Digital Single-Lens Reflex (DSLR) cameras, mirror-less cameras or professional cinema cameras.
The organisers are also placing emphasis on storytelling rather than equipment, while encouraging participants to pay attention to sound quality by using a microphone where possible or filming in quiet locations.
Roudette said they are encouraging participants to speak with older family members and other elders about old-time Vincentian sayings as part of the process of learning more about the country’s heritage.
The rules state that each submission must include the selected saying and an explanation of its meaning, along with the film maker’s name, and the names of any members of the production team.
