Internationally Acclaimed Local Film, Play the Devil, Opens ttff

Photo credit: Play the Devil – Abigail Hadeed, Slice Studios

After rave reviews at its world premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival in June, T&T film Play the Devil will now set the tone for the 2016 trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff) when it screens on opening night on Tuesday 20th September, 2016.

Produced by T&T national Abigail Hadeed and written and directed by Bahamian filmmaker Maria Govan, Play the Devil is a film about a gifted and struggling young man who becomes the object of intrigue for an older, well-meaning businessman until their worlds collide. Hadeed and Govan stated via email, "This is a story that explores the very different relationship and power dynamics surrounding Gregory, a gifted young man from Paramin, as he comes into adulthood. We hope that the film will challenge the audience to really investigate the question of morality, painting life in all of its complex greys, so as to diminish one’s ability to judge so readily."

Play the Devil was one of three feature films that received funding from the Trinidad and Tobago Film Company (FilmTT) in 2014. Nneka Luke, General Manager of FilmTT, explained, “Since its establishment ten years ago, FilmTT has focused on holistically developing the local industry. Programmes such as our call for submissions for feature films provide both established and aspiring filmmakers with the necessary support to successfully execute their projects, and we are excited that a FilmTT-assisted production is not only opening this year’s trinidad+tobago film festival, but has been receiving positive reviews internationally.”

“We are thrilled to have the support of FilmTT,” Govan said. “[T&T] filmmakers are extraordinarily fortunate to have such support in place, not only in this form, but also in the form of such an incredible rebate offer,” Govan and Hadeed elaborated via email, referring to the rebate offered by the government of Trinidad and Tobago of up to 55% off qualifying production expenses and labour to projects filmed in this country.

The Cutlass, another FilmTT-assisted project, will also have its world premiere at ttff/16. Directed by Darisha Beresford, The Cutlass, which was inspired by true events, is a dynamic story about empowerment in the most dreadful of circumstances.

A still of a scene from The Cutlass

After enduring a terrifying robbery, Joanna falls into the dangerous grasp of a sociopath, and is taken into the secluded jungle. She finds herself isolated in a world of natural beauty as she musters the courage to emotionally battle the unsettled mind of her kidnapper.