Community News
12°N, 61°W Film Festival in Grenada announces changes to festival due to pandemic
BY SELINA McCALLUM
Due to the pandemic, many indoor and outdoor large events this summer have had to move their event online if possible or cancel it altogether. Even as we approach fall and some cities and countries move into stages that allow for more businesses to open up and groups of people to get together, event organizers are still scrambling to make their event safe for everyone. Because no one wants to experience wave two of the coronavirus.
Mprojekts Creative Group, GND announced its second annual 12°N, 61°W Film Festival (1261Film Festival) will move to a hybrid, physical and virtual film festival in Grenada. The festival will run for five days, inclusive of a celebration of film, music, art, panels, seminar, and a children’s program to take place from October 30th, to November 3rd this year.
Meschida Philip, a Grenadian born filmmaker and Managing Director of Mprojekts Creative Group, Gnd founded and produces the 1261 Film Festival in Grenada. The 1261 Film Festival is an annual event dedicated to recognizing Grenadian talent and showing quality films by diverse storytellers about people from the Caribbean and African Diaspora.
The festival’s aim is to amplify Caribbean females, people of color, and people with disabilities in entertainment and media. Their platform serves as a vehicle to strengthen the Grenadian film and creative community by fostering resource sharing, education, and artistic collaboration.
This is not the only film festival that has had to change up their schedule. The Caribbean Tales Film Festival also moved online this year. The Toronto International Film Festival has also decided to become a hybrid festival, hosting some events in person and others online.
Given the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on the community in Grenada, the festival organizers feel that now more than ever, it’s important for them to amplify their culture, promote filmmakers, and leave their audience feeling inspired and proud by their storytelling.
The 1261 Film Festival is about celebrating creativity, culture and community. They are committed to providing the best and safest experience for filmmakers, attendees, and sponsors. Thanks to their technology partners, they will be able to showcase the island’s culture and the arts of their community to a broader, local, and international audience in an engaging and interactive format.
The 1261 Film Festival hybrid experience and 2020 program will highlight and amplify the visibility of people of color through stories of culture, struggle, and humanity throughout the African and Caribbean diaspora. Attendees will interact with the filmmakers, artistic partners, and international sponsors by joining various events enhanced with integrated technology.
This year’s hybrid festival offers virtual film and art exhibitions, presentation forums, regional premieres of films, panels, and special events, alongside select on-the-ground outdoor screenings and additional activities in Grenada. The festival strives to create new experiences for their community by allowing them to network and share each other’s stories.
They are excited to share many of this year’s extraordinary new films from bold, distinctive filmmakers and storytellers worldwide. Programming details, including official film selections, events, presentations, panelists, and more, will be released in the coming weeks, and tickets will go on sale in September.
For more information including programming, speakers, artist lineup, festival partners, and schedule, visit their website, www.1261filmfestival, and follow them on social media @1261filmfestival