On April 2, the 2002 St. Barths Caribbean Film Festival hosted its traditional opening cocktail party among familiar faces this year, though the setting was the spacious new town hall building in Gustavia Pointe. Ellen Lampert-Greaux and Josh Harrison, festival coordinators, were on hand to welcome guests, thank sponsors, and introduce this year films and filmmakers.
For those of you unfamiliar with the film festival, it is a "by the people, for the people" event tailored to the small island of St. Barths and its infrastructure. Featured films are strictly from the region and are shown in their original language with French, not English, subtitles. The films are projected al fresco, on a tennis court backboard. After paying a small entry fee (the 6-film cinema lovers card costs under $25 US, a bargain in any country), the audience files in and then walks over to the pile of plastic chairs, takes one and sets it up somewhere on the court. When it rains, filmgoers stand up, put the chairs over their heads for cover, and wait for the cloud to pass. When it does, they sit back down and return to the business at hand. The festival is in every way intimate, casual, homespun, and authentically Caribbean, which is what makes it so special.
The idea for the Caribbean festival was born in a coffee shop in Greenwich Village one decade after the trio who dreamed it into being first met. In the 80's, Ellen was in France, working as administrative director for the French-American Film Workshop. It was in Avignon that she met Joshua Harrison and Jerry Carlson, both film producers, and both members of the festival' s jury panel.
In the early 90's, Ellen met and married a St. Barths native, Rosemond Greaux, and began dividing her time between her professional headquarters in Manhattan and her home and husband in St. Barths. After preliminary discussions got serious, Ellen and Josh went on to create the festival. Jerry serves the festival committee in an advisory capacity.
Josh explains "At that time, we decided that we could either commit to a film festival that was specifically about the Caribbean and focused on the people that lived in the region, or we could make a more traditional festival that drew on the tourist industry. We felt that there was a great need for this kind of festival because the region covers a large area. While there is a common culture, it is strongly separated, at least in the film industry, by language barriers that arose as a result of how the Caribbean islands were occupied and by which colonial powers. While music travels, film does not, and we thought that this festival would provide a unique opportunity to cross cultural and artistic frontiers."
The festival has two components that further confirm its uniqueness. From its inception, there has been a strong commitment to promoting public exchanges on all levels. Every year, festival coordinators go to the island's schools and introduce local students to filmmakers and the craft of filmmaking. The Saturday afternoon round-table, a forum discussion between filmmakers and the public provides another excellent opportunity for the exchange of ideas on all the various topics that are treated in the films: politics, slavery, history, the Caribbean experience, insularity, music, exile, myth, and more.
The 2002 festival features six full-length films. Three of them (Before Night Falls, Who the Hell is Juliette, and Vampires in Havana) focus on what might best be called the Cuban experience’, each from its own perspective. Also featured this year is Calle 54, a Latin jazz documentary on thirteen of Latin America's most celebrated musicians, like Tito Puente, Gato Barbieri, and Chico O'Farrill.
Though most films remain on the industry fringe, a few, like the Mexican film, Y Tu Ma Mama Tambien, make it to mainstream audiences and critics. Director Alfonso Cuaron will make a public appearance and speak about his film on Thursday, April 4.
As for the festival's artistic choice, Ellen says, "When considering which regional films to show at the festival, the real challenge is to select top-notch, provoking films that open people's minds." Do those films exist? Pull up a plastic chair and decide for yourself.
Yves Bourel
Beyonce and Jay-Z have taken their daughter on her first vacation. The couple, who celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary last week, have been enjoying the sunshine on the Caribbean island of St. Barts with three-month-old Blue Ivy over the weekend, and took the tot for a day trip on a yacht.
...
Kick-off Les Voiles de Saint Barth 2012 Caribbean regatta in the magical French West Indies sailing paradise!
Today the prestigious and top-class Caribbean sailing regatta Les Voiles de St. Barth 2012 with Gaastra Sportswear as the official partner starts: At the third edition run...
Inside the Bucket.
This video features the 2012 St Barths Bucket Regatta and music by the Evan Goodrow Band. Special thanks to the entire crew of the Rebecca, Baz Bar, St Barths Online and the guys from the Evan Goodrow Band for putting on a fantastic show. The song from the Evan Goodrow Band is c...
On board with Rebecca.
The best event in St Barths took place on March 24 - 27, 2012. This video features the beautiful 141 ft sailing yacht, The Rebecca.
produced by Real Media Travel for St. Barths Online and Baz Bar St Barth.
The age old saying of "I need a holiday to get over my holiday" actually seems applicable if you happen to be Paul McCartney.
The Beatle took wife Nancy Shevell on a romantic break to the Caribbean island of St Barts, just days after the pair visited Paris.
Last week, the lovebirds showed support ...
On the day their pregnancy news was announced, Thor star Chris Hemsworth, 28, and Elsa Pataky, 35, were seen in sunny St. Barts, France on Wednesday (January 18). The Fast Five actress looked lovely in blue, sporting her beautiful baby bump.
Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky
Chris and Elsa - w...
She might be 44, but Tamara Mellon still boasts a figure that women half her age would be proud of.
The Jimmy Choo co-founder showed off her toned figure in a sexy animal-print bikini as she hit the beach with her daughter in St Barts yesterday.
The skimpy string two-piece highlighted Tamara's env...
With almost every other celebrity couple enjoying the New Year in exotic locations, Gary and Danielle Lineker weren't going to be any different.
The married couple were spotted enjoying a romantic walk along a beach in St Barts today - and looked very much in love.
Gary, 51 and his wife, 32, had o...
Which beaches to choose?
The glamorous island of St Barts is one of the Caribbean's top beach destinations. Ringing the island are immaculate strips of sand and ethereal turquoise waters. The shallow reefs that encircle the island help to protect these renowned beaches, and they also provide excell...
St. Barts, Why Not?
Since the wealthy and celebrated frequently visit St. Barts for a tropical vacation, you will find that many plush St. Barts Resorts can be found on this stunning island. For those taking St. Barts holidays, it is simple to find hotels with each luxury available. Frequently thes...
Vacation With the Rich and Famous at St. Barts.
Want to bump into celebrities and be seen hanging out where the rich and famous play? Then the Caribbean island of St. Barts is the place to be.
While warm sand and blue waters do make an ideal vacation location, this destination has that and a whol...
Where to go for one day in Caribbean?
St. Maarten / St. Martin
The half-Dutch, half-French island of St. Maarten/St. Martin, with its many restaurants and hotels, makes a great base for an island-hopping adventure. Graced by the nickname Unspoiled Queen, tiny little Saba is not the kind of Caribbe...
Villa La Plage in St Barts.
The posh French resort isle of St. Barth's was already a prize destination when Roman Abramovich purchased an estate there for $89 million in 2009; since the oligarch arrived it has become even more so.
Now Christie's International Real Estate has listed another impres...
Baywatch in St Barts.
Making it official after five years of engagement, Brooke Burke and beau David Charvet have reportedly tied the knot while yachting in St. Barts.
According to Life & Style, the "Dancing with the Stars" host and the former "Baywatch" hunk, who have been vacationing in the...
St. Barth Summer Sessions Aug. 5-15, 2011
St Barth Summer Sessions 2011 this year will have a focus on artists from Brazil. The festival will take place at a variety of different venues all over the island, and in the end of the festival there will be a big common concert in the Harbor of Gustavia ...
The Eclipse, no ordinary yacht.
It probably hasn't escaped your attention that, with modern methods of transport, measuring and telecommunication, no "terra incognita" is safe from the crazed enthusiasm of certain explorers of scientists. Everything has already been discovered and minutely placed o...
Ashley Rodriguez Trio
Ashley Rodriguez, one of the famous finalist from the American Idol 2010 is back in St Barth between May 5-15. Ashley was participating last summer for the St Barth Summer Session in august 2010 at La Plage and she will now come with her 'All Girls Band', Liz on the guitar ...
The La Plage restaurant introduce :
ST BARTH SUMMER SESSIONS
« 5 to 15 august 2010, 10 days of crazy music ! »
Festival program
La Plage St Jean Tel: 0590 52 81 33 Email: tombeach@wanadoo.fr Site: www.stbarthsummersessions.com
THE GREAT FISH DEBATE There seems to be a bone of contention among a few of my friends. Fine folks who love some of the finer things in life, such as Dover Sole That flat fish floating in butter and capers. Known in French as Sole Meunière, it is made from what is called in European fisherman ver...
