Film Festival 2007

E.R. BRAITHWAITE
Author of the book "To Sir With Love"
Born in British Guiana (now Guyana) in 1920, his numerous writings have primarily dealt with the difficulties of being an educated man, a black social worker, a black teacher, and simply a human being in inhumane circumstances. E.R. Braithwaite is best known for his autobiographical work, To Sir With Love (1959), which tells the story of a black teacher in the East End of London during the fifties, and, which of course, was made into a film starring the dazzling actor, Sidney Poitier.

Braithwaite continued to write novels and short stories even while he had a long and international career as an educational consultant lecturer for UNESCO, Paris; permanent representative from Guyana to the United Nations; Guyana's ambassador to Venezuela; and teaching English at New York University. He is now retired in Washington.

See article and photos NOVELIST E.R. BRAITHWAITE HONORED WITH PROCLAMATION FROM NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL

MICHAEL GILKES
"Family of the Caribbean"
Dr. Michael Gilkes, formerly Reader in English and Head of the English department at the UWI Cave Hill campus, has been a teacher all of his adult life. Also founding member and first artistic director of the Barbados-based theatre company Stage One, he has been involved in the theatre arts for over 40 years as actor, director, playwright, dramaturge and filmmaker.

Film credits include:
Family of the Caribbean: documentary on Caribbean culture 52 mins.
Sargasso! The first film version of the novel Wide Sargasso Sea, by Jean Rhys. Filmed in Dominica. 45 mins. All-Caribbean cast and crew.
Concert in the Rainforest: a 25 min. documentary filmed in Guyana.
The Art of Derek Walcott: 25 min a/v documentary
The Landscape of Dreams (illustrated interview with Wilson Harris)
Ti-Jean and His Brothers (adapted for film: shot in Barbados)

Shirvington Hannays Producer, "The Importance of Being Honest" Actor, producer and writer are some of the titles that Shirvington Hannays wears as an independent filmmaker in Canada. Born in Guyana he received training in performing arts and filmmaking in Guyana, Jamaica, Poland, Denmark and Canada. Shirvington lives by the simple philosophy: "In life you don't get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate". Cross trained as an independent filmmaker, stage and film actor, he has also successfully completed studies at Toronto's Centennial College in independent television production.

Paloma Mohamed Producer, Jezebel.
A poet, essayist, playwright and prizewinning director. Paloma Mohamed has won the coveted Guyana Prize for Drama on three occasions. The most recent prize was awarded to her in May 2005 for the play "Anansi's Way". She is currently the youngest person to have ever received the Caribbean Cacique Award for Contribution to the Arts.