SUNDAY 9 OCTOBER, 2016 – UWI TODAY
9
CAMPUS NEWS
Third-year UWI Film Production student
Amir Aether
Valen Ali’s short film,
Who I Say I Am
took home Best
T+T Short Film – Documentary and United Nations T+T
Award For Best Emerging Documentary Filmmaker at
the trinidad+tobago film festival 2016 (ttff/16) awards on
September 27 at the Central BankAuditorium, Port of Spain.
Produced at the St. Augustine Campus, the 30-minute
short film explores themes of individuality, spirituality,
identity and self. Amir Aether Valen Ali devised the concept
and throughout the film, he goes on a quest to discover
what the names of people across all facets of society mean
to them in relation to their identity, and how it influences
their sense of self.
He describes his double win as a surreal experience,
“When I started production in January 2016 I knew that I
was taking a huge risk with the film, because it was based
heavily around complex ideological concepts, but I was
determined to create a great piece of art because of how
important I felt the subject matter was tomyself and society.
The production of the film was a gruelling process that
took almost a year to complete and once it was done, I was
overjoyed. I never even thought about it being nominated
especially among such a high calibre of filmmakers. When I
heard my name called twice during the awards ceremony, I
was humbled and grateful that my hard work in developing
this passion project was recognised at this country’s highest
level. Humbled, and grateful to be a part of it all.”
This is the eleventh year that The UWI has partnered
with the trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff) to showcase
works of its students and staff. This year, nine student films
UWI student film
Who I Say I Am
wins big at the trinidad+tobagofilmfestival
Amir Aether
Valen Ali, ttff/16’s
winner of Best
T+T Short Film –
Documentary and
United Nations
T+T Award for
Best Emerging
Documentary
Filmmaker.
Photo Courtesy: trinidad+tobago film festival.
Photo: Digimedia Photo and Video
As darkness graced the Jamaican skies,
the Intercampus
Staff Games contingent journeyed from the breathtaking
Turtle River Falls and Gardens in Ocho Rios, back to the
UWI Mona campus where the teams were lodged. The
silent atmosphere on the return trip was markedly void of
the lively singing of soca, gospel, reggae and even Sesame
Street songs accompanied by scintillating drumming, which
had filled to air on the way to the Falls.
Then, old and young passengers shared laughter,
smiles or song suggestions. Dance expressions ranged
from the tapping of feet to the nodding of heads and even
the approximation of a conga line down the aisle of the
bus. At this time however, most slept to a silence only
challenged by the rain, pitter-pattering on the roof of the bus.
Following the end of a hectic sporting schedule, impassioned
performances and culturally themed celebratory nights, the
entire contingent was gifted a full day to unwind and enjoy
the unique Jamaican aesthetic.
August 2016 marked the 16th staging of the biannual
UWI Intercampus Staff Games in which staff members
compete in eight sporting disciplines. For only the second
time thus far, the three landed campuses was joined by
the Open Campus, which not only showed up but indeed
stamped its name on the Games via increased representation
and improved performances, even placing third overall,
pushing Cave Hill into fourth place.
The St. Augustine contingent claimed the second spot,
losing to the overall champions, Mona. St. Augustine’s
achievement was boosted by a near victorious performance
in football along with winning performances in cricket,
volleyball and lawn tennis. Athletes in track, table tennis,
basketball and netball all expended significant effort toward
the final points tally. In the final analysis the team widely
celebrated as the ‘life of the Intercampus village’ once again
proved that this reputation could not be disassociated from
commitment and success.
As the female bus driver cautiously navigated through
the wet streets of Liguanea, anxiety arose as the run off time
were screened at The UWI Film Programme and new
collaborations were forged with the Faculty of Law, the
Institute for Gender and Development Studies (IGDS) and
the Faculty of Humanities and Education’s Department
of Literary, Communication and Cultural Studies. About
these ventures, Melvina Hazard, Director of Community
Development, trinidad+tobago film festival stated, “We
were thrilled and encouraged by the overwhelming response
and attendance for ttff/16 at UWI. In addition to providing
the UWI Film Programme with an exhibition platform to
showcase works of its students and staff; we were especially
pleased our with partnerships with the Cultural Studies
Department and the Institute for Gender and Development
Studies andThe Faculty of LawAdministration to bring the
directors and screenings of
Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise
and Every Cook Can Govern - The life, impact and works of
CLR James.
We were also happy to work with the Faculty
of Humanities and Education and the British Council
of Trinidad and Tobago to screen
King Lear the Film
as
part of Shakespeare Lives’ commemoration of the 400th
anniversary of Shakespeare’s death and have the lead actor
Don Warrington giving input to drama students, truly it
was an invaluable experience. We look forward to working
with the University for future collaborations as we continue
our ongoing mission to use film as an impetus for public
engagement and stimulating critical discourse.”
The UWI extends its congratulations to Amir Aether
Valen Ali and all students and staff who participated in
ttff/16 and look forward to seeing their names on the silver
screen for years to come.
The Spirit of One University
B y A l i c i a M a r t i n
for two major athletics finals swiftly approached. Upon
arrival at the Rex Nettleford Hall, persons hastily occupied
a position in front of the lone television, situated in the
common area to view the much anticipated 100m finals. In
an Olympic year where the Caribbean continued a tradition
of dominance in track and field, led by the indomitable,
confounding talent that is Usain Bolt, it was unsurprising
that the Games, held in Jamaica would be quite exciting.
As Usain obliterated a field of athletes representative of
much larger, economically powerful countries, the texture
of jubilation and regional unity ran high. Indeed this was
the typical mode of celebration for all Caribbean athletes
expressed throughout the games; Caribbean and national
identity regularly intertwining.
At the official opening of the games, University
Registrar, C. William Iton emphasised that the games
tied neatly into the University’s vision of ‘One University’,
a strategic initiative dedicated toward achieving a more
streamlined, integrated approach across campuses.
Indeed the institution of UWI, quite apart from learning
is also a vehicle for integration. In a remarkable way the
Games allow for the engagement in cultural exchange and
diplomacy among staff. By all reviews they were enjoyable
and successfully staged, even amidst economic challenges
as experienced by all campuses and their host countries –
thus a testament to the spirit and resilience of the region at
large.
Dr Alicia Martin is a part-time lecturer in the Faculty
of Social Sciences.
Part of the St Augustine contingent to Intercampus Games 2017 at Mona, Jamaica.
Photo courtesy Akil Lashley
