"doing something with a point[ing] broom" Timehri Film Festival 2019

Still from the trailer of From Ashes We Rise

Pointer broom
 "I went to Berbice.. that is where I first saw the point[ing] broom .. "the audience laughed and corrected the artist.. ".. pointer broom, and I thought, I could do something with it"

The film From Ashes We Rise is a film directed by Khadijah Cadberry, in collaboration with visual artist Elodie Cage-Smith. The film is associated with a mixed media piece featuring a painting with two mask installations. The masks are made of recycled materials.  The artist was in conversation about the film at the opening night of the Timehri Film Festival 2019. 

The idea of 'doing something' with pointers from the broom, in addition to all the other things such as sweeping, jaraying upset babies, or putting in strategic place to ward off evils spirits, that kind of creativity.. is special. The pointers are turned into sun burst like decorations around the masks.



There was something special in how opening night , about Guyana, demonstrated the convergence of film and visual art. The TFF also used a painting by Nigel Butler for its programme materials.

The opening also included the music of Gavin Mendonca and Chucky who are 'Folking up the place".  'Folk music' being brought to life.

Precious Barrow,animator, talked about her work in collaboration with Jumal Sam. They are working on a series in animation based on folk tales from Guyana. The "folk" traditions forming the base of other art forms.

 
Live music, visual art , film in the programme of Guyana. The film festival offering space for multiple art forms.



Surviving suicide
The first short was from Alvin Seenauth "For you". His grandfather had taken his own life in 1997. He interviewed the family members who reflected on the man, his life and accepting the circumstances that led to his death. The film told a survivor story in a unique way - migration, mental health . One man says in Guyana we don't tell family members we love them. A powerful moving film which shows a family's healing after the suicide of a loved one

 
Andaiye and Walter Rodney and Guyana
 Romola Lucas, co-ordinator of the film festival, asked everyone to have a minute of silence in memory of Andaiye. A poignant minute as the night of Guyana films also featured Andaiye's WPA comrade Walter Rodney.

The opening night featured the documentary from UWI Mona Campus "The past is not the future" about Walter Rodney's student years. Another documentary about Rodney "In the Sky's wild noise"

The minute of silence for me was like also a mourning for the loss of a Guyanese political ideaology grounded in social justice.


The Timehri Film Festival 2019 though, has other films on the programme which could help to remind, if not inspire viewers about the need for the political views advocated by Andaiye and Walter Rodney.