Length: 60 min
Language: English
Subtitles: Dutch, French, Spanish, German
Release date: September 2013
Synopsis
Poetry is an Island investigates the life of Caribbean Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott. The film includes poetry – recited by the poet himself – and features places in St. Lucia that are meaningful to him. The film also shows conversations with Walcott on themes such as poetry, Caribbean languages, painting, his Dutch (Sint Maarten) heritage, theatre and society.
Childhood friends comment on their mutual life experiences while explaining Walcott’s impact on St. Lucia specifically and Caribbean culture in general. Family members and people Walcott worked with closely, share significant experiences with the poet.
In short: the documentary showcases the beauty and magnificence of his work and homeland. Poetry is an Island is an intimate portrait filmed in Derek Walcott’s home and surroundings. The filmmakers have concluded their filming in St. Lucia, Trinidad and Amsterdam and are currently in postproduction.
The Filmmakers
Director and Producer – Ida Does
Ida Does is an award-winning director, of films such as Trefossa, and Peace: memories of Anton de Kom. Does (www.idadoes.nl ) has worked as a journalist, researcher, writer, and documentary filmmaker for the past two decades and resides in Aruba and the Netherlands. She is the founder and owner of Ida Does Productions – an independent AV Production Company based in the Netherlands since 2006.
Co-Producer – Rebecca Roos
Since establishing her company Rebecca Roos Productions in 1998, Rebecca has amassed a body of work of over 40 productions, which include documentaries, corporate videos, commercials and PSAs. Her documentary By Her Hand is currently touring the international film festival circuit. Besides coproducing Poetry is an Island, she is also one of the producers of the highly anticipated Aruban feature musical film Abo So (Only You), by award-winning director Juan Francisco Pardo.
Director of Photography – Ingmar Maduro
Ingmar Maduro is an Aruban director of photography with the talent of letting the camera speak for the director, creating beautiful pictures that are exactly what the director had in mind. Ingmar has over 20 years of experience and was the DP on most of the Rebecca Roos Productions’ documentaries.
Funding-Partners & Budget
The producers are still raising funds for postproduction. More funders, Associate Producers and Co Producers are welcomed.
Via an indiegogo crowd funding campaign we raised 19.000 USD. 15.000 Euro is still needed to complete this remarkable project. Your support is needed for postproduction activities such as editing, equipment, music design, clearance of audio rights and archive footage. Finally all the technical actions and experts we need to create a film that is as enchanting as the energy of the people in it.
Funding Partners up to date:
• Britdoc/Channel 4 Puma Creative Catalyst Award (UK),
• Prins Bernhard Cultuur Fonds Dutch Caribbean,
• The Back Lot Foundation (Suriname),
• Vaco Bookshop (Suriname),
• Saint Lucia Tourist Board
• the Dutch Embassy in Trinidad & Tobago
• a large number of individuals from all over the world who have donated via the indiegogo crowd funding campaign.
Screenings at festivals
The film will be submitted to various European and international Film Festivals. The Trinidad and Tobago International Film Festival has shown interest since they became aware of this project and the film will have its world premiere during the 2013 edition in the presence of Derek Walcott himself.
For more information visit the website: http://www.walcottfilm.com/
