Caribbean Young Professionals Science and Agriculture Film and Video Competition

"Adding Value to Local Foods"

In October 2013, the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation – ACP/EU (CTA), in collaboration with the Caribbean Council for Science and Technology (CCST), the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), the University of the West Indies (UWI), Columbus Communications Trinidad Limited (FLOW Trinidad) and the Trinidad & Tobago Film Company, launched the second Caribbean Science and Agriculture Film and Video Competition “Adding Value to Local Foods”. The competition encourages creative, technology savvy young professionals (persons 18-35 years) with a passion for communicating ideas and an interest in leveraging science and technology for agricultural and economic development to participate.

Eighty-four (84) entries were received from 12 countries; Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Suriname, the Bahamas, and Trinidad and Tobago. The dominant theme selected by entrants was; “Promoting the benefits of local foods”, followed by “Processing options” and “Consumer/market driven” approaches. The majority of entrants indicated that they would utilize either the video or film medium while seven teams opted to use animation.

Following the evaluation by the expert panel, sixty (60) teams were selected to participate in a hands-on customised training workshop that was held in Port of Spain, Trinidad from 7th-11th April, 2014. At the workshop, specialists from 8 Blocks to Roadway and Full Circle Studio shared their expertise in various aspects of film making and animation respectively. Countries represented in the training workshop were: Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts/Nevis, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Haiti, St. Lucia, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. Topics covered for film and video production included: Content Development/Script Development, General Introduction to Professional Audio Equipment, General Introduction to Producing Shooting a Film Utilizing all skills learnt. Topics covered for animation included: Basic Drawing Techniques (for animation), the 12 Basic Principles of Animation, Software Tools (Basic 2D Toon Boom Tools and Basic 3D Maya Tools), and Stop Motion Animation. The general consensus of participants was that the workshop was a fun, learning experience that will definitely help in the development of their films and videos which will be submitted for final judging by the public and an expert panel.

What's Next?

Each team will be assigned two mentors; a scientist and an expert in film and video production who will oversee the final production of films and videos for showcasing during the competition finals. The deadline date for submission of videos is 1st July 2014. All of the films and videos will be broadcast online over a four week period. Winners will be chosen by online audiences as well as a jury of filmmakers. The winning films and videos will be uploaded and aired on various websites and television programmes in the Caribbean. A special enrichment and networking workshop will be held for the top 25 teams and individuals at which the winners will be selected. This will be followed by an award ceremony. The winners will also attend the 2014 Caribbean Tales Film Festival in Barbados and the Caribbean Week of Agriculture, which is planned to be held in Suriname.


Reflecting a commitment to building capacity of young professionals in Caribbean countries to use and promote science, technology and innovation in solving the challenges facing the agricultural and rural sectors, CTA, CCST and partners wish to thank all those who assisted in the promotion of this competition to date as well as the young professionals who have expressed interest in the competitions. The organizers are counting on your continued support as we go through the next paces of this project.