In late January, MFAEDA student Eric Barstow was invited as a guest on the UNC-TV show Black Issues Forum to discuss two of his films – “¿Qué será del Caribe?” and “Pickaninny”. Both works will be screening at Durham’s Hayti Heritage Film Festival. The episode aired on January 27th, but is still available streaming.
“¿Qué será del Caribe?” is a short documentary centered on an organization based in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica, that connects tourists with locals who work in the tourism industry. In twenty-three minutes the film bridges both social and environmental problems, asking its viewers – what will happen to the Caribbean? Barstow’s second work differs in form and content -“Pickaninny” came out of a film project he completed at Saint Augustine’s College. Barstow writes “our professor took us to the NC Museum of Art to view the Normal Rockwell exhibit. Our assignment was to pick one of his paintings and use it as an inspiration for a short film”. “Pickaninny” is the result.
The Hayti Heritage Film Festival unofficially begins with a community day of film screenings, a student film competition and a day of film shorts before officially opening on Thursday, February 14th. The festival showcases “diverse works of, by and about people of African descent”. For more details and a complete schedule, visit their website.
The Hayti Heritage Film Fesitval is sponsored by the Hayti Heritage Center.
