REGIONAL film distributor, CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution (CTWD), has received a shot in the arm through a major funding grant from the European Union.

Founder of the CTWD, producer and film-maker Frances-Anne Solomon is pleased with this latest development which she sees as going a far way to put regional film and television shows on an international plane.

“This EU funding is hugely exciting. With it, we will raise the bar and really concentrate on delivering sustainable long-term income-generating streams for producers that will benefit our industry and the region as a whole. We have already put in place our project team. The value of the grant is 274,000 euros and the purpose is to develop sustainable income generating streams for Caribbean film and television that will support the development of a viable regional industry,” she said.

“We plan to acquire international distribution rights for 100 more films, expand our online platform, build strong broadcasting relationships with local and international television channels, and promote a wide-ranging marketing campaign, so as to make our Caribbean-themed content easily accessible to wide audiences around the world,” Solomon continued.

Local film-maker Mary Wells was also in high spirits with this latest announcement.

“It’s extremely important. We cannot go it alone as film-makers or institutions from our individual island countries. We have to, and must work together as a Caribbean region of film-makers. An entity like CTWD allows Jamaican films and content to know the market more intimately both here in the region and all of the Caribbean diaspora. So we don’t limit ourselves,” Wells noted.

To date, CTWD’s extensive catalogue consists of over 300 films and television programmes of all genres, by 40 producers from 20 countries. These include Kingston Paradise, Mary Wells’ award-winning feature, A Winter Tale starring Dennis ‘Sprangalang’ Hall and Leonie Forbes, award-winning Barbadian film Hit for Six, the cultural favourite Calypso Dreams, as well as episodes of E-Zone, Caribbean Eye, Lord Have Mercy and Gayelle. The new catalogue will be launched in early 2015.