Excitement builds over Lara film at TTFF

A FILM about West Indies batting legend Brian Lara, 501 Not Out, will be the highlight of the opening night of the 15th edition of the TT Film Festival (TTFF), on Wednesday.

The film festival will take place from Wednesday to September 15. The Lara documentary starts at 7 pm and will run for one hour and 48 minutes.

A media release said, “This year’s much anticipated opening night event and screening will be held online, so that cricket lovers and Lara fans in TT and around the English-speaking Caribbean will be able to screen the film and share in the excitement.”

The Lara film was directed by award-nominated UK director and lifelong cricket fan Sam Lockyer. The film highlights Lara’s record-breaking innings for Warwickshire in 1994.

In the media release, Lockyer said, “I am truly honoured that 501 Not Out will be opening the TT Film Festival this year. I have fulfilled a long-held dream in making the film and I hope that it is a fitting tribute to the genius of Brian Lara, my childhood hero and the greatest cricketer to ever live.”

The media release said, “Featuring rarely seen archive footage and stills, the film explores Lara’s remarkable ascent in 1994 and celebrates his development in Trinidad. It features interviews with iconic names from the world of cricket, including some of his former international and county teammates from the historic treble-winning season, his friends and coaches in TT and the Caribbean, fans who witnessed the marathon knock first-hand and those inspired by his heroics.”

Those interested can buy ticket bundles, with one bundle featuring as many as ten films.

Speaking to Newsday on Monday, TTFF office administrator Kamille Lynch-Griffith said there is a 600-ticket limit for each bundle.

Regular bundles cost US$5.25, but the Lara film costs US$7.50.

Lynch-Griffith, speaking about the Lara film, said, “We are very excited about it, and I think people are excited especially since CPL (Caribbean Premier League) is happening as well,”

Before the recent rise in covid19 cases, the TTFF was hoping to allow people to attend films.

“From early on we had decided we still wanted to see if we could have had a couple of in-person screenings at MovieTowne, but of course as the cases went up we had to pull everything to online.”

The films will be screened online at www.ttfilmfestival.com.

Tickets are also available on the website. They can also be bought in advance via online bank transfer, or at the TTFF office at 22 Jerningham Avenue, Belmont.

For more information on tickets, call the TTFF office at 323-3228 or e-mail hello@ttfilmfestival.com