Короткометражка бahaмского режиссера Нейтана Макфи номинирована на премию TIFF Nollywood

Bahamian Nathan McPhee’s short film “Visa Blue,” has received a Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (TINFF) Best Film (Caribbean and International) nomination. McPhee described the nomination an “unexpected” and a “joyous surprise,” considering he said they wrote, produced and edited a film, specifically for submission and on short notice. “Visa Blue,” written and directed by McPhee, follows JR — a young Bahamian navigating his ambitions for a life beyond what is familiar and the limiting expectations of his father, James. “Our actors had very little time to rehearse, so we knew exactly what we were up against, but it was a challenge we were excited to take on,” said McPhee. Filmed and produced with an all-Bahamian cast and crew, the film reflects culturally accurate dialogue and performances, using visual symbolism and tension to explore the complexities of a relationship between father and son. “Visa Blue” stars Ajai Culmer as JR, alongside Hartman Brown as James. “After principal photography was completed, we decided to continue submitting the film to other festivals, but we wanted to be strategic about where we entered. The goal wasn’t simply to collect festival selections; we wanted to enter markets that could ultimately create meaningful opportunities for our industry peers and contribute to the growth and visibility of the Bahamian film industry at large,” said McPhee. “TINFF was a festival we believed could serve as another launchpad, not only for our careers internationally, but also for the next generation of Bahamian filmmakers coming with us. To receive the nomination, knowing that it could lead to further opportunities and synergies, particularly within the Canadian film industry, was incredibly exciting. It felt like we had opened a new door for collaboration and demonstrated that our generation of Bahamian storytellers and filmmakers have a place in the international film community. The 10th TINFF nomination represents another step in McPhee’s Konu Studios’ continued effort to develop Bahamian stories and expand their reach to international audiences, while affirming the industry’s growing appetite for films from The Bahamas with global appeal, according to McPhee. TINFF, a Canadian multicultural film festival connecting Canadian, African, Caribbean and international filmmakers, takes place September 4–12, in Toronto and Brampton, Canada. An official Canadian Screen Awards-qualifying festival, TINFF brings together filmmakers from Canada, Africa, the Caribbean and international markets through screenings, industry programming and networking opportunities. This year’s festival also overlaps with the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), which takes place September 10–20, placing Visa Blue in Toronto during one of the city’s most internationally visible periods for film. The screening of Visa Blue takes place on September 8 at 12:30 p.m. at the Palmerston Library Theatre, 560, Palmerston Ave., Toronto Canada. Konu Studios is a Bahamian creative agency and production studio specializing in film production, branded content, distribution, marketing and brand management, founded by McPhee, who also serves as chief creative officer. Through original productions, partnerships and its creative network, Konu develops culturally relevant work while creating opportunities for Bahamian and Caribbean storytellers. McPhee said he founded Konu Studios with a core focus on amplifying brands and people through storytelling while developing, producing, and distributing culture-forward and culturally relevant stories, brands, and experiences. “In many ways, the work I’m doing today is the culmination of each of those decisions — from learning drums in church at seven years old to understanding how storytelling, branding, business and culture can work together,” said McPhee. “Music and film, for me, both started in church, although I initially leaned more heavily into music. I started playing the drums at seven years old and later became a product of both the Urban Renewal Marching Band and Aquinas College Marching Band, where I served as band leader during my twelfth-grade year. At the time, I wanted to become a music producer, and during my final year of high school, I began making music and producing records for Bahamian artists.” When it came time for college, he said he applied to schools with strong performing arts programs, but knew he didn’t want to simply continue playing in a band. “I wanted to understand the technology, production, and creative processes behind some of my favorite records and movie soundtracks. I was looking for a four-year degree program in a city that was also a hub for music, film, and Black entrepreneurship. Atlanta was that city, and the Savannah College of Art and Design [SCAD] was the school. After being accepted, I discovered that SCAD’s four-year sound design program was based at its Savannah campus. I intentionally wanted to remain in Atlanta because of the access it provided to major companies, artists and the broader entertainment industry, so I switched to film and television.” He said about two years into his studies, after networking, working with Grammy-Award winning producers Ayo and Keyz and gaining experience around artists in mainstream and independent music spaces, that he began noticing another shift and that artists were increasingly becoming brands themselves. “I realized that the future of entertainment would require people who understood not only how to create content, but filmmakers and storytellers who know how to build brands around people, personalities, and intellectual property. That realization led me to change my major to advertising and branding, while maintaining a focus on film and television and adding a minor in business and entrepreneurship.”