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“Garifuna in Peril” in Post-Production

“GARIFUNA IN PERIL” is a dramatic feature film focusing on historical and contemporary issues facing the Garifuna community. The Garifuna are descendants of Carib, Arawak and West African people who live in the coastal regions of Central America and are considered indigenous to the Americas.

With dialogue in three languages (10% Spanish, 20% English, 70% Garifuna) and a blending of dramatic and ethnographic styles, “Garifuna in Peril” entertains with rich characters and cultural energy while conveying educational themes and a social message about the importance of preserving indigenous cultures.

Filming is complete, and your backing supports post-production and finishing costs.

MAIN PLOT SYNOPSIS

A Garifuna language instructor (Ricardo) in Los Angeles tries to help preserve his disappearing Afro-Amerindian culture by building a small Garifuna language school in his home village on the North Coast of Honduras. Complications ensue when a representative of a nearby tourist resort seduces his brother (Miguel) into selling the land the school was supposed to be built on. This betrayal sets in motion Ricardo’s new determination to defend his people’s ancestral lands as he returns to Honduras seeking a confrontation with the resort owner. While Ricardo is in Honduras, his son Elija engages in the rehearsal and performance of a theater play (embellished by cultural dances) about Garifuna history dramatizing a land struggle 213 years ago on their homeland island of St. Vincent, thus drawing parallels between Ricardo’s contemporary struggle and a critical historical one. Additionally, Ricardo’s 18 year old daughter Helena explores a relationship with a new boyfriend, bringing attention to HIV/AIDS issues, another important issue facing the Garifuna and worldwide community.

CURRENT STATUS: POST-PRODUCTION

Filming is complete (shot in Los Angeles, California and Triunfo de la Cruz, Honduras) and we are now in the post-production phase with over 120 hours of high definition footage. We are just beginning picture editing of the first rough cut.

WHAT WE NEED TO FINISH THIS FILM

We will ultimately need additional investors to complete the picture editing, ADR/foley, music, sound editing, mix, conforming, optical effects, color correction and subtitles.

TRAILER & DISCUSSION

Producers Ali Allie & Ruben Reyes discuss the film.

RELEASE DATES

We will initially be pursuing a film festival route to create buzz to attract a niche distributor. With full post-production funding, we will be on target for the October/November major film festival submission deadlines, resulting in an estimated premiere date sometime in 2012.

UNIVERSALITY & MARKETABILITY

The Garifuna struggle may be largely unknown, but the universal themes contained in this film relate to all indigenous peoples who have struggled for cultural survival. Although we made this film unbeholden to commercial ideology, we believe it has high potential in appropriate niche markets due to its unique content, authenticity and educational components. It is the first dramatic feature film containing a majority of dialogue in Garifuna language.

YOUR SUPPORT

This film has been a labor of love for both of us, 10 years in the making, and we have managed to maintain a high degree of artistic integrity by self-producing. We are delighted that it has surpassed our original intentions due to the incredible talents who have joined with us. We appreciate your support in joining with us in helping to push this project down the home stretch and over the finish line. Seremein! (thank you)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Press Release: http://www.prweb.com/releases/garifuna/film/prweb4462504.htm
Contact Us: http://www.garifunafilmtrilogy.com/producers/
or call (424) 234-3292

WHO ARE THE GARIFUNA?

The Garifuna are descendants of Carib, Arawak and West African people who live in the coastal regions of Central America. Since they refused to submit to slavery, the Garifuna managed to preserve both their African roots and their Amerindian heritage, a fusion resulting in a unique ethnicity considered indigenous to the Americas. In 2001, UNESCO proclaimed the language, dance and music of the Garifuna as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. However, even with this acknowledgement in intellectual and educational circles, the survival of the culture is at risk due to globalization, poverty, AIDS, discriminatory land measures, and lack of educational opportunities.