Maria Govan and Kareem Mortimer – Bahamian Filmmakers – Interview with Bahamian writer and scholar Angelique V. Nixon (Audio)

This interview was recorded on 29 January, 2012 using a web conferencing platform. The recording is largely audio, using the video format for convenient hosting. 

Bahamian Filmmakers Maria Govan and Kareem Mortimer have been the first Caribbean filmmakers to include representation of sexual minorities in Caribbean narrative film. In Govan’s film Rain (2008), one of the supporting characters is a lesbian, and while the story is not focused on her sexuality, it does represent and reveal a beautiful relationship her and her partner. In Mortimer’s Children of God (2009), the film centers on two gay men and represents male same-sex desire, while also representing homophobia as perpetuated by religion. And it is the first Caribbean film to do this work explicitly.

Bahamian writer and scholar, as well as co-editor of this collection, Angelique V. Nixon wanted to bring these two important voices together in one interview to discuss their decision to represent sexual minorities in their films.

Interview
Poster for Rain
Poster for Rain
Poster for Children of God
Poster for Children of God

Kareem Mortimer is a Bahamian filmmaker that has worked globally. Over the past five years he has won over 25 awards for his previous three film projects and has had his work distributed in over forty countries. He has written and directed the short Narrative film Float; the documentary I Am Not A Dummy and the feature films Children Of God and Wind Jammers. Kareem is currently involved in pre-production to a film shot entirely in Creole called Passage.

Maria Govan – (Writer/Director/Producer) A woman of Greek, Scottish and Bahamian descent, Maria’s creative voice is deeply rooted in a dialogue with her home, the Bahamas. She has written and directed Junkanoo: The Heartbeat of a PeopleWhere I’m From: HIV and AIDS in the Bahamas, and Rain. Rain, Maria’s debut narrative feature film, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2008. Rain was awarded special mention in the New Visions competition at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, Best New Director at the Pan African Film Festival, Graine Cinephage in Creteil France, Best Film for Youth in Seoul Korea, and has won numerous audience awards along the way.