Tupac Shakur

Friday, October 13----The First Annual Turks & Caicos International Film Festival begins next week on Tuesday, October 17, and runs through Saturday evening, October 21. As part of the celebration of the fusion of music and cinema, the TCIFF will honor two innovative and talented artists: composer John Debney and the late actor/musician Tupac Shakur, ten years after his death.

Award-winning composer John Debney will be recognized for his unique ability to create memorable work across a variety of genres. He received an Academy Award nomination for his score for THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, has won three Emmys and eight ASCAP Awards. Known for being remarkably collaborative, for his most recent scores Debney has enlisted world-renowned musicians, including violin virtuoso Joshua Bell on Dreamworks’ score for DREAMER and trumpet legend Arturo Sandoval for the OutKast musical film IDLEWILD.

John Debney

Tupac Shakur will be recognized as a performer who crossed racial, ethnic, cultural and medium lines. In life, the versatile young artist had the makings of being a major star, with success both as an actor and rapper/hip-hop artist, with many of his songs featured in several movie soundtracks. In his death we recognize Tupac for his undeniable voice and talent. His mother, Afeni Shakur will accept the award. The awards will be presented during the Awards Gala on Saturday, October 21.

Tupac Shakur

The Turks & Caicos International Film Festival, which takes place in Providenciales, Turks & Caicos in the Caribbean, brings a unique celebration of the fusion of music and cinema with movies from around the world that tell stories about music, feature music or have musical themes.

Beach On Turks and Caicos

The Festival’s executive directors are Jasmine Guy and her husband, Terrence Duckette. Guy is best known for her hit television series A DIFFERENT WORLD, as well as theatrical turns on Broadway in such shows as CHICAGO and THE WIZ.

Jasmine Guy

Now she and her husband Terrence are bringing their love of music and cinema together in this picturesque island setting, along with Academy Award-nominated producer Karolyn Ali, TCIFF Program Director.

Sandy Mandelberger
Festivals Editor