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HAMA Films, the Antigua & Barbuda independent film and television producers will become the first filmmakers to have two of their films, “The Sweetest Mango” and “No Seed,” make their world television premiere on the Caribbean Media Corporation’s cable channel CaribVision – “the eyes & ears of the Caribbean.”

CaribVision - available in 21 Caribbean territories and on DirecTV in the USA, is a 100 percent Caribbean-oriented channel, which features a unique blend of culturally rich, reflective, informative, and entertaining content.

“In terms of distribution, this is our most significant achievement’, said Howard Allen, the producer and director of both films. “It offers a lot of promise for independent producers in the region. I’m proud to share our Antiguan & Barbudan experiences with audiences all over the world.”

Allen’s wife and Executive Producer, Mitzi Allen said both of their films have already become cult favourites among filmgoers starved for Caribbean content. “But this type of validation –the fact that such a wide audience is going to be seeing our films – is a fulfillment of our lifelong dream.”

“The Sweetest Mango,” a romantic comedy, was first released in 2001. It was the first feature film for Antigua & Barbuda and the first indigenous film for the Eastern Caribbean. Since its release, the film has been screened at several film festivals across the Caribbean and the United States.

“No Seed,” a political drama was released in 2002 and has also made the rounds to film festivals in the Caribbean and the United States. It received critical acclaim from the Department of Cinema and Photography at Ithaca College N.Y.

“Over the last six years we have explored various distribution options most of which do not cater to small independent productions,” said Howard Allen. “I think this venture with CaribVision is the right choice. Although local support is critical to any production mass distribution is the only way it can be financially viable. We’re hoping the added exposure will create some new business opportunities for us.”

“The Sweetest Mango,” is set to premiere on CaribVision on November 7th 2007 at 9:30 p.m. The date of the world television premiere of “No Seed” has not yet been released.


Photo Credit: HAMA



Producer/Director Howard Allen and Mitzi Allen of HAMA Films (left and center) with Errol Clarke the Chief Operating Officer of the Caribbean Media Corporation at the CMC office in Barbados (right)