Port of Spain, Trinidad – Forward Ever: The Killing of a Revolution, directed and produced by Bruce Paddington, was an official selection at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, California in February 2015.
Forward Ever explores the achievements and shortcomings of the People’s Revolutionary Government (1979-1983) of Grenada as it attempted to forge a new revolutionary society. The film focuses on the year 1983, with previously unseen archival footage, as well as first hand recollections of persons who witnessed the tragic events of 19 October. It examines the circumstances surrounding the execution of Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and his close colleagues, whose bodies were never recovered. With its multiple perspectives and different narratives, the film explores this key event in the recent history of the Caribbean and raises questions that must be answered.
The Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) was established in 1992 and is the largest and most prestigious black film festival in America. It showcases 150 new films each year and its goal is to present and showcase a broad spectrum of black creative works, particularly those that reinforce positive images and help destroy negative stereotypes. PAFF believes that film and art can lead to better understanding and foster communication between peoples of diverse cultures, races, and lifestyles, while at the same time serve as a vehicle to initiate dialogue on the important issues of our times.
Forward Ever were represented at PAFF by the film’s co-director Luke Paddington.
Playwright and director Kwame Kwei-Amah called the film “a spectacular and honest piece of filmmaking” while filmmaker Anup Singh praised “its nuanced concern, compassion and restrained rage”. The film was produced with the assistance of the University of the West Indies, The Fundashon Bon Intenshon, FLOW (Columbus Communications) and the Trinidad and Tobago Film Company.
The PAFF screening was the USA west coast premiere of the film that has previously been shown on the east coast in Syracuse, Rochester, New York and Atlanta. Forward Ever had its world premiere at the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival in September 2013 where it was well received with four sold out screenings and lively question and answer sessions. Outside of America the film has been shown throughout the Caribbean, in Canada, England and recently in Venezuela and Ecuador.
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