Panman wins Best Feature Film
at Hollywood Black Film Festival
CALIFORNIA/PHILIPSBURG--“Panman, Rhythm of the Palm” won the title of Best Feature Film at the ninth annual Hollywood Black Film Festival in Beverly Hills which concluded Sunday night.
The locally-produced movie written by noted playwright Ian Valz had a local cast well known in St. Maarten and surrounding islands for their magic on stage.
In an e-mail to The Daily Herald, Valz said he was “overwhelmed by the great honour” and was extremely happy for everyone who had been involved in the film. “It’s a great honour also for St. Maarten,” he added.
Valz and cast members Gary “Gee Money” Euton, Earl Duzong and Betty Nisbeth are scheduled to return from Hollywood on an American Airlines flight on Tuesday at 2:00pm.
The cast members were also stunned by the honour that singled out their film from 25 other feature films. The festival had highlighted 119 films.
Panman premiered on November 10, 2007, to mark St. Maarten Day. It tells the story of the rise and fall of steel pan player Harry Daniel.
Harry is an icon of the Caribbean whose personal life suffers when he places his music above his family. He is desperate to pass the pan culture to a younger generation. During this crusade to keep the music alive on his beloved St. Maarten, he meets the exceptionally talented Jacko, who becomes his star apprentice and hope for the future. Harry treats him like the son he never had.
When Harry’s fame begins to diminish, Jacko turns against him and embraces instead the world of rock music. However, when Harry dies unexpectedly, Jacko returns to his island culture to become pan music’s brilliant new icon.
