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Call Me Yao (short form)

In 2006, Dr Robert Yao Ramesar became the first Laureate in Arts and Letters, at the inaugural Anthony N. Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence (ANSCAFE). This prolific award-winning director and screenwriter has over forty years of experience in the film industry. Yao's four decades in film have been marked by records, awards and accolades, reflecting not just his artistic output, but also his seminal praxis.

In 2024, he was invited to be the featured presenter at NIFCA Film, Barbados' premiere film festival. This film documents Yao's time in Barbados with the 2024 NIFCA Film team.

  • Jade Michel-Ann Gibbons
    Producer
    You Never Know
  • Jade Michel-Ann Gibbons
    Director
    CASC 2016 Trinbago Callaloo Adventure Review Series
  • Robert Yao Ramesar
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Joshon Nurse
    Cinematographer
  • Joshon Nurse
    Editor
  • Kymani Gilkes
    Musician
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 56 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 1, 2024
  • Country of Origin:
    Barbados
  • Country of Filming:
    Barbados
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • 2024 NIFCA Film
    Bridgetown
    Barbados
    November 15, 2024
    2024 NIFCA Film Movie Night
Distribution Information
  • National Cultural Foundation Barbados
    Sales Agent
    Country: Barbados
    Rights: All Rights
  • White Rice Films India
    Distributor
    Country: India
    Rights: Theatrical
Director Biography - Jade Michel-Ann Gibbons

Jade Gibbons is a writer and filmmaker with a passion for telling powerful and thought-provoking stories. She has a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Creative Writing & Film Production from the University of Winchester and a Master of Science degree in International Management from the University of the West Indies. She worked with The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Barbados from May 2015 to December 2016 spearheading several film projects; most notably the 2015 Gold Award Ceremony presided over by HRH Princess Anne. She has also taught film and theatre arts at the University of the West Indies and The St. Michael School respectively. In collaboration with the National Cultural Foundation Barbados, Gibbons produced Barbados' first musical film You Never Know which was released in November 2019.

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Director Statement

Call Me Yao is my fourth documentary and Joshon's first. We worked together in pulling together this film for our nation's oldest and largest film stage. Dr Ramesar was a charm and our time with him was a pleasant one. Both Dr. Ramesar and I were impressed by Joshon's professionalism and craftmanship. We nicknamed him 'dolly' as he prefers to move the camera instead of the zoom lens.