46th International Film Festival Rotterdam

25 January - 5 February 2017

Rotterdam, 24 November 2016

On Friday 27 January 2017, International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) will present the festive world premiere of Double Play with the cast and crew in attendance. American filmmaker Ernest Dickerson (Juice, The Wire) directed the film version of the internationally lauded novel Double Play by Curaçaoan author Frank Martinus Arion. The film features a host of Caribbean, American and European actors including Brit Lennie James, the Tony Award nominated Saycon Sengbloh and Oscar winner Louis Gossett Jr. 

A scintillating portrait of Antillean society unfurls in Double Play in an ostensibly simple game of dominoes. In 1973, Frank Martinus Arion (1936 - 2015) provided a unique insight into culture and society on Curaçao during the tumultuous transition from Dutch colonial rule to autonomy in his successful novel Double Play. The film adds a contemporary perspective. The audience sees what lay behind the fatal domino match in the 1970s through the reminiscences of Ostrik, the now 50-year old son of one of the players. Double Play is an exciting adultery drama in which the leading roles represent Curaçao’s melting pot. A story about pride and humiliation, money and love, ambition and hope.

Filmmaker Ernest Dickerson rose to prominence in the 1980s and 1990s as Spike Lee’s favourite cameraman. They debuted together whilst still at art school with Joe’s Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads (1983) and were responsible for classics including Do the Right Thing (1989) and Malcolm X (1992). Dickerson himself directed the films Juice and Bulletproof as well as episodes of renowned series such as The Wire, The Walking Dead, Treme and Dexter. Lisa Cortes, the producer of the highly acclaimed Precious, produced Double Play in cooperation with Gregory Elias, the producer of both the Curaçao International Film Festival Rotterdam and the Curaçao North Sea Jazz Festival.

“With Double Play, Ernest Dickerson has portrayed an idiosyncratic, joyous and humane society thereby not only creating a terrifically enjoyable film, but also a welcome reminder that Curaçao is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. He underlines the fact that we perhaps have much more in common than the Atlantic between us might suggest,” says festival director Bero Beyer.

Producer Gregory Elias adds: "We are very happy to launch Double Play onto the global stage at IFFR, a place that feels as much home as it feels international. We hope the themes of the film and of Curacao society will strike a chord with the Rotterdam and international audience."

The film’s world premiere will take place during IFFR 2017 on Friday 27 January at the Oude Luxor in Rotterdam. Honoured guests will include director Ernest Dickerson, producers Lisa Cortes and Gregory Elias as well as actors Lennie James, Colin Salmon, Mustafa Shakir, Alexander Karim, Saycon Sengblohm, Dani Dare, Barbara Eve Harris, Isaach De Bankolé, La La Anthony and Melanie Liburd.