The Caribbean Film Festival made history on June 11th in Trinidad and Tobago. Two powerful women leaders launched this groundbreaking event to change how Caribbean stories get told. Their mission is simple yet revolutionary: put Caribbean filmmakers in control of their own narratives.
Asha Lovelace serves as Chief Executive Officer and Festival Director. Melanie Jones Powell takes on Executive Director duties. Together, they created more than just a film festival. They built a movement that puts authenticity first and Black women at the center.
Women Filmmakers Take Control of Caribbean Cinema
Powell, a filmmaker and media strategist, wears many hats for the festival. She handles coordination, marketing, strategy, and creative vision. Her passion shows in every detail of the event.
“This is a festival run by filmmakers, created by filmmakers,” Powell explains. “We don’t want to profit off the stories. We want to tell them. We are here for the culture.”
The festival opened with “Water Devil,” a surreal short film. It features a blue devil folklore figure rising from underwater. Powell describes this as representing the birth of their film festival.
Caribbean Stories Get Authentic Representation
Lovelace brings impressive creative credentials to the project. She is the daughter of legendary Trinidadian writer Earl Lovelace. Her storytelling journey began with books before expanding to films.
“It’s not enough to simply be audiences of cinema — we must be creators,” Lovelace states. “We must be active participants in the production of films that come from our own perspectives.”
Her previous work with Africa Film TT helped create the blueprint for this new festival. She wants to move away from copying Hollywood formulas in Caribbean settings.
Film Festival Showcases Diverse Island Voices
The five-day festival spotlighted filmmakers from Haiti, Jamaica, Guadeloupe, and Trinidad. Opening night featured “Zion,” a powerful film exposing social issues in Guadeloupe. The movie created a sold-out audience response.
Powell highlights a particularly striking scene from “Zion.” “There’s a scene where the cruise ship was passing by the street and you have riots just about 20 feet away,” she describes. This moment perfectly captures the contrast between tourist perspectives and local realities.
Documentary filmmaker Margaret McEvoy praised the festival’s impact. She grew up in Trinidad but now lives in the United States. For her, the event felt like a homecoming.
Black Women Challenge Film Industry Gender Norms
The festival addresses representation beyond just Caribbean identity. It also challenges gender norms in the film industry. Powell wants to show that women can succeed in male-dominated fields.
“I feel like that representation is so important: showing Black women your stories matter,” Powell emphasizes. The festival proves that Black women can create high-quality productions that compete globally.
Lovelace connects their work to broader social issues. She points to rising xenophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment worldwide. In this context, telling their own stories becomes even more crucial.
Caribbean Film Festival Plans Regional Expansion
The opening night sold out completely, marking a proud moment for Lovelace. “It really is an affirmation that what we do is important work,” she reflects. “This is just a start.”
Their success demonstrates hunger for authentic Caribbean cinema. Audiences clearly want stories told from Caribbean perspectives rather than outsider viewpoints.
While the festival’s roots remain in Trinidad, the vision extends further. The organizers plan to bring the event to other Caribbean countries. This expansion will create more opportunities for regional filmmakers.