A Festival Born from Caribbean Vision and Black Woman Leadership
The Caribbean Film Festival made a bold entrance on June 11 in Trinidad and Tobago. Led by Asha Lovelace and Melanie Jones Powell, it is the first major festival in the region run by Black women.
This new platform gives Caribbean filmmakers control over their own stories. It highlights talent from islands like Haiti, Jamaica, Guadeloupe, and Trinidad — with a strong focus on women behind the camera.
“We don’t want to profit off the stories. We want to tell them,” said Powell. “We are here for the culture.”
Reclaiming Caribbean Stories from Outsider Narratives
For decades, Caribbean stories have been told by outsiders. These versions often erase the complexity of island life. Lovelace and Powell are changing that by putting Caribbean voices first.
Opening night featured the surreal short film Water Devil. Based on Caribbean folklore, it showed a blue devil rising from water. Powell called it “the birth of this film festival.”
Lovelace, daughter of famed writer Earl Lovelace, says storytelling shaped her from childhood. “It’s not enough to simply be audiences of cinema,” she said. “We must be creators.”
From Books to Film: A Legacy of Caribbean Creativity
Lovelace has deep roots in storytelling. Her background in literature and her work with Africa Film TT shaped the new festival’s vision.
She says many filmmakers try to copy Hollywood, but she’s focused on local truth. “I want to say this is who we are — but we want to tell it on our own terms.”
That mission came to life with Zion, the festival’s first feature film. It explores social issues in Guadeloupe and opened the five-day event with a powerful message.
Breaking Barriers for Women and Caribbean Creators
The festival is about more than films — it’s about who gets to make them. Lovelace and Powell want to open doors for more women, especially Black women, in film.
“There’s a thinking that Caribbean films lack quality,” said filmmaker Margaret McEvoy. “But Zion showed that our production value is strong.”
Powell added, “Representation is important. Showing Black women your stories matter is powerful.”
Centering Women Behind the Camera
Running a film festival in a male-dominated space is no easy task. But Powell wears many hats — coordinator, marketer, strategist, and more. Her goal is clear: shift power behind the lens.
“This is probably one of my first jobs ever where the men don’t downtalk me,” she said. “And that’s sad. But it shows how far we still need to go.”
Their focus on inclusion is intentional. They want the next generation of women and nontraditional filmmakers to feel welcome.
A Platform That Builds Community and Culture
The festival’s Circle of Influence event brought filmmakers together for honest conversations. These talks highlighted identity, culture, and the need for more creative freedom.
Lovelace believes storytelling can fight back against cultural erasure and discrimination. “The need to tell our own stories becomes even more urgent,” she said.
The sold-out opening night was proof of public support. “It really is an affirmation that what we do is important work,” said Lovelace.
Expanding the Vision Across the Caribbean
Although the festival began in Trinidad, Lovelace and Powell plan to bring it across the region. Their goal is to connect more Caribbean voices and communities.
This is more than a film event. It is a movement — one that centers Black women, celebrates island stories, and inspires cultural pride.
