Akley Olton’s Madulu: The Seaman Selected for Prestigious Driftlines Ocean Justice Film Festival at the University of Rhode Island

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Akley Olton's Madulu: The Seaman Selected for the Renowned Driftlines Ocean Justice Film Festival at the University of Rhode Island

Vincentian Documentary Celebrates Legendary Whaler & Sea Shanty Keeper George “Tall12” Frederick

Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines – April 14, 2026

Certain emails can be profoundly impactful.

Vincentian filmmaker and Cultural Ambassador Akley Olton has been invited by researchers from the University of Rhode Island and the Nippon Foundation-Ocean Nexus (in collaboration with Cambridge scholars) to present his acclaimed short documentary Madulu: The Seaman at the Driftlines Ocean Justice Film Festival — a curated series focusing on ocean equity, self-determination, and representational justice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpEgjz5QqGA

The film will be featured in Shorts Program II: Countering Colonial Legacies on Monday, April 27, 2026, from 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM EDT at the Chafee Social Science Center, Room 271, South Kingstown, Rhode Island. Director Akley Olton will participate in a virtual Q&A following the screening.

Madulu: The Seaman (2023, 24 minutes) follows young Amari Murray in the historic whaling town of Barrouallie as he learns the ancient craft of pilot-whale (“blackfish”) hunting and the poignant sea shanties from his renowned great-uncle, George “Tall12” Frederick — one of the last Vincentians to fully embody these traditional songs. Sadly, Tall12 passed away earlier last year. Through Madulu, his voice, songs, and profound wisdom endure, reminding audiences worldwide of the importance of understanding our origins.

International Critical Acclaim on Letterboxd

Since its debut, Madulu: The Seaman has achieved a strong ★★★½ average on Letterboxd, with critics and viewers praising its poetic strength, cultural richness, and unique insight into a living Caribbean heritage. The reviews emphasize the film’s significance as both art and testimony:

HBSpade ★★★★★ “In 20 minutes provides a concise snapshot of life in an overlooked village… and a nuanced ethical dilemma showing the arbitrariness of what we choose to save and what we choose to kill… Also, cruise ships are just, like, evil, man.”

Andres Ortiz Sedano ★★★★ “Ancestral knowledge is ancestral, not because it’s old, but because it’s full of experience that aims at teaching valuable lessons for the lives of future generations.”

Jay D’s Watching ★★★½ “Beautifully shot, vivid short documentary about a fading way of life, growing up, and hunting whales. Hemingway would dig it.”

Andrew ★★★½ “A charming little documentary… shot beautifully, and the pacing is wonderfully languid — I enjoyed it.”

Reviewers worldwide have commended the film’s respectful tone, stunning cinematography, and its subtle yet powerful challenge to outsider perspectives on tradition, conservation, and cultural sovereignty. Many discovered it through “one film from every country” projects, calling it a standout example of authentic Caribbean storytelling.

Legacy & Future Vision: Preserving Sea Shanties as National Cultural Heritage

Akley Olton, a long-time collaborator with Vincent Reid (researcher and manager of The Barrouallie Whalers), sees the film as the beginning of something larger.

“George ‘Tall12’ Frederick was one of the last keepers of our traditional sea shanties,” Olton said. “His voice and his songs now live forever in Madulu. Together with Vincent Reid and the Barrouallie community, we are committed to partnering with local authorities to develop the sea shanty tradition as a recognized product of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. We want to formally claim this music as part of our living cultural heritage, preserve it, and transform it into meaningful cultural and tourism offerings — including making sea shanties a major feature of the annual Bagga Fish Festival.”

This vision aligns directly with the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ priorities in cultural policy, creative industries development, and TVET skills training. The film demonstrates how authentic Vincentian stories can achieve global reach while creating real opportunities for heritage preservation, tourism innovation, and youth training in film, animation, sound design, and cultural entrepreneurship.

Driftlines Ocean Justice Film Festival runs April 27 & 29, 2026. Registration and full program details are available at: https://luma.com/kwrmorid.

Madulu: The Seaman streams globally on the Criterion Channel — the first Vincentian film to do so — and has won multiple Best Short Documentary awards, including:

Belize International Film Festival (2024)

Festival de Cine Gibara, Cuba (2024)

George Town Film Festival, Guyana (2025)

Jury’s Special Mention – Pianeta Mare Film Festival, Italy (2024)

Honorable Mention – Barbados Independent Film Festival (2025)

Official Selection – CARIFESTA, Barbados (2025)

Hot Docs (World Premiere, 2023) and over 15 additional festivals across four continents.

About the Production

Produced by Island Rebel Media in association with IF/Then Shorts | Field of Vision and Hulu.

About the Director

Akley Olton is a leading voice in the emerging Caribbean film industry. An alumnus of the University of the West Indies and Cuba’s prestigious EICTV, he is a Prince Claus Seed Award recipient, Cultural Ambassador for St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trustee, Board of the SVG National Trust. His work explores aesthetics, ancestry, resistance, and the transformative power of storytelling.

Media Contact

Island Rebel Media

Email: islandrebelmedia@gmail.com

Phone: +1 (784) 496-2487

Facebook: Madulu, The Seaman

Watch Madulu: The Seaman on the Criterion Channel or register for the April 27 screening at https://luma.com/kwrmorid.

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