Vincentian Films Selected for CARIFESTA XV — Our Stories Take the Regional Stage!

Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) — History is in the making! For the first time, a powerful wave of Vincentian films will be showcased at the prestigious CARIFESTA XV Film Festival, set for Barbados, August 25–29, 2025. This landmark moment celebrates the unstoppable rise of Vincentian cinema and the storytellers who are carrying the soul of our islands to audiences across the Caribbean and beyond.

The official selections are:

Madulu, The Seaman – Akley Olton

Sugar Lands – Akley Olton

Cartman – Grace Peters

Fire & Smoke: The 2021 Eruption – Colin Browne

Grassman III – Vonnie Roudette

I Am Garifuna – Dante Ollivierre

Views From the Middle – Aiko Roudette

The Stories That Will Inspire the Region

✨ Madulu, The Seaman | Akley Olton A breathtaking documentary blending realism and magical storytelling. Through the eyes of young Amari and his great uncle —the last whaler of Barrouallie—we witness a fading tradition, a cultural legacy, and the eternal pull between past and future.

✨ Sugar Lands | Akley Olton A striking historical documentary led by Dr. Adrian Fraser, uncovering the deep ties between SVG’s sugar plantations and Wales. A story of colonial legacy and modern reckoning, Sugarlands reminds us that the scars of history still shape who we are today.

✨ Cartman | Grace Peters A dynamic short film exploring community, identity, and coming-of-age experiences in Saint Vincent. Through humor, heart, and resilience, Cartman captures the spirit of local life and the challenges of growing up in a small island nation.

✨ Fire & Smoke: The 2021 Eruption | Colin Browne In 2021, the eruption of La Soufrière volcano displaced over 20,000 people in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. This film offers a poignant glimpse into the devastation and its aftermath, following Marlon Roudette and Dan Caplen as they deliver essential supplies to affected communities.

✨ Grassman III | Vonnie Roudette The latest in a groundbreaking documentary series on prisoner rehabilitation in SVG. Grassman III reveals how resilience, creativity, and second chances can transform lives—an intimate and powerful portrait of healing through storytelling.

✨ I Am Garifuna | Dante Ollivierre Part 4 of the Indigenous Origins series, this inspiring documentary follows Ulrica Gaymes, a descendant of the resilient Garifuna people, as she reconnects with her ancestral roots. The film explores vibrant traditions, history, and the challenges of a community striving to keep its heritage alive.

✨ Views From the Middle | Aiko Roudette Views From the Middle (Stories From Turtle Island) shines a light on the perspectives of local communities inhabiting a tiny Eastern Caribbean island that has become a sought-after luxury destination. This short documentary brings local voices into conversation, interweaving impressions, opinions, and descriptions of cultural practices that are often overlooked in mainstream narratives.

A Cultural Milestone

These films are more than screenings—they are Vincentian voices amplified. They tell our stories of struggle and triumph, heritage and memory, resilience and imagination. Together, they position Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as a new force in Caribbean cinema.

“This is a moment of pride for all of us,” said Akley Olton. “Every frame, every story, every voice reflects who we are. The world is watching—and they are finally seeing Vincentian cinema shine.”

Celebrate With Us

Let’s cheer on our filmmakers—Akley Olton, Grace Peters, Colin Browne, Vonnie Roudette, Dante Ollivierre, and Aiko Roudette—whose work is carrying Saint Vincent and the Grenadines into the spotlight of the region’s largest cultural stage.

SVG is not just participating in CARIFESTA XV.

We are making history.