Saint Lucian filmmaker Kyvon Edwin has launched a fundraising campaign for his upcoming short film, Bagay-La Nou Pòté (The Things We Carry).
The coming-of-age sports drama, set in the world of Saint Lucian cricket, follows a young prodigy’s struggle to join the West Indies national team while navigating the harsh realities of life on the island.
To bring the project to fruition, Edwin’s crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter aims to raise US$16 500 by March 15. He describes crowdfunding as “the process of relying on your community to help fund your vision.”
“In this case, I’m using Kickstarter, which is a platform similar to GoFundMe that allows persons to contribute and donate towards our film project,” he said.
Edwin emphasised that Bagay-La Nou Pòté is not just a film about cricket but a deeper story of resilience, culture, and ambition.
“The story itself is one that’s meant to inspire and encourage our youth,” he said. “And beyond that, everyone who has a dream to follow through with that dream, no matter your circumstances or environment. It’s a story of persevering against all odds.”
With 80 per cent of the film’s 25-person crew being Saint Lucian or of Saint Lucian heritage, Edwin is committed to showcasing local talent and bringing a uniquely Saint Lucian story to the big screen.
“The production process has been quite a journey,” Edwin said. “We’ve been working on the project for the last year now, and it’s been a journey. We have an incredible team around us right now, in the likes of Junior Frederick, who’s our producer, Cantelle Louis, an incredible casting director, and we have some of the best Saint Lucians working on this project right now.”
However, securing financing has been a major challenge.
“The biggest challenge has been getting funding, which is why we’re raising funds through a Kickstarter and reaching out to corporate Saint Lucia to help sponsor the project and get involved,” Edwin explained.
His ultimate hope is that Bagay-La Nou Pòté will resonate not only with Saint Lucians but with audiences across the Caribbean and beyond.
