Now in its 12th year, the Saint Lucia-based Caribbean Youth Film Festival (CYFF) continues to give young creatives across the region a platform to explore filmmaking and storytelling.
What began as a collaborative effort with the Rise Film Festival has evolved into a fully independent initiative.
Festival Director Colin Weekes said the goal has always been to help young people better understand the film industry. According to Weekes, the festival has successfully done so over the past decade, with many past participants moving into careers as educators, professionals in the media industry, and even using the experience to pivot into other fields.
“It has done a tremendous job,” he said, highlighting that the festival has even helped parents better understand and support their children’s passion for the arts. “We have been able to bridge that gap for them.”
This year, the festival decided to forgo a central theme, a shift from previous years when topics like child abuse, health and waste management were used to spark dialogue and education. Instead, greater emphasis was placed on expanding the annual film competition, which invites regional youth up to age 35 to submit original short films up to 10 minutes long.
“We did it on a broader scale,” Weekes noted. “We have gotten First National [Bank] to come on board… and actually give the cash prize to our winners, so that is a plus for the festival this year.” In the past, winners received trophies, but 2025 marks the first year that cash prizes are being awarded, with $1,500, $1,000, and $700 going to the top three entries. Additional awards will be given for Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Story or Writer.
Entries are judged on storytelling, cinematography and creativity. “We’re looking for some basic techniques in there… how you tell a story in a proper way,” Weekes explained, adding that the judging panel is mindful of the novice nature of many entrants. “We don’t want to be too technical… we want to recognise the talent rather than punishing you for not doing the best technique.”
The festival, which runs this year from August 4 to 15 has welcomed regional participants from countries such as St Vincent and the Grenadines. Organizers are currently planning student exchange initiatives with Dominica and Trinidad and Tobago, with hopes of launching them by next year.
The deadline for film submissions is August 20, and aspiring filmmakers can find submission details via the festival’s social media page, Island Ripple. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AjhccdVWP/
