Conch Shell International Film Fest

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Conch Shell International Film Fest

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https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2044099953-0a530d19700557bc998ac9311647590924b84fbe39d3290076fc27bc24cdba87-d

Conch Shell International Film Fest

Presented by New York City-Based 501(c)(3), Conch Shell Productions, Inc, CSIFF's goal is to infuse unique Caribbean Diaspora and Caribbean filmmaker voices into the American film industry.  


CSIFF is a festival that empowers Caribbean and Caribbean Diaspora artists and spotlights television and film content created by and for people of diverse Caribbean descent. Our festival brings together fans of Caribbean culture with industry experts and creatives from around the world for four days of screenings, enlightening talks, gatherings and valuable networking opportunities.


Join us as we CELEBRATE Caribbean and Caribbean diaspora stories.

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September 18th Audience survey

2025 csiff community screenings

Conch Shell Productions presents  community screenings in Queens, New York spotlighting bold, thought-provoking films by Caribbean heritage filmmakersm previously featured in our Conch Shell International Film Fests.


Each screening is presented in partnership with Queens-based organizations.


Admission: Free | All are welcome!


Participate in dynamic post screening Q&A sessions with featured filmmakers!


Connect with community members who value authentic, underrepresented stories!


Be part of a growing movement to amplify Caribbean voices in film!


(This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrant program, a program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature and administered by Flushing Town Hall.) 

FEATURED csiff community screening FILMMAKERS

    CSP CHATS WITH CSIFF COMMUNITY SCREENING FEATURED ARTISTS

    Alicia DiazSTEFON BRISTOLlunise cerinEDWIN FRANKODANEA GRANDISON & LU CHILDSCedric HillDIANE DE LA HAYE & LU CHILDSmisael martinez melo

    OCTOBER 16, 2025

    OCTOBER 16, 2025

    OCTOBER 16, 2025

    Presented by Conch Shell Productions in partnership with York College Performing & Fine Arts Department

    Join us for an unforgettable evening of bold, pandemic-era cinema. Both films were created virtually during the height of COVID-19 using Zoom—yet they feature dynamic action shots and striking graphics that prove the power of storytellin

    Presented by Conch Shell Productions in partnership with York College Performing & Fine Arts Department

    Join us for an unforgettable evening of bold, pandemic-era cinema. Both films were created virtually during the height of COVID-19 using Zoom—yet they feature dynamic action shots and striking graphics that prove the power of storytelling is unstoppable.

    📅 Thursday, October 16, 2025

    5:00–7:30 PM Film Screening + Q&A


    York College, CUNY 

    Academic Core Building 

     RM 3D-01

    94-20 Guy R. Brewer Blvd.

    Jamaica, NY 


    Featured Films:


    AFTERSHOCKS: A TETRALOGY OF OUR TIMES

     written by Magaly Colimon-Christopher (Haitian heritage) & Juan Ramírez Jr. (Puerto Rican heritage); directed by Teisha Duncan (Jamaican heritage) & Pat Golden

    A four-part cinematic narrative journey exploring how Caribbean and Caribbean-American communities navigate the “aftershocks” of COVID-19 pandemic—through resilience, imagination, love, laughter and hope.

    (English w/Spanish subtitles)


    ENTRE PUERTO RICO Y RICHMOND: WOMEN IN RESISTANCE SHALL NOT BE MOVED

    written & directed by Alicia Díaz (Puerto Rican heritage) 

    Filmed in a historic tobacco warehouse, this bilingual dance film honors Black female stemmers and Puerto Rican anti-colonial activists as icons of resistance.

    (Spanish w/English subtitles)


    RISE UP

    written & directed by Grace Stelk (Surinamese heritage) 

    A bird faces the centuries-old struggle for freedom while fighting for survival.

    (Dutch w/English subtitles)


    THE JILL OF THE TRADE  

    written & directed by Charysse Tia Harper (Trinidadian heritage)

    A documentary that introduces five women who share their experiences of success and hardship in male-dominated professions, including one of the few female mayors in Afghanistan.

    (Various languages w/English subtitles)


    Following the screenings, stay for a live Q&A.


     FREE Admission

    RSVP required to enter the college venue.


    LIMITED STREET PARKING AVAILABLE.


    Parking is available in York College's parking lot across from the venue for $10.

    RSVP to reserve your seat

    OCTOBER 17, 2025

    OCTOBER 16, 2025

    OCTOBER 16, 2025

    Presented by Conch Shell Productions in partnership with King Manor Museum


    Join us for an unforgettable evening of film, history, and community! Experience bold, thought-provoking short films by Caribbean heritage filmmakers exploring themes of identity, resilience, and heritage.


    📅 Friday, October 17, 2025
    4:00 PM  Tour of King Manor Museu

    Presented by Conch Shell Productions in partnership with King Manor Museum


    Join us for an unforgettable evening of film, history, and community! Experience bold, thought-provoking short films by Caribbean heritage filmmakers exploring themes of identity, resilience, and heritage.


    📅 Friday, October 17, 2025
    4:00 PM  Tour of King Manor Museum's Jamaica|Jamaica Exhibit 

    5:00–7:00 PM Film Screening + Q&A


    📍 King Manor Museum, 

    150-03 Jamaica Avenue

    Jamaica, NY 



    LOKO

    written & directed by Angelina Villapiano (Puerto Rican) 

    A modern Latina city girl goes to extreme lengths to connect to her Indigenous island heritage.


    SWEET RIND

    written by JR Roache (Jamaican)  

    A tactically elite pastor’s daughter struggles with forgiving her sister’s killer while she delivers her brand of justice in her father’s unfinished church basement in Kingston, Jamaica.


    I MARRIED A BLACK REPUBLICAN  

    written by Magaly Colimon-Christopher (Haitian heritage) directed by Pat Golden 

    It's November 3rd, 2020: As the nation waits to find out who will be the next president of the United States, Grace, a staunch Bajan American Democrat seeks her brother’s guidance as she struggles with the realization that her new groom is secretly - a Republican! 


    SINS OF THE FATHER

    written & directed by Azriel Bahahoor (Trinidadian) 

     A priest has his devotion put to the test as he listens to the confession of an ex-convict, one who was incarcerated at a prison he visited years ago.

    RSVP to reserve your seat

    September 18, 2025

    September 18, 2025

    September 18, 2025

    About the films:


    NOISY - a short film by 

    Dominican filmmaker Cedric Hill

    Amid a chaotic subway delay, a lonely commuter discovers unexpected intimacy with a deaf woman—through silence, signs, and stillness.


    VICTORINE – A short film by 

    Haitian American filmmaker Lunise Cerine

    On the one year anniversary of her mother's passing a Haitian Americ

    About the films:


    NOISY - a short film by 

    Dominican filmmaker Cedric Hill

    Amid a chaotic subway delay, a lonely commuter discovers unexpected intimacy with a deaf woman—through silence, signs, and stillness.


    VICTORINE – A short film by 

    Haitian American filmmaker Lunise Cerine

    On the one year anniversary of her mother's passing a Haitian American dancer claims her place in a long line of powerful women.

    (Haitian Creole w/English Subtitles)


    SEE YOU YESTERDAY – A short film by 

    Guyanese American Stefon Bristol

    Two Brooklyn teenage science prodigies who build make-shift time machines to stop one's brother from being wrongfully killed by a police officer.


    RAICES - A short documentatry film by 

    Puerto Rican filmmaker Misael Martinez

    Puerto Rico confronts its reliance on imports—"Raíces" follows the grassroots fight for food sovereignty and self-determination.

    (Spanish w/English Subtitles)


    FUEGO - A short film by 

    Puerto Rican filmmaker Edwin FrankO

    On New Year’s Eve, a drifting bartender reflects on his late father’s passion for salsa and storytelling—unwinding a tale of legacy, regret, and rediscovery as he searches for the fire within.


    Film screening followed by a live audience Q&A with filmmakers and actors.

    ✨ Featured Films & Artists:


    Noisy — Cedric Hill 


    See You Yesterday — Stefon Bristol 


    Fuego — Marc Reign (Puerto Rican heritage actor), multidisciplinary artist and storyteller


    Q&A Moderator:

    C. Truth — Haitian heritage media personality, co-host of Thermal Soundwaves, and longtime CSIFF collaborator.

    June 22, 2025

    September 18, 2025

    September 18, 2025

    About the films:


    FAB 4 & THE SILENT RETREAT – A Short Film by Jamaican Diane De La Haye 

    Four spirited Caribbean women in their 40s—Diane, June, Rose, and Josie—embark on a journey to Nepal for a silent retreat, seeking peace and reflection. What unfolds is a heartfelt exploration of friendship, aging, and the unspoken challenges women face

    About the films:


    FAB 4 & THE SILENT RETREAT – A Short Film by Jamaican Diane De La Haye 

    Four spirited Caribbean women in their 40s—Diane, June, Rose, and Josie—embark on a journey to Nepal for a silent retreat, seeking peace and reflection. What unfolds is a heartfelt exploration of friendship, aging, and the unspoken challenges women face. This award-winning short film, directed by Peter Sagnia and shot in St. Maarten, is inspired by real-life experiences and showcases the strength of sisterhood.


    MADAN SARA – A Documentary by 

    Haitian filmmaker Etant Dupain 

    Madan Sara is a powerful documentary that shines a light on the resilient Haitian women who form the backbone of Haiti's informal economy. These women, known as Madan Sara, work tirelessly to buy, distribute, and sell food and other essentials in markets throughout the country. Despite facing intense hardship, social stigma, and a lack of government support, their efforts ensure a better life for generations to come.


    UNSPOKEN – A Short Film by 

    Jamaican filmmaker Danae Grandison 

    Set against the backdrop of Kingston, Jamaica, Unspoken delves into the intertwined lives of two women—Caroline, a pregnant wife, and Icy, the live-in help. Bound by duty and burdened by unspoken truths, their relationship unravels amidst societal expectations and personal betrayals.

    Adapted from Jennifer Grahame’s novel The Bed Head, this 12-minute drama explores themes of classism, gender dynamics, and the silent struggles many women endure.


    2025 csiff community screening - film trailers

    trailers

    "FUEGO"

    A FILM BY EDWIN FRANKO

    "VICTORINE"

    A FILM BY LUNISE CERINE

    "NOISY"

    A FILM BY CEDRIC HILL

    "RAICES"

    A FILM BY MISAEL MARTINEZ MELO

    "FAB 4 & THE SILENT RETREAT"

    A FILM BY DIANE DE LA HAYE

    "Madan sara"

    A FILM BY ETANT DUPAIN

    Conch Shell International Film Fest Partners with 284xff


    Conch Shell International Film Fest (CSIFF) is proud to announce our official partnership with the 284 Excellence Film Festival (284XFF) — an exciting new cinematic celebration presented by the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board & Film Commission (BVITBFC). This inaugural festival will take place October 30 – November 2, 2025, in Tortola, BVI.


    284XFF is a groundbreaking initiative that bridges the worlds of Caribbean literature and global cinema. With the theme “Caribbean Literature in Motion: Caribbean Stories Reimagined,” the festival challenges filmmakers to adapt literary works by Caribbean authors into short cinematic stories — spotlighting the region’s rich cultural heritage and diverse voices.

    Festival Highlights:

    • 📚 Adaptations of Caribbean literary works from across the region and diaspora
       
    • 🌍 International film competitions with categories for youth, students, and professionals
       
    • 🤝 Panels, workshops, and networking events designed to foster artistic collaboration
       
    • 🎞️ Special screenings, including out-of-competition showcases of outstanding work
       
    • 🏝️ Hosted in the breathtaking setting of the British Virgin Islands
       

    As a festival dedicated to elevating bold, original storytelling from Caribbean and Caribbean Diaspora filmmakers, CSIFF is honored to support this initiative that centers authentic Caribbean narratives and expands the global reach of our storytellers.


    For full details, visit: www.284excellencefilmfestival.com

    This partnership embodies our shared mission: to amplify the voices of underrepresented Caribbean heritage artists, inspire transformation through storytelling, and build a stronger global platform for Caribbean creatives.


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