In celebration of Caribbean-American Heritage month and due to popular demand, the Caribbean Heritage Organization is pleased to produce CaribbeanLens™, the Los Angeles/Hollywood Caribbean International Entertainment Conference & Film Festival.
The purpose of the festival is to celebrate the regional and expatriated cultures and talent to create unique and outstanding work and to raise global awareness of the new renaissance of film-making and music production that the Caribbean region is currently experiencing.
Join Us in Barbados!!!
SATURDAY, MAY 3 through SATURDAY, MAY 10, 2025
Caribbean Heritage Organization and the Jump and Fly Foundation invite  you to attend CaribbeanLens International Film, Art & Culture Festival, an 8-day exclusive in-person event that puts you in the same room as some of the creators, filmmakers and talent from the entertainment industry.
Screen a variety of cinematic works from emerging talent in the Caribbean, its diaspora and international friends; expand your industry network; gather tips from industry executives and talent through our masterclasses and panel discussions; and enjoy the culture of the host island, all in the backdrop of the beautiful Caribbean Sea.
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Opening night shenanigans include a screening of the award-winning Euzhan Palcy’s classic “Sugar Cane Alley”.Â
Happy 100th Birthday, Ms. Chisholm!
A formal luncheon to celebrate 100th birthday anniversary and legacy of the Hon. Shirley A. Chisholm.  Produced by the Shirley Chisholm Cultural Institute, Bajans & Friends for Health & Education and the Jamaica Culture Alliance.
It is in the Spirit of the Legacy of the late Hon. Shirley A. Chisholm that we invite you to bring a folding chair and join us as we gather in Barbados for our inaugural “CaribbeanLens Film, Art & Culture Festival…Where Hollywood Celebrates IN the Caribbean™” and honor the 100th anniversary of the birth of Ms. Chisholm.
As an homage to the groundbreaking politician, teacher and social justice icon, who defiantly stated “If they won’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair,” we announced at the 2024 Caribbean Heritage Salute to Hollywood & Excellence Awards Gala that for 8 days we will meet with international filmmakers, musical artists, art lovers and sun worshippers on the shores of Barbados, the maternal ancestral home of Ms. Chisholm.
Barbados Executive Committee:
CaribbeanLens, Where Hollywood Celebrates the Caribbean™ is the brainchild of industry veteran Marva Griffiths Herman (Executive Director). She is the Founder and CEO of the Los Angeles-based Caribbean Heritage Organization (CHO), producer of CaribbeanLens Int’l Film & Art Festival…Where Hollywood Celebrate the Caribbean” and Founder & Chief Editor of the Caribbean Heritage Magazine.  Under her leadership, CHO is well-known in the industry and often consulted on Caribbean culture and film locations.
Euzhan Palcy (Co-Executive Director) is an internationally recognized award-winning trailblazing filmmaker, and founder and CEO of Jump & Fly Foundation. Among her many firsts, she is the first Black female to direct a film produced by a major Hollywood motion picture studio (A dry White Season-MGM Studios), the only woman to direct the iconic Marlon Brando, the first female director to receive the Cesar Award (French Oscar) for her groundbreaking Sugar Cane Alley and in 2022 became the first Black female director to have her body of work acknowledged and celebrated by the Academy of Motion Picture, Arts & Sciences with an honorary Oscar® statuette.
Sharon Matthews (Executive Managing Director) is a visionary leader with over 25 years of experience in content production and storytelling, renowned for her exceptional contributions to the entertainment industry. With a proven track record of success, she has earned prestigious accolades, including an Oscar and Emmy Awards for her outstanding work as a producer. Sharon’s journey in shaping the landscape of media began at ESPN, where she honed her skills in content development and production management, contributing to critically acclaimed programs, “Sportscenter’ “Outside The Lines” “NFL Countdown” “College GameDay” and producing groundbreaking specials and documentary series such as Penn State All-Access, and “We The Fans: Chicago Bears.”
In her most recent role as Vice President of LA Times Studios, Sharon redefined the studio’s creative direction and production strategies, leading to unprecedented success with projects like “The Last Repair Shop,” which secured the studio’s first-ever Oscar win. She and her team were Also finalists for a Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting for its coverage of the January 2024 mass shooting in Monterey Park. Under her guidance, The LA Times flourished, producing compelling documentaries and films that resonated with audiences across various platforms.
With their combined experiences and network in the entertainment community, the festival executive committee is positioned to bring key and knowledgeable entertainment professionals, including studio executives, location scouts and talent to the regional gathering.
Barbados Advisory Committee:
Francesca Harwood – SVP, NBC Legal Affairs
Dina Michelle – Sr. Director of Talent, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences
Yvette Noel-Schure - Co-Founder Schure Media Group/Head of Publicity at Parkwood Ent.
Yemi Adegbonmire – VP & Associate General Counsel, Cineverse
Heather Anderson – VP, Original Content & Business Affairs, ESPN
Dorothy McLeod – Founder & CEO, Jamaica Cultural Alliance, Inc.
Jatali Ballanton, PhD – Investor, Author, Philanthropist
Zuri Marley – DJ, Musician, Actress, Social Media Personality & Chair, Caribbean Heritage Organization’s Robert Nesta Marley Humanitarian Award
Submissions for Barbados are now open. Please click here to submit.
Stay tuned for exciting information and activities leading up to May 2025 by joining our mailing list for updates.
Submissions for Barbados are now open. Please click here to submit.
Stay tuned for exciting information and activities leading up to May 2025 by joining our mailing list at CaribbeanLens@gmail.com for updates.
