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.
Opening night shenanigans include a screening of the award-winning Euzhan Palcy’s classic “Sugar Cane Alley”.

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.
Confirmed Panelists

- Lori Bolton
- Location Scout
- LinkedIn

Lori Bolton
Location ScoutGrateful to have a job that lets her explore the world, veteran Location Scout Lori Balton is the first location professional accepted into the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (AM-PAS). For decades, she has worked with some of the best directors, designers, and location managers in the business.
Featured on numerous podcasts and master classes, Balton is an Event Ambassador for Spain’s Shooting Locations Marketplace and a frequent contributor to FOCUS/London. Balton co-founded LocationLounge.com, striving to be the most comprehensive database of global film commissions and production service companies. She was President and co-founder of the LMGI. When not chasing incentives, she lives in Venice, California with her rescue dogs.
Follow her on LinkedIn and on Instagram at Wide World Locations.

- Elon Johnson
- Vice President, Head of Development
- Tyler Perry Studios

Elon Johnson
Head of Development – Tyler Perry StudiosElon D. Johnson is the Senior Creative Executive, Head of Development at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. As lead of this wing, Elon’s work consists of discovering, fielding, creating, elevating, developing and producing TV series, TV films, feature films, and OTT content.
With more than a decade of experience in television and film, this Emmy Award-nominated producer, NABJ Award and Gracie Award recipient, has facilitated in the creation and execution of various critically acclaimed shows across several networks (ABC, NBC, FOX, MTV, VH1, BET). Her tenure in television began as a writer and producer at MTV, followed by a senior writing position at BET, where she earned a Cable Positive Award. Elon worked as a talk show producer at NBC and as a Senior Producer at SONY Entertainment in the Development division before becoming the Consulting Producer on Harpo Productions’ The Nate Berkus Show. Elon also served as a Show Producer at Anderson, Anderson Cooper’s daily talk show where she received her Emmy nod; and Co-Executive Producer for several of VH1’s reality reunions. She spent four years as an in-house Executive Producer and Creative Executive at BET/Viacom overseeing more than a dozen, multi-genre shows a year before accepting the position at Tyler Perry Studios. Most recently, Elon led the development and production of the BET+ scripted drama All The Queen’s Men as well as the revamped specials of The Tyler Perry Show.
As the grandchild of immigrants, Elon has maintained close ties to her family roots in Barbados, working on a number of international projects.
Elon, a Brooklyn native, is a graduate of Columbia University in the City of New York, now residing in Atlanta, Georgia.
- Euzhan Palcy
- Filmmaker, Humanitarian and Activist
- www.EuzhanPalcy.net

Euzhan Palcy
Martinique – Director
Robert Nesta Marley Humanitarian Award
Biography | Distinctions | Filmography | Movie Awards | Presidential & Governmental Appointments
Biography:
The first black female director produced by a major Hollywood studio (MGM).
The only woman who directed Marlon Brando.
The first black director who directed an actor to an Oscar nomination (tied with Spike).
The first female and the first black director who won a Cesar Award (French Oscar).
The only black director & only woman filmmaker who managed to direct an anti-apartheid narrative feature film during Nelson Mandela’s prison sentence.
Born in Martinique, Euzhan Palcy is a film director, writer and producer. In 1983, she directed SUGAR CANE ALLEY (Rue Cases Negres) putting the French West Indies on the world cinema stage. This critically acclaimed movie went on to win the prestigious Cesar award (French Academy Award) for best first film making Euzhan Palcy the first black person (male or female) to be granted this prestigious award. SUGAR CANE ALLEY won more than 17 international awards including the Silver Lion and Best Actress awards at the Venice Film Festival.
Euzhan Palcy successfully brought back Marlon Brando to cinema screens with the anti-apartheid film, A DRY WHITE SEASON. She travelled to South Africa defying the special section of the apartheid regime with the help of Dr. Nthato Motlana, President Nelson Mandela’s personal physician and friend, who smuggled her into Soweto undercover. She received the Orson Welles award for this film in Los Angeles in 1989. After his historic release from Robben Island in 1990, the newly elected President Mandela watched the film and invited her to South Africa in 1995 (during the first anniversary of his election). Therefore, she directed and produced the never before seen interview titled MY CHAT WITH PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA.
Euzhan wanted A Dry White Season to be “Cinema Verité” — that is to reflect the truth — at all costs. She was so passionate about creating an accurate portrayal that she traveled to Soweto undercover to research the riots. With a false cover of a recording artist looking for singers for her new album she was secretly interviewing victims of the apartheid regime thus eluding the South African secret services.
The regime felt particularly threatened at this time and had stepped up it’s actions against the opposition. A Dry White Season was finally released in September, 1989. South Africa banned it, enraged by the truths exposed of what they were actually doing to the people who opposed them. MGM had to continue engaging the two bodyguards to protect Euzhan Palcy throughout the promotion of the film.
In 1992, she wrote and directed the musical fantasy film SIMEON with Kassav, the Godfathers of Zouk music and premiered the Caribbean Musical Fantasy genre. Technically, SIMEON was the first French movie produced with CGI VFX & digital scans. Palcy won the Silver Raven Award at the Brussels International Fantasy Film Festival competing against Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead 3 & Joe Dante’s Matinée. She also won the Public award in Philadelphia. In 2011, The MoMA acquired a copy of SIMEON for its permanent collection. Thereafter, she filmed the documentary trilogy AIME CESAIRE: A VOICE FOR HISTORY (1994, reissued in 2006 as AIME CESAIRE: A VOICE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY) and directed and coproduced RUBY BRIDGES (Disney, 1998). President Bill Clinton and Disney CEO Michael Eisner introduced the movie from the White House, when it first aired. THE KILLING YARD (a Paramount/Showtime film) followed in 2001. The film received the American Bar Association Silver Gavel Award for “Best Film About Justice”.
In 2006, she directed the French documentary PARCOURS DE DISSIDENTS (THE JOURNEY OF THE DISSIDENTS) which tells the incredible story of 5,000 young French West Indians fighters (boys and girls) during World War II. Her struggle for their national recognition was officially acknowledged by former French President Nicolas Sarkozy who bestowed them France’s highest award: the Legion of Honor on behalf of all those courageous war veterans. In 2007, she directed the historical drama, THE BRIDES OF BOURBON ISLAND, about the colonization of the Reunion Island during the 17th century. That same year to mark the Bicentennial of the 1807 Abolition of Slave Trade Act in the UK, The National Maritime Museum of of London hosted her first retrospective.
In a poll by the BBC/British Film Institute’ citing The 100 Most Iconic Black Screen Icons of the Last 100 years, Euzhan Palcy ranked among the top three in both the female and directors categories.
In 2011, President Sarkozy asked her to create a “short cinematic synopsis” to launch France’s National Tribute to Aimé Césaire at the Panthéon; Cannes Film Festival paid her a Tribute and The New York City’s Museum of Modern Art organized her mid-career retrospective. Later that year, Palcy was decorated with the Officer Medal of the National Order of Merit by President Sarkozy. On June 1 2014, for the 70th anniversary of WWII Normandy and Provence landings, President Hollande hosted the presidential screening of PARCOURS DE DISSIDENTS (THE JOURNEY OF THE DISSIDENTS) at the Elysée Palace as a National Tribute to the Dissidents. The heroes in her film received a full week of tributes at the Presidential Palace, the Invalides, the National Assembly, the Senate, the Panthéon and in Normandy.
On April 28, 2017, as part of the Freedom Day, the Republic of South Africa bestowed upon Euzhan Palcy the Order of the Companions of Oliver Reginald Tambo “for her excellent contribution to the liberation struggle by exposing South African social injustices through an international film that strengthened the revolution against apartheid”. This order is the highest honor in South Africa for a foreign dignitary.
On March 8, 2018, The Telegraph included Palcy in its all-time list of 35 Women who changed the history of cinema while The International Slavery Museum of Liverpool inducted her on its Black Achiever’s Wall as part of its commemoration of the centennial of the woman’s vote. Euzhan Palcy‘s films have undoubtedly a huge impact initiating humanitarian efforts globally for causes extremely important to her core values as a filmmaker and a person. She manages her time between her humanitarian work (helping disabled or very ill young people to rebuild themselves and achieve their dreams) and the development of new European and American film projects.
The Filmmaker holds the keys to the cities of New York, Atlanta, New Orleans and Sarassota, Fl. In France, she is a distinguished recipient of the French Legion of Honor for her work and social causes. A high school, a movie theater and a road bear her name.
Biography | Distinctions | Filmography | Movie Awards | Presidential & Governmental Appointments
Some Distinctions:
- Officer of the National Order of the Legion of Honor (Decree 2019/01).
- Officer of the National Order of Merit.
- Grand Companion of the Order of OR Tambo (South-Africa).
- Knight of Les Arts et des Leares.
- Medal of the city of Bordeaux.
- Gold Medal of Martinique.
- Citizen of Honor of New York, New Orleans, Atlanta & Sarasoaa Fl. 2018 The Telegraph (UK) 35 Women who changed the history of Cinema. Inductee on the Black Achievers’ Wall of the International Slavery. Museum for the centenary of the women’s vote in the UK.
- 2016: Life Time Achievement Award of the first Positive Cinema Week of Cannes The WRAP: 17 Women Who Revolutionized Hollywood From Mary Pickford to Oprah Winfrey, here are some of the most influential women in Hollywood. Euzhan Palcy is one of the five living women listed.
- 2015 Tribute to Euzhan Palcy by the American Cinematheque
- 2013 Unveiling of the Euzhan Palcy Road
- 2013 Henri Langlois World Cinema Honor Award
- 2013 First woman President of the Fespaco
- 2011 ELLE.fr magazine’s 17 Most Influential Women of the Planet
- 2011 Euzhan Palcy RetrospecOve at New York City’s Museum of Modern Art
- 2011 Cannes Film FesOval Pays Tribute to Euzhan Palcy
- 2010 The Most Powerful Black Women in Europe
- 1998 Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame
- 1994 John Guggenheim Fellowship for Creative Arts
- 1989 People magazine’s 10 Most Inspiring Women
- 1989 First black female director produced by a major Hollywood studio
- 1984 First female and first black director winner of a French Oscar.
- 1983 First black winner of the Venice Film Festival Silver Lion
Biography | Distinctions | Filmography | Movie Awards | Presidential & Governmental Appointments
Filmography:
- 2015 My Chat with President Mandela
- 2014 Saving Nadine (Humanitarian rescue)
- 2011 Aime Cesaire “short cinematic synopsis” for the France’s National Tribute to Aimé Césaire at the Pantheon *
- 2010 The Journey of the Dissidents & WWII French West-Indian Maquisards DVD collector 8h30 of video
- 2008 Cesaire/Senghor: l’Ami fondamental
- 2007 The Brides of Bourbon Island
- 2006 The Journey of the Dissidents (Hosted by President Hollande of France in 2014)*
- 2001 The Killing Yard
- 1998 Ruby Bridges (premiered by President Clinton)
- 1994 Aimé Césaire: a Voice for History /Aime Cesaire A Voice for the XXI Century
- 1992 Siméon
- 1990 Hassane: segment of “How are the Kids” A UNICEF & Red Cross sponsored six-films anthology produced for the signature of the UN convention for the rights of children (with Jerry LewisJ
- 1989 A Dry White Season*
- 1983 Sugar Cane Alley
- 1982 The Devil’s Workshop
- 1975 The Messenger
* A Dry White Season was screened by President Mandela. He then invited Euzhan Palcy to visit him for a week in South Africa / Ruby Bridges was introduced by President Clinton on ABC from the White House
An excerpt of Aime Cesaire: a Voice for the 21st Century introduced President Sarkozy’s eulogy for the NaOonal Tribute of France to Aime Cesaire at the Panthéon & The Toussaint Louverture Award by Unesco /
*The Journey of the Dissidents was hosted by French President Hollande at the Elysee Palace for the celebraOon of the 70th anniversary of the Normandy and Provence WWII Landings.
Biography | Distinctions | Filmography | Movie Awards | Presidential & Governmental Appointments
Movie Awards (partial):
- A DRY WHITE SEASON
- 2016 Trophée d’Honneur of the 1st Positive Cinema Week of Cannes Film Festival
- 2015 Sabela International RecogniOon Award (South African Oscar) for Mandela Day by the Durban International Film Festival
- 1990 Orson Welles Award
- 1990 Tokyo International Film Festival Grand Prix nominee
- 1990 PoliOcal Film Society Award for Human Rights nominee
- 1990 Chicago Film Critics Association Best Film Award nominee
- 1990 Academy Award, Golden Globe & BAFTA nomination for Marlon Brando
- 1990 Tokyo International Film Festival Best Actor Award
- SIMEON
- 2013 Cannes Classics official selection
- 1995 Fespaco Thomas Sankara Institute for Black People’s Award
- 1993 Brussels International Fantasy Film Festival Silver Raven Award
- 1993 Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema: Public Award
- 1993 Milan Film Festival Youth Award
- 1993 Montreal Film Festival “Vue d’Afrique” Ban Zil Kreyol Award
- THE KILLING YARD
- 2002 Silver Gavel Award by the American Bar Association
- SUGAR CANE ALLEY (Rue Cases Nègres)
- 2011 Cannes Classics official selection
- 1985 Fespaco Public Award (First movie to receive the award)
- 1985 Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame Award
- 1984 Houston International WordFest Special Jury Award
- 1984 Cesar (French Oscar) for Best First Film (A first for a black person)
- 1983 Venice Film Festival Silver Lion (A first for a black person)
- 1983 Best Actress Award (A first for a black person)
- 1983 Unicef Prize
- 1983 OCIC Award (now Signis Award)
- RUBY BRIDGES (Wonderful World of Disney)
- 1999 Christopher Award
- 1999 National Educational Media Network Gold Apple Award
- 1999 Young Artist Award Best performance by a young artist under 10
- 1999 Image Awards nominee
- 1999 American Cinema Editors nominee
- 1998 Humanitas Prize (for the screenwriter)
- 1998 Young Star awards nominee
- AIME CESAIRE: A VOICE FOR HISTORY
- 1997 National Black Programming Award of Excellence
Biography | Distinctions | Filmography | Movie Awards | Presidential & Governmental Appointments
Presidential & Governmental Appointments
2013 -2015 Appointed by French President François Hollande, member of the National Committee for the Memory & History of Slavery (CNMHE)
2011-2013 Appointed Chair & Member of the advisoring committee of the Martinique Film Fund at its inception
1992 -1995 Appointed by French President Miaerrand, member of the High Committee for the housing of disadvantaged people at its inception
1992 Appointed by French President Miaerrand, Member of the High Council of Francophonie at its inception
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.