Cross Continental Forum 2025 Closes With Real Investment, Real Change & ALL THE PICS!!!
Two filmmakers walked away from this year’s Cross Continental Forum (CCF) with funding in hand, thanks to a groundbreaking partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank. But the real success of the forum lies in its bold, collective demand: build the future now. ( Main image actor Lorraine Toussaint was in attendance)
Presented by CaribbeanTales Media Group and the Department of Creative and Performing Arts at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, the five-day event brought together over 30 producers and creatives from the Caribbean, Africa, Canada, the UK, Europe, and the U.S. Held under the urgent theme “Decolonising Co-Production,” the forum pushed the boundaries of what’s possible when industry silos are dismantled and vision is grounded in equity.
Frances-Anne Solomon, the award-winning producer, director, and forum co-creator, offered a direct provocation to creatives navigating a fragmented global media landscape:
“It’s great to tell the story—we’re already good at that,” Solomon said. “The real question is: where will you get the money? Who can you collaborate with to make your project real? These two points must always be front and centre.”
(Source: alt-africa.com)
The event wasn’t just talk. It was a laboratory for action.
Daily sessions tackled structural barriers across key pillars:
Day 1: Decolonising Policy & Legislation
Day 2: Decolonising Financing
Day 3: Decolonising Content
Day 4: Decolonising Distribution
Day 5: Decolonising Co-Production
Each day challenged participants to reframe problems—from lack of funding to inadequate distribution—as solvable through collaboration and cultural ownership.
A standout virtual keynote came from filmmaker and ARRAY founder Ava DuVernay, who dismantled the budget myth with clarity:
“If your first idea moves you way outside your budget—pivot. Use what’s around you. The best films often happen in the smallest spaces.”
(Source: CCF2025 Facebook Live)
Industry Leaders Speak Out
Actor and cultural activist CCH Pounder, a member of the CCF Steering Group, noted the urgency of institutions to move from conversation to infrastructure.
Producer and actor Lorraine Toussaint called on creators to claim space in decision-making:
“It’s time we stop asking for seats at the table. Build your own table, build your own studio, build your own platform.”
Felicia J. Persaud, CEO of Invest Caribbean, pinpointed key barriers in her financing panel:
“Few Caribbean countries have usable tax incentives or co-production treaties… Barbados is still playing catch-up.”
(Source: LinkedIn – C15 Studios Recap)
Grounded in Action, Not Aspiration
For British-Nigerian filmmaker Femi Oyeniran (Kidulthood, The Intent), the forum offered clarity and alignment:
“You’re not just learning about co-productions in theory; you’re being asked to build the relationships in real-time, with people who can actually help get your project made.”
(Source: alt-africa.com)
What’s Next: A Working Blueprint for Industry Growth
Among the key takeaways:
Regional tax incentive programs must be scaled urgently
Co-production treaties with the UK, Canada, and South Africa are overdue
A need for inter-island agreements that support pan-Caribbean collaboration
With over 30 producers, 20+ delegates, and hundreds participating in public events, CCF 2025 confirmed itself not just as a forum, but a movement. As Solomon reflected:
“If we don’t build our own systems, we’ll continue being guests in other people’s houses. It’s time to create a house of our own.” Roll on 2026!! Find out more HERE
