Deep Blue – By Kisean Joseph
Deep Blue Goes Global
Antigua and Barbuda’s Deep Blue has become the first English-speaking Caribbean feature film screened at UNESCO’s Latin American and Caribbean Film Festival in Paris.
The environmental love story by HAMA Films Antigua featured during Caribbean Days Paris, staged at UNESCO Headquarters from June 2nd to 5th. Co-producer Howard Allen said the milestone proved local stories carry value on the world stage.
Allen admitted the team had not expected acclaim at that level.
“I can’t say that I anticipated this kind of international recognition, but we have screened the film in various countries, and it is obvious that audiences connect with the story and relate to the situations presented in the film,” he said.
For Allen, the selection signalled that Caribbean experiences resonate far beyond the region.
“What it says is that our stories have value and there is a global audience that wants to learn about us, our lives, our culture, our dreams and aspirations,” he said. “You really never know how your story could impact people all around the world.”
The team treated the screening as a historic first. According to Allen, no film from the English-speaking Caribbean had previously been shown at the festival.
That sense of pride was rooted in the people behind the camera. Allen said roughly 95 per cent of the cast and crew were Antiguan and Barbudan or based in Antigua, a deliberate decision.
“We have always insisted that our cast and crew are always primarily local, because it’s very important that we not only see ourselves on the screen, but we also want to empower Antiguans and Barbudans to tell their own stories,“ he said.
He described the work as deeply personal, born from the team’s own experience with environmental agencies and non-governmental organisations, then carried to the screen through what he called their own eyes and their own voice.
The recognition did not shift the team’s modest view of the film’s reach; Allen said the aim was always to start a conversation.
“I don’t think it’s realistic to think that this one film will make all the difference in the world, but it is part of a collective approach that supports global awareness from a Caribbean perspective,” he stated.
Pan-Africanist Alister Thomas described the screening as more than a personal triumph for the Allens.
“It’s not just a historic milestone for HAMA Films, Howard and Mitzi, but also for the Caribbean film industry,” he said. “Deep Blue is a timely and important work, using that most important medium and platform in support of the global campaign for sustainable development.”
Thomas argued the film arrived at a moment when the pursuit of profit too often overlooked the environment’s role in human survival, and he praised its case for development that stayed sensitive to ecological balance wherever possible.
“They are deserving of all commendations. I wish them continued growth and success,” he said.
Deep Blue is the fifth feature from HAMA Films, the independent company run by Howard and Mitzi Allen since 1992. The duo also produced The Sweetest Mango, regarded as the Eastern Caribbean’s first locally made feature film.
