DAY 2 • THURSDAY 12 JUNE 2025 • 11:00am • Topaz, Gemstone • FREE RSVP
An engaging and practical information session designed to equip Caribbean filmmakers with the knowledge and strategies needed to secure funding for their projects. In an industry where financial support is often the most significant barrier to production, this session will focus on creative and non-traditional funding solutions tailored to the Caribbean context.
Meet the speakers
Lorraine O’Connor – General Manager, C15 Studios
Lorraine is a dynamic cultural entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in Trinidad and Tobago’s music, film, and fashion industries. Lorraine has consistently championed local talent and cultural expression through impactful productions, creative initiatives, and
global partnerships. Her work spans artist management, documentary and film production, and staging high-profile events that elevate Caribbean culture
Internationally.
Malene Joseph – Fund Coordinator, Cultural and Creative Industries Innovation Fund. Caribbean Development Bank
Malene Joseph is the Fund Coordinator at the Caribbean Development Bank’s Cultural and Creative Industries Innovation Fund (CIIF). Malene is a multi-disciplinary creative who has been an active member of numerous performing arts groups and touring contingents for over 20 years. She is a graduate of the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine and the Centre for Cultural Policy, University of Warwick and has held various development, teaching and administrative roles in service of the cultural and creative industries including literary arts, visual and performing arts and fashion for approximately 15 years across public, private and non-profit sectors. Her ongoing PhD Cultural Studies research at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine explores the organisation of creativity through creative ecologies and the value of creative networks and intermediaries.
Leslie-ann Wills-Caton – Film Commissioner, Trinidad and Tobago
Leslie-Ann Wills-Caton is an experienced Film Commissioner and a respected leader in the Caribbean’s audiovisual landscape, known for her hands-on expertise in film financing, production facilitation, and international co-productions. As the Film Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago, she manages the country’s national film rebate programs and works closely with both local and global productions to streamline logistics, align regulatory support, and drive investment. A certified member of both the Association of Film Commissioners International and the Location Managers Guild International, she has built a strong reputation for structuring financing models that meet global standards, guiding complex productions from development to delivery. Her work has taken her across Africa, the UK, and the Caribbean, where she has championed trade missions, forged strategic partnerships, and shaped policy frameworks that support industry growth. With a focus on sustainable incentive design and market access, Leslie-Ann brings both policy depth and on-the-ground practicality to every project she supports.
Kellie Magnus – Executive Director, Caribbean Culture Fund
Kellie is a writer and development consultant from Kingston, Jamaica. Kellie’s passions are creativity and philanthropy. She is the Executive Director of the Caribbean Culture Fund, which supports Caribbean creatives and cultural organizations. Kellie has raised funds from and run projects for leading international foundations including UNESCO, UNICEF, the World Bank, the InterAmerican Foundation, the Commonwealth Foundation and the European Union. Her non-fiction writing focuses on people, events and issues in the Caribbean creative sector and has appeared in local and regional publications. She has authored more than 15 children’s books, several of which are used in Jamaican schools. Kellie is also a Kimbilio Fiction Fellow. In 2025, she was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize. Previously, her work has been shortlisted for the Elizabeth Nunes Prize for Writers from the Caribbean and has won the Blue Pencil Pitch Prize. Her debut short story collection will be published in December 2025.
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Single tickets for screenings and masterclasses are available at the CFF Lounge, CinemaOne, One Woodbrook Place