The Conch Shell International Film Festival is preparing to showcase six nominated films that explore the evolving landscape of Caribbean diaspora cinema during its upcoming event from Oct. 9 to Oct. 11, 2026.
The festival, hosted by the nonprofit Conch Shell Productions, will hold screenings at the Regal UA Midway in Forest Hills and facilitate panels at the HB Playwright Theatre in Manhattan. This year’s Best Film nominees represent a wide geographical range, including Cuba, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Nevis, and Guyana.
The selected works address a variety of cultural and social themes. Gabriela Paciel’s “I F****ng Hate You!” examines the loyalty and conflict inherent in sisterhood, while Hanif James’s “A Shade Of Indigo” investigates the generational consequences of colorism in Jamaica. Stacey Sargeant’s “Stand Clear ‘The Closing Doors” offers a perspective on the visibility of Black women, utilizing a guerrilla-style filming technique on the New York City subway.
Additional nominated films include Juliette Jeffers’s “Pan Gyul,” which highlights Nevisian culture through the steel pan drum, and Noella Letitia Mingo’s “Mummy?,” a drama regarding the resilience of Guyanese women living in Britain. Karen Martinez’s “Trinidad Remains” follows a journey through Trinidad that explores themes of grief and personal identity.
Magaly Colimon-Christopher, the festival’s founder and director, noted that the selection aims to provide a comprehensive view of Caribbean life by addressing topics such as belonging, family, and the connection to one’s homeland. The festival continues its mission of utilizing film to promote social change.
