All three are confirmed to attend the 2nd annual Barbados conference focused on Decolonizing Co-Production for Black Filmmakers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 25, 2025 (Toronto) – Three titans in directing, acting and writing – America’s Ava DuVernay, Trinidad-born Lorraine Toussaint and Jamaica’s Marlon James – respectively have signed on to participate in the 2nd Annual Cross Continental Forum (CCF) in Barbados from June 14th- 18th, 2025. Guyanese-born CCH Pounder, known for her roles in the Hollywood blockbuster Avatar and television series, NCIS: New Orleans will also be in attendance as she leads the Steering Group of the CCF, which is spearheaded by Canada’s CaribbeanTales Media Group.
Under the theme, Decolonizing Co-Production, this groundbreaking forum is supported internationally by the
Canada Media Fund (CMF), Invest Barbados, British Film Institute (BFI), the University of the West Indies (Cave Hill) and National Cultural Foundation Barbados. The aim is to stimulate co-productions between Black and global majority producers from Canada, the Caribbean, the UK, Europe and Africa, and is poised to become an unmissable annual event for industry leaders, storytellers, and change-makers from around the world.
“CCF is a crucial hub for global film and television collaborations, and I am delighted to welcome Ava, Lorraine, and Marlon to join us for the this landmark event,” said Frances-Anne Solomon, CEO of CTMG and award-winning director, as well as a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. “Each of them brings an extraordinary and unique perspective from our worldwide diaspora, enriching this platform with their talent and vision.”
DuVernay, a two-time Emmy Award winner, Academy Award nominee, and founder of ARRAY – a multi-facetted film and social impact organization that includes ARRAY Releasing, ARRAY Filmworks, and the ARRAY Creative Campus – will join the Forum for the Opening Night and will close out the CCF with a Masterclass open to the public. The Selma director will also serve as a celebrity jury member for the event’s final Pitching event along with Ms. Toussaint. DuVernay says she plans to spend part of her time on the island exploring production possibilities and partnerships. She has helmed a long list of television and film productions including the Oscar-nominated documentary 13th and Middle of Nowhere for which she won Best Director at Sundance.
Trinidad-born Toussaint – also a producer and teacher, will offer her expertise as a mentor and will be at the Forum from beginning to end to support the participants. Known for her roles in Orange is The New Black for which she earned a Critics Choice TV Award for Best Supporting Actress, and recurring roles on Law and Order, Saving Grace and Fosters, she currently stars as Aunt Vi on the CBS hit drama, The Equalizer.
James is an award-winning author, he was the first Jamaican to take home the U.K’s most prestigious literary award, the 2015 Man Booker Prize for his novel, A Brief History of Seven Killings. He is the author of five novels and currently teaches literature at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota and is a faculty lecturer at St. Francis College. He most recently wrote the screenplay for the Netflix/Channel 4 series “Get Millie Black” that was shot in Jamaica. James will be a panellist at the forum, amplifying and sharing his insights, work and network with attendees.
APPLY NOW FOR CCF 2025
CONNECTING FILM & TV PRODUCERS ACROSS CONTINENTS
26 producers from the UK, Canada, Africa, Europe & the Caribbean
25 international Industry experts
Multi-territory co-production opportunities
CCF 2025 is currently accepting submissions from experienced Global Majority producers , including Documentary, Feature Film, and TV Series producers from the UK, Canada, Africa, EU, and the Caribbean eager to participate in this transformative experience.
Bursaries:
A number of full bursaries are available to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) filmmakers from the UK, Canada, South Africa and the Caribbean.
Discounted Rate:
If you apply as a co-producer with a BIPOC producer who is accepted, you may be elligible to attend at a discounted rate. The BIPOC producer must own at least 51% of the applying company and project.
Submit your application HERE by March 31, 2025, at 11:59 PM EST.
For inquiries and additional information, please contact: applications@ccf2025.com
Goals and Objectives
- Foster strategic partnerships between Global Majority Producers from the UK, Canada, Europe, South Africa, and the Caribbean, leveraging shared cultural narratives and production capabilities
- Enable Global Majority producers to access multiple funding streams through UK, Canadian, African and Caribbean co-production treaties
- Enhance producers’ access to international markets through Barbados’ strategic location and tax incentives
- Create pathways for diverse content to reach Caribbean, North American, South African and UK audiences
- Implement strategic and beneficial co-production frameworks spanning all participating regions
- Leverage combined tax incentives and rebates across all participating territories
- Support diverse storytelling traditions while amplifying Global South voices in the international screen industry
- Generate cross-continental employment opportunities in production
- Facilitate at least two co-productions from the territories each year.
The Program
Co-Production Lab (May 2025)
A four-week online preparation featuring:
- Deep dives into available incentives and rebates across all territories
- Legal frameworks for multi-territory co-productions
- Access to combined funding mechanisms from UK, Canadian, Caribbean, and African sources
- Strategies for maximizing benefits from multiple co-production treaties
- Workshops on leveraging shared colonial histories for authentic storytelling
Market Access Forum (May 2025)
A dynamic networking event in Barbados featuring:
- Structured matchmaking sessions between South African, UK, Canadian, European and Caribbean producers
- Access to buyers and distributors from all participating territories
- Panel discussions, case studies, one-on-one meetings with international financiers
- Focus on building sustainable four-territory partnerships
THE “BIG Pitch” Event
The culminating event where producers present projects designed to leverage multi-territory benefits, accessing combined incentives and markets across all participating regions.
About the CCF – A Global Call for Innovation
The Cross Continental Forum is a partnership between the CaribbeanTales Media Group and the Department of Creative and Performing Arts, UWI Cave Hill. It is supported by the Canada Media Fund, The British Film Institute, Invest Barbados, and the Mango Bay Group of Hotels, as well as many other international partners.CCF 2025 is brought to life by a distinguished Steering Group, including Frances-Anne Solomon (CEO, CaribbeanTales Media Group), Andrew Millington (Head, Department of Creative and Performing Arts – UWI Cave Hill,), Guyanese-born actor and activist CCH Pounder (Avatar, The Shield, NCIS New Orleans), cultural industries specialist Dr. Keith Nurse (Founding Chair, CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution, and President of COSTAAT), Zikethiwe Ngcobo (CEO, Fuzebox Entertainment, South Africa), businessman John Reid (Formerly CEO of FLOW Telecommunications, Caribbean and Latin America, Agnieszka Moody (Head of International Relations at British Film Institute), and International Events Producer Diana Webley (Director of Events, CaribbeanTales Media Group ).
