SHANTAYE’S WORLD is a timely production, as this year 2023 the UK celebrates the 75^th Anniversary of the mass arrival of people from the Caribbean to Great Britain. 

These Commonwealth migrants had long heard tales that Great Britain’s streets were paved with gold and many had fought for Great Britain in World War II. 

After the war the new British Nationality Act 1948 cemented the rights of settlement to everyone born in a British colony, so nearly half a million people took up the offer of nationality between 1948 and 1970.  

These migrants answered a call from the British Government to fill job vacancies, help rebuild Britain and make new lives for themselves. 

Many arrived on the ship the HMT Windrush and they are now widely recognised and celebrated as the Windrush Generation.

‘Shantaye’s World’, is a sweeping new female led production filmed and produced in St Lucia by native director Mathurine Emmanuel and her team at Iyanola Pictures and Biz Media. 

The fictional film beautifully depicts what life was like for a young girl growing up in 1940’s St Lucia along with the racial divide between disadvantaged locals and affluent foreign landowners, the consequences of falling for forbidden love and then been forced to leave St Lucia for Great Britain with great hope to find work and begin a new life; only for her upon arrival to find a totally different reality and welcome in the so-called Motherland.

Festival critics love the original story and cinematography featured in this Iyanola Pictures collaboration with All Biz Media (production company). 

The film includes many popular St Lucian personalities such as “Coaks” from “Che Campeche,” “Ma Toe” from “Ribbons of Blue,” Dame Pearlette Louisy (the former Governor General of St. Lucia), Kennedy “Boots” Samuel and Lovely St. Aimee. 

The film recently received the award for “Best Feature” in its category at the International New York Film Festival and was also selected for the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival.

The release campaign has the support of the UK St Lucian community including the St Lucian High Commission based in London, who are all committed to driving support for the release.

The release of this film also coincides with UK Black History Month (October) where black culture is celebrated and the UK black community proactively and proudly make great efforts to support events; aligning that with the yearlong 75^th Anniversary Windrush celebrations. A great turnout is expected at participating cinemas.

The film will be released and have its launch screening (inc Q&A & Party) on October 14 at the Genesis Cinema, 93-95 Mile End Road, London, E1 4UJ, followed by additional screenings & Q&A’s with director Mathurine Emmanuel and (tbc) star Antonio Charles on:

October 15: Rio Cinema (Dalston, Lon, E8 2PB)
October 24: Peckhamplex (Peckham, Lon, SE15)   

October 28/29: Watermans Cinema (Brentford, TW8 0DS)

November 1: Catford Mews (Catford, London, SE6 4JU)

November 15: The Lexi Cinema (Kensal Green, Lon, NW10 3JU)
More cinemas/dates are being added daily…. More info can be found at: www.kushcinema.com

Did someone say Beatboxing at the BAC?