Trinidad+Tobago Film Festival Opens UK Crossroads Series With Queen of Soca Premiere

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago — The Trinidad+Tobago Film Festival has opened its new UK screening programme, Crossroads: Where Caribbean Cinema Meets the UK, with a full-house premiere of Queen of Soca at BEAM in Hertford recently.

The Hertford event, staged in partnership with BEAM, is part of the festival’s 20th anniversary activities. TTFF, which began in 2005, is marking two decades of support for Caribbean film, regional filmmakers and stories rooted in the Caribbean experience.

Festival director Mariel Brown said the launch captured what organisers want the anniversary year to represent. “As TTFF marks 20 years, we are proud to celebrate not only the films and filmmakers that have shaped Caribbean cinema, but also the connections, audiences and cultural spaces that will sustain it into the future. The UK premiere of Queen of Soca was everything I hoped Crossroads could be, full of heart, Caribbean diaspora spirit and a strong sense of community and connection through film,” Brown said.

The first night drew people from the Caribbean diaspora, along with moviegoers, cultural partners and members of the media. Before the film began, patrons were treated to Caribbean food and drinks, with soca music helping to set the tone for an evening built around the region’s culture.

Brown said Queen of Soca, which explores Caribbean musical heritage and identity, was warmly received by the audience. She said the response pointed to increasing interest in Caribbean stories being shown on screens outside the region.

After the screening, director Kevin Adams joined viewers for a virtual question-and-answer session, discussing the film’s creation and the ideas behind it.

BEAM Hertford venue director Steve Sargeant said hosting the series aligns with the organisation’s focus on inclusive culture and storytelling from around the world. “BEAM is more than a venue; it’s a vibrant home for artists, ideas and community, where everyone can belong. We therefore couldn’t be prouder to host the Trinidad+Tobago Film Festival, an extraordinary series of screenings that celebrate bold storytelling, global voices and the joy of shared cultural experience,” he said.

Patrice Robinson, cinema programmer at BEAM Hertford, said the opening brought people together and encouraged useful cultural exchange. “The UK premiere of TTFF Crossroads was a unifying experience, bringing together audiences from Hertford and beyond to enjoy the vibrancy of Queen of Soca. The standout post-film Q&A with Kevin Adams provided invaluable behind-the-scenes insight, while the launch itself sparked rich conversations celebrating Caribbean culture. Audiences can expect even more cinematic gems from across the region throughout the season,” Robinson said.

Crossroads will continue at four venues across the South East of England until June 18.

Brown also said TTFF’s anniversary calendar includes 10 for 20, a monthly screening programme at the Little Carib Theatre in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

That curated series is bringing back 10 major titles from the festival’s archive, giving audiences another chance to engage with films that influenced Caribbean screen culture over the past 20 years.

According to Brown, projects such as Crossroads and 10 for 20 are part of TTFF’s continuing push to broaden international awareness of Caribbean cinema, while opening space for local and regional filmmakers, audiences and cultural exchange. The festival’s 20th staging is scheduled for September in Trinidad and Tobago.