Aiko Maya Roudette is an award-winning filmmaker, curator, creative consultant, producer and the founder/ director of the Hairouna Film Festival; an organisation committed to the development of the film sector in her home country St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Her work is concerned with the power of film to create positive social and personal transformation particularly applied to the Caribbean region.
During her 12 year filmmaking career she's worked as a cinematographer for documentary, director, sound recordist, editor, production manager and producer. Her client list includes Soho House Group, Warner Music Entertainment, Quest Love's OkayPlayer and Oscar award winning company Little Monster Films among others. Her work has been included in festivals and screenings across North America, Europe and the Caribbean.
She is a programmer for the Yellow Robin Competition at the Curacao International Film Festival. She also presently serves as the Chair of the Creative Sector for the Prime Ministerial Youth Advisory Council in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Beth specialises in sourcing and transforming physical spaces for the creative industries. Her career began with the owner of Ealing Film Studios, where she gained valuable insights into the entertainment industry.
She has since collaborated with iconic organizations, including London’s performing arts venue The Roundhouse and the global membership and hospitality brand Soho House Group. Most recently, Beth worked with Amazon MGM Studios, placing productions in spaces worldwide.
She studied steel pan at the University of the West Indies and is passionate about supporting the arts in St. Vincent & the Grenadines and creative communities globally.
Vincentian born Actor, Writer, and Producer Indira Layne is one who forges her own path. Indira trained as an Actor and has appeared in national commercials, TV productions and independent films.
The desire to explore and create is never far from her mind. In 2022 Indira co-founded the Toronto based production company Look At Us Productions. The goal of which is to champion the representation of women and people of colour in front and behind the camera. Look At Us Productions completed filming of their first project The Cold Ride in January 2024, a film which was co-written, produced and co-starred by Layne.
Indira spends her time working between Toronto and St. Vincent & the Grenadines. She is passionate about her West Indian heritage and is dedicated to supporting, promoting, and amplifying Black and Caribbean Artists.
Olivia is a visual artist from St. Vincent and the Grenadines who built a life around her passion for the creative arts. Over the last decade, she has participated in several community-based initiatives focused on increasing environmental awareness and cultural heritage preservation. As a freelance creative, she is currently exploring the realms of graphic design and animation in her creative practice.
Shane Slater is a freelance film critic and film programmer based in Jamaica. As a journalist, his work is particularly focused on drawing attention to independent, non-English and non-fiction filmmakers through interviews, reviews and other opinion pieces. In his role as Programming Director at HFF, Shane hopes to similarly champion the unique voices of Vincentian and Caribbean filmmakers. Shane also serves as a screener for music films at the Sound Unseen Film Festival and documentary features for the SXSW and True/False Film Festivals.
Sharleen Branch is a Vincentian artist based in Taiwan. She graduated with a BFA in Visual Arts, Multimedia from Rogers State University in 2016. She is currently a Masters student at National Dong Hwa University. She works in illustration and graphic design, using both digital and traditional media.
Xania Archibald, a 17-year-old college student, is diligently pursuing her CAPE studies with the goal of becoming an Architectural Engineer. Her passion for creativity extends beyond her academic aspirations, as she finds joy in managing and curating engaging content across social media platforms. Xania thrives on fostering connections and ensuring the digital spaces under her care are vibrant and impactful.
When she's not immersed in academics or social media, she channels her creativity through poetry and drawing, nurturing her love for the arts.