Sugar Dumplin’ Wins Top Prize at the Windrush Film Festival
Sugar Dumplin’, the powerful short film from Jamaican-Canadian filmmaker Tristan Barrocks, continues to make waves—this time in the UK. The film took home the Best Short Film award at the prestigious Windrush Film Festival 2025, a cultural celebration honoring the stories, voices, and legacy of the Windrush Generation and the Caribbean diaspora in Britain.
Held in late June in London, the Windrush Film Festival brought together filmmakers, actors, and audiences passionate about heritage-driven storytelling. Among them was Sugar Dumplin’ lead actress Chantel Riley, who attended the screening and engaged in meaningful conversations with attendees during a post-film Q&A.
Riley, known for her work in Wynonna Earp, Frankie Drake Mysteries, and Broadway’s The Lion King, delivered a raw and layered performance in Sugar Dumplin’ as Ebony—a woman struggling to reconnect with her estranged Jamaican father, played by comedy legend Oliver Samuels. The emotional tension between their characters, rooted in love, regret, and cultural expectation, was at the heart of the film’s resonance with audiences.
“This story moved people to tears,” Riley shared during the festival. “To see how much it resonated with a UK audience shows just how universal these Caribbean family experiences really are.”
Directed by Tristan Barrocks, Sugar Dumplin’ tells a deeply personal tale of intergenerational healing through food and memory. The win for Best Short Film is a major honor, especially given the Windrush Film Festival’s dedication to spotlighting bold, authentic stories of the Caribbean experience.
The award marks another milestone in Sugar Dumplin’’s growing festival run, following its U.S. premiere at the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) and a trio of awards at Jamaica’s Black River Film Festival. With a sold-out Canadian premiere on the horizon (July 27 at The Royal Cinema in Toronto), the film continues to build international momentum.
For director Tristan Barrocks, this recognition is about more than awards. “It’s about cultural preservation. It’s about showing up for our stories,” he says. “And this win is a beautiful reminder that Caribbean voices belong on every screen.”
Stay up to date on Sugar Dumplin’’s journey at Mid Career Productions and follow @tristanbarrocks and @chantel_riley for behind-the-scenes moments and festival updates.
