What it Means to Have Sugar Dumplin in the American Black Film Festival

Having Sugar Dumplin officially selected for the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is nothing short of a dream come true. When I first envisioned this project, I always saw it being a part of the ABFF. It’s kind of wild to say that, considering I’m a Black Canadian filmmaker—a rare species, at that—who is more focused on sharing my work abroad than at home. The truth is, for the past ten years, my work has been accepted and celebrated in meaningful ways outside of Canada. I’m not sure if it’s the type of stories I tell or the way I tell them, but they don’t seem to resonate as powerfully back home as they do elsewhere.

This became especially clear to me when I screened my film Wallflower. It had a strong festival run, but never made it to Canadian audiences. This disparity left the writers and me stumped. How could we create something of this quality, independently no less, and not even get a peep from any media, film organizations, or broadcasters in Canada? Then we got into the ABFFs, and everything clicked into place.

When I went to the ABFF in 2023 with Wallflower, it introduced me to Black storytelling on an international level. We weren’t just invited to the party—we were the party. The flavor, the whole vibe—it was unapologetic, fierce, and frankly, everything I needed to understand why my stories weren’t embraced in Canada.

Which brings me to Sugar Dumplin getting into the 2025 American Black Film Festival. To have this film—rooted in Jamaican and Caribbean culture—celebrated on an international platform with a focus on Black storytelling is both humbling and empowering. For our film to be acknowledged as valuable enough to be a part of this incredible collection of films means everything to us.

This selection is more than just an opportunity to showcase the film; it’s a celebration of the power of representation. Sugar Dumplin tells the story of a father and daughter reconnecting through food, memories, and love—an intimate portrayal of family and culture that speaks to universal themes of healing and reconciliation. To have it acknowledged at ABFF—one of the premier film festivals celebrating Black talent—is an affirmation of the importance of these stories in shaping the future of film.

As a filmmaker, this moment is deeply significant, not only for me but also for the Caribbean community and the broader Black storytelling movement. For Sugar Dumplin to be recognized on this stage represents more than just a film; it represents a shift in how stories from our cultures are being told and valued. It’s a step toward greater visibility for Caribbean narratives in global cinema.

This selection gives a voice to the kind of storytelling I’ve been passionate about my entire career—stories that reflect who we are, that speak to our shared experiences and our unique cultures. To see Sugar Dumplin embraced on such a prestigious international platform, especially in a festival like the ABFF that has long championed authentic Black voices, is a milestone I can’t take for granted.

It’s also a reminder that stories like these need to be told, not just in Canada, but everywhere. We, as Black creatives, have stories that deserve global attention. The world needs to hear our voices, see our experiences, and understand the richness of our cultures. And now, thanks to the ABFF, we get to do just that.

So, while it’s humbling and empowering to have Sugar Dumplin selected for the American Black Film Festival, this is only the beginning. It’s a moment that not only validates my work but also encourages other filmmakers of color to keep pushing, to keep telling their stories, and to keep striving for a world where our voices are not just heard, but celebrated.

In this blog, I want to reflect on what this selection means for me and how it’s a step forward for Black storytelling. Sugar Dumplin is a testament to the power of representation, the importance of owning our narratives, and the need for more spaces where stories like ours can thrive. This moment is just the start of a much bigger journey, and I couldn’t be more excited for what’s to come.