‘Cocoa Tea’ goes regional

From left: A collage featuring images of a police officer who goes by the alias “Cocoa Tea” in a recent viral video and images of actors in a local short film called Cocoa Tea. The first image is not related to this entertainment article.

By Admin. Updated 12:44 p.m., Sunday, July 12, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

A Vincentian-made short film is set to take the country’s storytelling to regional audiences after earning official selection at two Caribbean film festivals, highlighting the growing reach of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ creative industry.

Cocoa Tea, produced by IKTV under its Entertainment Initiative, has been selected for screening at the Georgetown Film Festival in Guyana and the Films That Move festival in Jamaica.

The dual selection marks a significant milestone for the locally produced film and places Vincentian filmmaking on two regional platforms that showcase emerging Caribbean talent and original storytelling.

Produced in partnership with Vincentian Chocolate, Cocoa Tea forms part of IKTV’s broader strategy to strengthen the nation’s creative economy by collaborating with local businesses to bring authentic Vincentian stories to the screen.

According to IKTV, the initiative is designed to create opportunities not only for filmmakers, but also for actors, cinematographers, production crews and other creative professionals, while giving local talent greater visibility across the region and beyond.

The film was written and directed by Javed DaSouza, with cinematography by Duane Lewis. It stars Hannah Archibald, Tiwanda Roberts and Cherry Llewellyn.

In announcing the achievement, IKTV said the festival selections demonstrate that Vincentian creatives are capable of producing work that resonates with audiences outside the country when supported through strategic investment and collaboration.

The organisation also said the recognition reinforces the value of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ stories and highlights the potential of the creative industries to make a meaningful contribution to the nation’s cultural identity and economic development.

Although the two festival selections represent an important milestone, IKTV said the journey for Cocoa Tea is far from over. The film has already been submitted to several additional festivals, with further announcements expected as its regional and international distribution continues.

IKTV is also calling on Vincentians to support the production and the wider vision behind it, noting that public engagement can help strengthen the local creative sector and create more opportunities for future generations of storytellers.