Conch Shell Film Festival Returns to New York Oct. 9-11, Fourth Year

Studio CarryOnHarry Desk

The Conch Shell International Film Festival will hold its fourth edition Oct. 9-11 in New York, with an industry day in Manhattan followed by a weekend of Caribbean and diaspora short films in Queens, according to organizers.

The festival, produced by Conch Shell Productions, has run annually since 2023 as a showcase for Caribbean and diaspora filmmakers, per the announcement. This year’s edition carries the theme “Our Culture Lives in Our Stories,” with organizers saying the lineup centers on identity, migration, resilience, history and family.

Friday, Oct. 9 is designated Industry Day, with panels and networking events at HB Playwrights Theatre, 124 Bank Street, Manhattan, according to the release. The screening program runs Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 10-11, at Regal UA Midway, 108-22 Queens Boulevard, Forest Hills, and includes short films, filmmaker Q&As and the festival’s annual awards presentation, organizers said.

Magaly Colimon-Christopher, founder of Conch Shell Productions and the festival’s director, said in a statement that the festival aims to connect Caribbean storytellers with audiences “eager for authentic stories that inspire empathy, understanding, and social change.”

This year’s festival is funded in part by the Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York’s Creative Opportunity Fund and a PSC-CUNY Award from York College, according to the release. Organizers said they are also seeking corporate sponsors, foundations and media partners to expand the festival’s reach.

Festival passes, screening tickets and additional programming details have not yet been released; organizers say more information is coming in the weeks ahead.

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Studio CarryOnHarry Desk