Lights, camera, action: Bermuda is to host its first Black Film Weekend.

There are more than 20 films, involving 15 countries and international industry leaders who will connect Bermuda’s storytellers with the global film industry.

The island takes centre stage when the inaugural Bermuda Black Film Festival launches from October 15 to 18.

Presented under the theme “Connecting Voices Across the Diaspora”, the four-day event includes Bermudian film-makers, young creatives and visiting film professionals from major international markets, including Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta and Nollywood, which refers to the Nigerian film industry.

It is billed as a new platform for education, cultural exchange, professional development and economic opportunity.

Its goal is to position Bermuda in the spotlight as a meeting point for conversations about Black identity, history, culture and the future of storytelling across Africa, the Caribbean, North America, Europe and the wider African diaspora.

Dana Selassie, founder and festival director of the Bermuda Black Film Festival, said: “Our island has always stood at the crossroads of Africa, the Caribbean, North America and Europe. This festival allows Bermuda to become a gathering place where stories, ideas, skills and opportunities can move across those borders.”

Through screenings, panel discussions and film-maker conversations, audiences will be invited to examine how storytelling can address generational trauma, identity, belonging, social change and the cultural connections shared by communities across the diaspora.

Dr Selassie added: “The stories of the Black Atlantic are not waiting to be discovered. They are already here.

“What has often been missing is access — to the rooms, resources, networks and decision-makers that can help those stories reach the world.”

The international film-makers, directors, producers, executives and other industry professionals are descending on Bermuda to share their expertise with Bermudian and Caribbean storytellers.

The festival also seeks to create long-term opportunities for Bermuda’s creative economy by encouraging international collaboration, attracting cultural visitors and demonstrating the island’s potential as a destination for making movies, professional development and film-industry dialogue.

Dr Selassie said: “Bermuda has talented film makers and storytellers.

“This festival is about helping them gain the skills, relationships, visibility and industry access required to expand beyond our shores — while also encouraging the global industry to recognise the talent and opportunity that already exist here.

“We did not build a table and wait for others to sit at it. We are building an ecosystem, with Bermuda at its centre, where international film-makers and executives can meet our storytellers as collaborators and partners.”

The festival’s highest honour, the Black Atlantic Storytelling Award, will be presented to Three Black Men: A Journey into the Magical Otherwise, directed by Los Angeles film-maker Sienna McLean-LoGreco.

The film follows the three as they retrace the transatlantic slave route in reverse, from Los Angeles to Salvador da Bahia and then to Accra, capital of Ghana. Their journey through the Door of No Return confronts generational trauma while reimagining Black male identity, healing and liberation.

The award-winning film will open the festival during the Black Carpet opening night on October 15 at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute. The screening will be followed by a curated conversation featuring international and Bermudian film-industry professionals.

Meanwhile the Gifted Youth Film Summit: Girls in Film, Technology, Entertainment and Design is also on October 15

This summit will welcome 50 girls between the ages of 13 and 18 from across Bermuda for hands-on workshops led by visiting international guests and Bermudian film-makers. Young men with an interest in film making are also welcome to participate.

The initiative responds to the continued under-representation of women in film-industry leadership, cinematography, production and other technical and decision-making roles.

The free summit is open for all young women interested to attend and is made possible by key youth sponsor Convex, with support from the Ministry of Education.

Black Carpet tickets are on GPass.bm and festival tickets are on ByBermuda.com. Details can be found on the website, www.bermudablackfilmfestival.com.