Conch Shell International Film Fest names CSIFF26 award nominees
The festival for Caribbean heritage filmmakers runs from October 9 to 11 in New York, with screenings at Regal Midway Cinema in Forest Hills, Queens.
NEW YORK, United States. The New York-based Conch Shell International Film Fest (CSIFF) has announced its CSIFF26 award nominees, recognising work by Caribbean heritage filmmakers and artists taking part in this year's festival.
The announcement was made on Monday, September 7. The festival will run from October 9 to 11 in New York City, bringing together filmmakers, artists, industry professionals and audiences for three days of films, conversations and networking.
Screenings will take place on October 10 and 11 at Regal Midway Cinema in Forest Hills, Queens.
Nine award categories
Magaly Colimon-Christopher, the festival's founder and director, said this year's nominees span narrative film, documentary, student film, experimental work and animation, as well as directing, screenwriting, cinematography and performance.
The awards cover Best Film, Best Director, Best Screen Play, Best Documentary, Best Student Film, Best Experimental Film, Best Animation, Best Cinematographer and Best Lead Performer.
"CSIFF was created because Caribbean and Caribbean Diaspora artists deserve more spaces where the full range of our stories can be seen and celebrated," Colimon-Christopher told Caribbean Life.
"These nominations recognize artists doing exciting work in front of and behind the camera," she added. "We're looking forward to bringing filmmakers and audiences together in New York to experience their stories on the big screen."
Jurors and theme
Colimon-Christopher thanked this year's jurors, Lamar Richardson, Sekiya Dorsett, Nambi Kelly, Lu Childs, Stefon Bristol and Gillian Isabelle, for "contributing their time, professional experience and thoughtful consideration to this year's awards process".
The 2026 festival theme is "Our Culture Lives in Our Stories".
Colimon-Christopher said the theme "reflects CSIFF's commitment to recognizing storytelling as a powerful way to preserve, examine and reimagine the experiences of Caribbean people and communities throughout the Diaspora".
