From Saint Lucia stages to NAACP spotlight: Kyvon Edwin’s film journey

Kyvon Edwin hasn’t let up since making the move from Saint Lucia to New York nine years ago to nurture his acting skills. He graduated from the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in 2019, after two years of intensive acting training, and launched what would become a burgeoning film career.

His work has taken him to the Short Film Corner at Festival de Cannes, he has launched Roots Production—a company with short films screening around the world—and, in a recent accomplishment, became a finalist in the NAACP Cinematic Shorts Competition, an opportunity that allowed him to network with executives and talent from some of the most recognisable studios and companies in global entertainment.

Speaking with St. Lucia Times, Edwin described the journey as eventful, but one he remains committed to.

“In the midst of pursuing filmmaking, I still audition and go out for film projects,” Edwin shared candidly about his life as a full-time storyteller. He remains, first and foremost, an actor—that passion never having waned since his days as a teenager in Saint Lucia with a love for theatre.

Roots Production serves as an additional vehicle for expression and impact, one he continues to invest in. In 2023, he produced, wrote, directed and acted in Lettre La (The Letter)—a story inspired by the late Juke Bois’ cult-favourite radio show of the same name. Casted in the film are Okeema Moore, Rory Clarke, Rudolph Shaw, along with Edwin’s own mother, Yvonne Edwin.

Having made its rounds on the international film festival circuit—an arena often governed by strict stipulations regarding where and when films can be publicly shown—Lettre La is now set for its first public screening in Saint Lucia during Arts and the City on April 26 and April 27 (Caribbean Cinemas and the Cultural Development Foundation to provide screening times).

Meanwhile, another short film, Bagay La Nou Pòté (The Things We Carry), saw Edwin take on the roles of producer and director after tapping into multiple funding streams, including grants, sponsorships and crowdfunding. The film, which was shot in Saint Lucia with a predominantly local cast and crew, has already been submitted to several festivals worldwide and has screened at two, the Chelsea Film Festival in New York and the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles.

“The story follows a day in the life of a cricket protégé,” Edwin said. “When I was thinking about this story, something just clicked about how much cricket is a cornerstone of our culture—how we go to games and enjoy it, how we support our players. I thought it was a very nuanced look at what it means to be Saint Lucian.

He says the inspiration was drawn from figures like the Daren Sammys and Julien Alfreds of the world. “Just seeing our athletes who have incredible careers when they’ve come from such humble beginnings, I just wanted to reflect that story.”

Now, Edwin’s focus is on building momentum around the story behind Bagay La Nou Pòté, in the hope that it can evolve through a supported development process into a coming-of-age hybrid series that follows the journey of a young cricketer aspiring to join the West Indies cricket team.

His broader pursuits, including participation in the NAACP’s short film competition, unfolded during this period. Through the programme, Roots co-produced In/Finite alongside the NAACP Studios–another short he also co-wrote and co-directed with Auriyana Armour. The film ultimately advanced to the finals, earning Edwin the opportunity to attend the NAACP convention, awards week, and visits to major studios.

Edwin is also a producer on Saint Lucian filmmaker Shanice Brette’s upcoming film, which tells the story of a Saint Lucian woman navigating the final week of her pregnancy in a New York summer while grappling with the realities of impending motherhood. “I’m really excited about that project as well,” Edwin says.

His approach continues to centre on building a career against the odds, driven by an overarching vision: to create cinematic work that tells Caribbean stories with authenticity and global resonance.

The article From Saint Lucia stages to NAACP spotlight: Kyvon Edwin’s film journey is from St. Lucia Times.