Views from the Middle

Referred to in mainstream American press as the island where “billionaires go to escape millionaires”, Canouan has become one of the world’s most sought after luxury holiday destinations, regularly frequented by A-list celebrities and the globe’s ultra-rich. In the shadow of this imposing wealth stands a vibrant local community whose connections to this land span generations and whose heritage and perspectives offer important insights into benefits and pitfalls of the tourism industry. This short documentary film interweaves stories collected from local Canouan residents, generating more visibility for marginalised Caribbean viewpoints existing against the backdrop of the Caribbean tourism industry. Views From the Middle promotes sustainable and ethical tourism where mutually beneficial non-exploitative relationships are developed between foreign investors and local communities.

Film Stills

Image Caption: Featured image for ‘Views from the Middle’.

Links

Views from the Middle (2023)

Short (17mins) Documentary

Region:

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Rating:

No Rating

Producer(s):

Aiko Maya Roudette

Director(s):

Aiko Maya Roudette

Writer(s):

Aiko Maya Roudette

Showtimes:

Thu 21 Sep 2023, 3.00pm, MovieTowne, POS—Screen 09

Sun 24 Sep 2023, 10.00am, NALIS—AV Room

T+T Premiere


Aiko Maya Roudette

Aiko Maya Roudette

Aiko Maya Roudette, a filmmaker from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, is celebrated for her role in directing the Hairouna Film Festival, a vibrant Caribbean cinema event. Aiko’s focus is leveraging the arts for positive change in the Caribbean.

A scholarship took Aiko to New York at 19, where she earned degrees in Film Production and Media Studies. For nine years, she collaborated with artists and production houses, including Quest Love’s “OkayPlayer” and “Little Monster” Films, makers of the Oscar-winning documentary “Free Solo” (2018). Aiko worked across the globe, from Berlin to Dominica, Uganda, St Kitts, and London.

A passionate human rights volunteer, Aiko co-founded the Hairouna Film Festival in St Vincent in 2018. This mobile Caribbean film festival gained momentum, hosting three editions since 2019. In 2021, backed by Soho House Group, the festival introduced a scriptwriting competition for Vincentians. The winning script, “Cart Man” by Grace Peters-Clarke, wrapped filming in July 2022.

Aiko’s work screened at prestigious festivals in Toronto, London, New York, Berlin, and St. Vincent. In August 2022, she was part of the Open Doors Program at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland. She also represented Saint Vincent and the Grenadines at the European Film Market during the 2023 Berlin International Film Festival.

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