Crossroads: Big Stories for Little Ones

Get ready for an unforgettable adventure this May half term! Come along for a joyful cinema experience with a vibrant collection of seven Caribbean short films, specially chosen with young audiences in mind. With a mix of playful animation and feel-good storytelling, there’s something to capture everyone's imagination. Suitable for ages 5 - 10.

One ticket gives you access to all seven shorts in one screening. This event is part of Crossroads, a new screening series bringing bold, contemporary Caribbean films to Electric Palace Cinema Hastings. Curated from standout titles at the Trinidad+Tobago Film Festival, each event offers audiences the chance to experience powerful, visually striking stories rarely seen on UK screens. Book tickets here.

Little Moko

Director: Miquel Galofré, 2021 / Trinidad & Tobago, Documentary / 15 mins

Due to the global pandemic, Trinidad and Tobago had to cancel ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’. In 2021, we had no Carnival, but culture can’t be canceled. Featuring music by Freetown Collective, ‘Little Moko’ follows Adianka’s journey to learn the art of stilt-walking.

Smile

Director: Nigel Williams , 2022 / Trinidad and Tobago, Animation / 2 mins, (U)

‘Smile’ (shot on a smart phone) is a stop-motion film that explores the hidden pain people often mask with a smile. Through striking visuals and without the use of dialogue, the film uses light and shadow to contrast moments of forced joy with the darkness of internal struggle. Each frame is carefully animated to convey emotion, creating a powerful narrative that speaks directly to the heart.

Talisman the Goat

Directors: Laura Facey and Adrian Lopez, 2025 / Jamaica, Animation / 10 mins, (U)

This is the story of Talisman, a very unusual goat, who leaves his home on Goat Island to go in search of fresh water. He traverses extraordinary landscapes to finally arrive at Fresh Water Cave. There he encounters Alcos. But who is Alcos?

Evangeline

Director: Peter De Souza-Samanek, 2024 / Canada, Animation / 1 min

Inspired by Trinidadian folklore and the haunting figure of the Douen, the film follows Evangeline, a wire figurine based on the artist’s goddaughter, who becomes lost in a mysterious forest. Rooted in the traditional wire-bending craft associated with carnival, the film brings local legend to life through a distinctly Caribbean lens.

The Hip Hops

Director: Sandra Vivas, 2024/ Dominica, Animation / 4 mins, (U)

A story of disability and inclusion from the point of view of a child, based on the filmmaker’s own life.

Gods of the Universe: Rise of the Star Child

Director: Cathy SitaRam, 2024 / Trinidad and Tobago, 20 mins

Advanced beings must train star children to guide humanity to the next stage of evolution before a catastrophic event destroys Earth, but their methods differ and time is running out.

Charlotteville Tails

Director: Elspeth Duncan, 2025 / Trinidad and Tobago, Documentary / 34 minutes

(PG) - severe injury to dog, medical assistance on screen may be unsettling.

In Tobago, where beauty and suffering sometimes go hand in hand, three children from the fishing village of Charlotteville embark on a mission to help dogs in need. Through their simple actions and voices, Emily, Kaija and Zakii bring hope, delivering a powerful and urgent message on behalf of animals.

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