Building a Sustainable Creative Collaboration Hub for Caribbean Film, Media & Culture Practitioners

APPLICATION:

Local Micro and Small Business Grant Programme,

The Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) of St. Kitts and Nevis.

October 15, 2025 - Twin Island Cinema - A St. Kitts and Nevis-based creative production company focused on film, education, and digital innovation.

Introduction

Founded in 2019, Twin-Island Cinema (TIC) began as a community-driven initiative to reimagine cultural spaces through film and story in St. Kitts & Nevis. Its first screenings were held monthly at the historic Shadwell Great House, transforming a colonial-era estate into a gathering place for modern Caribbean cinema. These efforts later expanded into daily screenings and a dedicated film room at the St. Christopher National Gallery, formerly the Old Treasury Building—cementing TIC’s early role as a pioneer in reintroducing cinema as a platform for cultural dialogue and education within the Federation.

Over time, Twin-Island Cinema evolved from a small scale film screening initiative into a multi-disciplinary creative studio and research hub with a vision to deepen the public understanding of collective identity, heritage, and innovation across the region. Our work now spans film and video production, brand development, digital product design, and creative consultancy—all aimed at advancing a new, integrated model of creative entrepreneurship and sustainable development for small island states.

At the center of this evolution is founder and creative director, Klieon John, a filmmaker, writer, and researcher with over 14 years of experience in media, communications, and design. His career spans public relations, advertising, and brand development for regional and international companies, blending storytelling with strategic design to shape how Caribbean culture is represented and experienced globally. As a multidisciplinary artist, John’s mission is to redefine creative boundaries while promoting a deeper understanding of Caribbean identity, culture, and innovation.

TIC’s commitment to regional collaboration extends through its founding membership in CAFTPro (the Caribbean Alliance of Film and Television Professionals), where it contributes to building policy, infrastructure, and opportunity for Caribbean media workers. Internationally, its leadership has gained recognition through projects like “Nieuwe Bohío”—a research fellowship hosted by the Nieuwe Instituut (Netherlands) and partners such as the Amsterdam Museum, De Appel, and the Stedelijk Museum. This project explores indigenous Caribbean spatial design and mythology through digital reconstruction and VR/AR storytelling, bridging cultural heritage with modern sustainability models.

In 2024, Klieon John represented St. Kitts & Nevis at the Caribbean Development Bank’s Annual Board of Governors Meeting in Ottawa, where his keynote, “Innovating Resilience: A Radical Reimagining of Caribbean Futures,” articulated how film, technology, and design can be catalysts for social transformation and resilience in small island states.

Twin-Island Cinema’s vision is to help develop economically viable, culturally grounded, and environmentally conscious creative industries. Our next phase focuses on expanding access to creative financing, education, and digital tools—particularly through the development of a platform designed to connect filmmakers and small creative businesses across the region with funding, mentorship, and distribution opportunities.

PROJECT SUMMARY:

Twin-Island Cinema is in the development phase of a virtual creative hub designed to foster innovation, mentorship, and sustainable production practices within the Federation and across the Caribbean. It will serve as both a funding gateway and a collaboration ecosystem, empowering local creators to access opportunities, share resources, and build resilience in the creative economy.

This project directly supports the Sustainable Island State Agenda by strengthening local capacity in digital innovation, sustainable industries, and knowledge-based economic growth.

WHY US, WHY NOW

Twin Island Cinema stands at the intersection of creative innovation, cultural preservation, and economic empowerment. By offering this microgrant, the CIU would not only be empowering a regional change-maker, but be directly investing in the infrastructure to support emerging filmmakers, small creative enterprises, and cultural entrepreneurs across St. Kitts & Nevis and the wider Caribbean.

The requested funds will be strategically allocated to the digital design and web development of Twin Island Cinema’s upcoming online platform. This platform will serve as a central hub connecting creative talent with mentorship, funding opportunities, and market access, enabling sustainable growth for micro and small businesses in the cultural sector.

Specifically, the grant will cover:

• User interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design to ensure an intuitive and accessible platform for filmmakers, content creators, and investors.

• Back-end web development and database integration to support secure project submissions, funding workflows, and user management.

• Interactive tools and digital resources for learning, collaboration, and showcasing regional creative projects.

By funding this initiative, the CIU will directly accelerate the professionalisation of the local creative economy, strengthen the Federation’s cultural infrastructure, and demonstrate a commitment to sustainable development through innovation-driven entrepreneurship. This grant will transform Twin Island Cinema’s vision into a tangible, scalable platform with measurable benefits for the wider community and economy.

OBJECTIVES:

1. Promote Digital Innovation: Build a digital infrastructure that supports collaboration among Caribbean creatives using cloud-based and AI-assisted tools.

2. Empower Micro-Enterprises: Provide small production teams and independent filmmakers with access to funding, mentorship, and training.

3. Support Sustainable Industries: Encourage environmentally and socially responsible creative projects that reflect local culture and promote sustainable tourism.

4. Advance Knowledge and Skills Development: Create a space for knowledge-sharing, skill-building, and digital literacy in creative entrepreneurship.

PROJECT COMPONENTS:

1. Platform Upgrade & Development (Core Phase)

• Introduce a collaboration hub where users can pitch projects, form teams, and co-develop content.

• Integrate a grant and funding directory emphasizing opportunities for sustainable and socially impactful projects.

• Incorporate AI-based matching tools to connect creatives with suitable funding, partners, or mentors.

• Establish a community resource library offering templates, learning modules, and sustainability guidelines for production.

2. Training & Capacity Building

• Conduct workshops on sustainable filmmaking, digital project management, and funding strategy.

• Offer short online training sessions featuring local and regional experts in media, sustainability, and entrepreneurship.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES:

• Establishment of a creative collaboration hub integrated with regional and diaspora partners.

• Increased digital literacy and professional capacity among local creatives.

• New micro-enterprises formed through collaborative projects and access to funding.

• Sustainable storytelling that enhances the Federation’s global visibility and cultural identity.

ALIGNMENT WITH THE SUSTAINABLE ISLAND STATE AGENDA:

SUSTAINABILITY PILLAR	OUR ALIGNMENT
Digital Innovation	The project leverages digital infrastructure and AI to connect and empower local entrepreneurs.
Sustainable Industries	Builds resilience within the creative economy through eco-conscious production and local storytelling.
Education & Skills Training	Provides creative and technical upskilling opportunities for youth and micro-entrepreneurs.
Economic Diversification	Expands the economy beyond tourism by developing creative and knowledge-based sectors.

LONG-TERM LEGCY AND CULTURAL DIVIDENDS

This project will serve as a blueprint for sustainable creative industry growth in St. Kitts and Nevis. By building a digital ecosystem for collaboration and professional development, Twin Island Cinema will contribute to the Federation’s transition toward a knowledge-based, innovative, and self-sustaining economy.