Food What? Looking for Food Sovereignty in Barbados is a result of two years of research on the food system of Barbados, where about 85% of the food is imported and diabetes and hypertension affect 20-30% of the population. But since 2020, the economic downturn, rising prices and inconsistent shipping have renewed the debate on self-reliance and the necessity of growing more healthy food locally. This film explores how our focus on food security, while it might keep people fed, overshadows the importance of how our food is produced, and to whom it profits. Celebrating innovative solutions on the island and giving a voice to local farmers, distributors, policymakers, experts and consumers about the food system they want, the film initiates a much-needed discussion on our problematic relationships to food and the global food system, not only in the Caribbean but around the world.
Thanks to the support of the Panta Rhea Foundation, Villes-Régions-Monde, a crowd funding campaign and a collaboration with Slow Food Barbados, more screenings are happening in 2024, but we are still looking for contacts and facilities in certain locations. Please connect with us if you might be able to help!
St. Lucia
Oct. 16th - 6pm - Alliance française de Sainte-Lucie​
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Martinique
Oct. 11th - 3pm - Tropiques Atrium - Festival Cinémartinique
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Grenada
The feature film is 70 minutes long, and a short version (40mins.) is available for wider audiences with english, french and spanish subtitles. Selected in 10+ festivals, the film has screened in the Caribbean, the US and Canada. Although we can't wait to share the film online soon, we put tremendous efforts to organize in-person screenings for the film to to spark conversations where they are needed. Indeed, many colonized territories around the world still suffer from the impacts of the global food system such as a high dependence to external markets, malnutrition and loss of traditional lifestyles.
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