Three of our greatest griots explore the transformative potential of personal and collective storytelling in shaping identity, healing, and community connection. Panelists: Dr. Charles Wheatley, Dr. Patricia Turnbull, Medita Wheatley Moderator: Nekita Turnbull
This panel features women writers whose work captures the spirit, struggles, and beauty of island life, offering insight into gender, place, and voice in Caribbean literature. Panelists: Tiphanie Yanique, Diana McCaulay, and Andria Flax Moderator: Rochelle Smith
This panel features voices who explore the power of poetry to distill long stories into lyrical moments and craft intimate spaces where words linger and resonate. Panelists: Raven Phillips, Isabelle Baafi, Linette Rabsatt & Johanna Gibson Moderator: April Glasgow
In celebration of Dr. Robert Mathavious’s enduring legacy, this panel will explore how the Financial Services Commission (FSC) manages complex industry regulation and the crucial steps needed to preserve the sector’s integrity and viability. Discussion will also focus on seizing new growth opportunities within the private sector, directly connecting the future of the industry to his profound, pioneering impact. Panelists: Brodrick Penn, Dwayne Thomas & Jennifer Potter Moderator: Janice Skelton SPONSORED BY O’NEAL ALEXANDER CONSULTING
Join Kacy Garvey, founder of the Caribbean Chapter of the International Authors Forum (IAF), for an eye-opening look at how writers can protect and profit from their creative work. Launched in February 2024, the Caribbean Chapter connects regional authors to a global network advocating for fair treatment, visibility, and income for creators. Discover how understanding copyright empowers writers to earn from their craft and why joining the movement can strengthen the voice and future of Caribbean literature.
This year, Sunset Stories expands to a double session! Two Voices, One Sea and Virgin Islands Noir.
In this evocative reading, prize winning novelists Celeste Mohammed and Diana McCaulay share stories shaped by salt, memory and migration from their latest novels. Celeste Mohammed and Diana McCaulay with Dr. Sauda Smith
Dark secrets, watery borders, and magical realities; Virgin Islands Noir probes the shadows of island life. This reading brings noir sensibility to the Caribbean landscape, offering stories that are brief but haunting. Featuring: Johnny Temple, Richard Georges, Tiphanie Yanique, Johanna Gibson, Traci O’Dea, & Rea Vanterpool
Enjoy conversations with the authors, have a drink or two, then cut up the dance floor.
This year’s children’s program celebrates the power of storytelling with hands-on activities, readings, and crafts inspired by children’s book authors and the rich cultural expressions of local writers and artists. Free books, bouncy house fun, and delicious treats will make this a literary celebration to remember.
In this workshop, writers will compose longer prose poems that they will then transform into short erasures, new poems with redacted words that present completely different meanings. Facilitator: Traci O’Dea
This creative writing workshop explores how writers use third-person narration to decide what to expand, what to condense, and how close readers feel to a character’s inner world. Through playful exercises with familiar tales, participants will discover how shifting “the distance between us” can completely change the impact of a story. Facilitator: Celeste Mohammed
In this dynamic workshop, participants will explore the art of visual storytelling through the lens of film. Guided by acclaimed producer Zola Mashariki, the session invites emerging creatives to shape narrative, emotion, and perspective using cinematic tools. From concept to camera, participants will engage with the building blocks of filmmaking—story structure, character, and visual language—while discovering how film can illuminate culture, identity, and truth.
What happens after the final draft? This panel maps the journey of stories through editing, publishing, and promotion to reach their audience. It will examine how writers and industry professional shape narratives that resonate, sell and stay with the readers. Facilitators: Johnny Temple, Chris Jackson, Elise Dillsworth, & Yona Deshommes with Marsha Massiah
This panel explores creative expression beyond purpose and narrative, highlighting art as its own purpose; bold, unapologetic and rooted in cultural identity. Panelists: Malene Barnett, Priscilla Hintz Rivera Knight, and Simond Llewellyn in Conversation with Via Hodge-Donovan SPONSORED BY TASTE THE BVI
(Ticketed Event) As the sun sets, words ignite. Light a Fire brings together poets whose verses spark reflection, resistance, and renewal. In this evening reading, voices rise to illuminate the quiet and kindle connection, proof that even the shortest lines can burn bright. Featuring: Johanna Gibson, Anika Christopher, Linette Rabsatt, Michael Jefferson, Pat Turnbull, April Glasgow, Raven Phillips, David Knight, Derron Sandy, Isabelle Baafi and Safiya Kamaria
Pull up a chair and share a meal with the minds behind the stories! Our brunch with the writers offers an intimate, roundtable experience where festival-goers can engage in casual conversation with two writers per table. Long story short, come, connect, ask questions, and be inspired. Hosted by Marsha Massiah Brunch with writers (2 per table) Announcements: fellows, competition, thanks, theme for 2026