ROOTS : What We Inherit

1261 Film Festival returns for its 8th year in Grenada.

This year, we are thinking about the things we carry with us. The stories passed down through family, culture, migration, memory, resistance, music, celebration, silence, survival, and community.

ROOTS is about where we come from and what shapes who we become.

We are looking for films that feel honest, daring, personal, unexpected, joyful, reflective, experimental, or deeply rooted in lived experience. Whether your story is quiet or loud, intimate or political, grounded in history or imagining something entirely new, we want to see work that stays with people.

The theme is inspired in part by Grenada’s layered history, including the legacy of the Grenada Revolution and the voices that continue to move through generations today. But this is not only a story about Grenada. It is also about inheritance across cultures, families, borders, and time.

We welcome all genres including:
comedy, romance, drama, action, thriller, sci-fi, fantasy, horror, animation, documentary, experimental film, music video, and hybrid work.

We’re especially excited by:
• stories rooted in real experience
• voices missing from official narratives
• women whose leadership and care shaped communities in ways history often overlooks
• stories about migration, identity, belonging, and transformation
• perspectives from the cultures that make up Grenada and the Caribbean today, including African, Caribbean, South Asian, Middle Eastern, Chinese, Latin American, Indigenous, and diasporic communities

Who Can Submit

Priority consideration is given to:
• Grenadian filmmakers and diaspora Grenadians
• films shot entirely or primarily in Grenada

We also welcome filmmakers from across the Caribbean, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Asia, and global diaspora communities whose work connects with this year’s theme.

Bring us something with feeling.
Bring us something alive.
Bring us something that lingers after the screen goes dark.

Grenada’s only international film festival.

October in Grenada.
Warm nights. Real audiences.
Cinema, conversation, music, and community.

Awards & Prizes

Best Grenadian Film (Feature)
Best Grenadian Film (Short)
Best Caribbean & International Film (Feature)
Best Caribbean & International Film (Short)
Best Animation & Experimental
Best Student Film
Best Women-Directed Film
Best Music Video

Rules & Terms

Thank you for your interest in submitting to the 12°N 61°W Grenada Film Festival. We welcome films that engage with the culture, experiences, and stories of Grenada, the Caribbean, and the African diaspora.

1. Eligibility
We welcome submissions from Grenadian, Caribbean, and African diaspora filmmakers, as well as international filmmakers whose work connects to Caribbean culture, identity, displacement, or this year's theme. Films from Latin America, the Middle East, Asia, and global diasporic communities are considered where they align with our curatorial focus.
We accept all genres, including comedy, romance, drama, action/adventure, thriller, sci-fi/fantasy, horror, documentary, animation, experimental, music video, children's films, LGBTQ+ stories, and religious/faith-based narratives.

2. Runtime
Feature films must be between 60 and 90 minutes. Films over 90 minutes may be considered at the festival's discretion, subject to programming availability. Short films must be under 40 minutes.

3. Submission
All submissions must be made through FilmFreeway and include an online screener, synopsis, credit sheet, running time, format, and HD poster or key art. A trailer is encouraged but not required. Films must be in English or have English subtitles.

4. Fees and Waivers
Submission fees are non-refundable. Fee waivers are available to Grenadian filmmakers and to those experiencing financial hardship at the organizer's discretion. Contact us before submitting to request a waiver.

5. Selection
All submissions are reviewed by our selection committee. Submission does not guarantee selection or screening.

6. Notification
Selected filmmakers will be notified by email. Screening dates, times, and venues are determined by the festival. Selected filmmakers are responsible for delivering a high-quality digital copy of their film.

7. Promotion
By submitting, you grant the festival the right to use excerpts, stills, and related materials for promotional purposes.

8. Rights and Ownership
You must own or have secured all necessary rights for your submission. The 12°N 61°W Grenada Film Festival and its partners will not be held liable for any copyright, trademark, or royalty claims related to submitted work.

9. Withdrawal
To withdraw your submission, send a written request to submissions@1261filmfestival.com.

We look forward to your submission. Forward ever.
9 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Nara Garber

    What an incredible celebration of Caribbean stories and storytelling! Meschida Philip and her team have put together something truly special that I'm confident will continue to grow in the years to come, and I can't think of a better place to have had our Caribbean premiere for Bankie Banx: King of the Dune. Many thanks to everyone involved.

    November 2024
    Helpful
  • Ryan Eccleston

    Such a Beautiful Festival to be included into. Great team.

    November 2024
    Helpful
  • Miro Alleyne-McCarthy

    Really delighted to have my film shown at 12°N, 61°W, the team was kind and supportive from all the way across the globe, I hope to attend in person one day in the future.

    November 2024
    Helpful
  • Damian Paul Daniel

    Had a really lovely time at the 1261 festival in Grenada. This was really special for us as the Caribbean features heavily in our film, and one of the protagonists, my mother is from Grenada so it provided the perfect opportunity to go back to an island I last visited 38 years ago. Much respect to the founder Meschida Phillip and her team for programming a festival that screened some really interesting films and giving a platform for filmmakers from the Caribbean diaspora to showcase their art. This festival will go from strength to strength. Thank you. x

    November 2023
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    We are thrilled the festival held special significance for you with your film's ties to the Caribbean and Grenada. We appreciate your positive feedback on the film selection and the platform for Caribbean diaspora filmmakers. Your encouragement for the festival's future is invaluable. It was an honor to be part of your Grenada journey after 38 years, and we hope to welcome you back in the future. Thank you!

  • Suzannah Mirghani

    I only wish we could have visited the island! Thanks to the festival team for the super online organization.

    November 2021
    Helpful