Caribbean Carnival is not just any event. It is liberation, a voice of freedom, people in action, a cultural movement that was birthed out of a place of righteous defiance to become a paradise of colorful street parade.

Synopsis

In the 18th century, enslaved Africans on an Island in the Caribbean revolted to fight for their freedom by using their forbidden cultural rituals and folklores, that creative resistance movement is the current day , “Caribbean Carnival”.During the rebellion, there was a Massacre of many ex-enslaved people, but they fought back with Joy.

Carnival: - You Can’t Steal Our Joy, follows the personal journey of an Africa-Canadian Filmmaker (Ian Mark K). Ian has been wondering why so many Caribbean and African diasporas find bundles of joy in celebrating carnival year after year and it's for all ages in the black community.

On his journey, Ian discovers the little-unknown history embedded in Carnival, how the traditional rituals were kept alive even under the years of enslavement and instead of choosing deadly weapons to fight back, they used their bodies, dance, drums, and music to quest for their liberation.

Told through the voices and perspectives of those who keep the tradition alive, make it happen, in this film we witness a celebration of resistance and freedom. Filmed in five countries, this film brings the conversation home of how the Caribbean carnival has spread in over 85 cities worldwide and reveal why it is culturally and economically relevant today as it was when created, 200 years ago.

(In 2023, 1.67 million People attended Toronto Carnival when this film was filmed and brought in a revenue of $465.7 million to Ontario’s GDP, this research was provided by IPSOS Canada)

Screening Schedule

Celebrated in 85 cities worldwide

American Black Film Festival Miami

11th - 14th June 2025

Miami, USA

Caribbean film
festival

 12th - 15th June  2025

Trinidad and Tobago

HotDoc Rogers Cinema

24th July 2025

Toronto, Canada

Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival

24th-30th September 2025

Trinidad and Tobago

Detroit Black Film Festival

25th-27th September 2025

Detroit, MI

Cast

Credits

Director

Ian Mark Kimanje

Editors

Mark Stork
Sonia Godding Togoba

Writers

Allen Booth
Ian Mark Kimanje

Producer

Robert Lang
Ian Mark Kimanje
Emily Jane DeVries

Director of Photography

Russell Gienapp

Executive Producers

Robert Lang
Ian Mark Kimanje
Emily Jane DeVries

Executive Producers,TVO

Jane Jankovic
Alexandra Roberts

Music composer

Derek Brin

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