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Canadian filmmaker Kelly Fyffe-Marshall, winner of the Spirit of Cinema Award at the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), describes her latest film When Morning Comes as a deeply personal tribute to her homeland, Jamaica.

“When Morning Comes is the story of people who were forced to flee their homeland. The film seeks to go beyond assumptions about Jamaica. It is an attempt to bring my memories, my family, and people like me to the big screen. In many ways, this film is my love letter to Jamaica,” said Kelly Fyffe-Marshall.

Speaking at IFFK, Fyffe-Marshall noted the striking similarities between Jamaica and Kerala. “There isn’t much geographical difference between Jamaica and Kerala,” she said, adding that the film’s emotional landscape and cultural nuances would be easily understood by Malayali audiences.

An outspoken advocate for creating safe spaces for Black people, women, and queer communities, Fyffe-Marshall has consistently foregrounded these ideas in her work. She has also articulated this vision through her TEDx talk, Make Ripples: Make Your Change.

“The politics within me are reflected in every film I make,” she said, pointing to her organisation Make Ripples: Make Your Change, which she co-founded. The initiative is based on the belief that meaningful change begins with individual action. “When one person initiates change, it can lead to something much bigger.”

“As a Black woman living in North America, it is my responsibility as an artist to do justice to my community and culture,” she added. “Many people see film only as entertainment, but I make films for social change.” In conclusion, she emphasized that storytelling transcends format. “What matters is the content, not the length of the film,” she said.

When Morning Comes will be screened at the 30th IFFK on 15 December 2025.