A short film celebrating Bermuda’s culture has been selected to screen at a number of international film festivals.

Thoughts Become Things, was created by poet Stephan Johnstone and film-maker Marq Rodriguez.

It focuses on the African and Native American ancestral dreams of a young Gombey.

Described by its creators as “our love letter to Bermuda”, the film has already been shown at the Nitiin International Film Festival in Malaysia, where it won a special jury award for Best International Short Film.

It will also be screened at the Film & Folklore Film Festival in Trinidad & Tobago this month, and the Black Harvest Film Festival in Chicago in November.

It has also been picked up by the Africa International Film Festival, which will be held in Nigeria next month. The festival is a prestigious, majority youth-led event that places community at the core of its operations, marking a significant milestone for the film.

Mr Johnstone said: “This selection is particularly meaningful as it aligns with one of our core goals — bringing our Bermudian story and culture back to Africa, to a festival renowned for celebrating cinematic excellence while fostering community and inclusiveness.”

Mr Rodriguez explained: “To tell this story, we sought feedback and involvement from the six Gombey troupes that were active in Bermuda at the time of shooting.

“Each troupe is featured separately in one of the six scenes, and we were able to turn all of that into one cohesive cinematic piece.

“This was a monumental milestone for us.

“It's a portrayal that beautifully mirrors the unity and diversity of Bermuda, binding together distinct narratives into a single, harmonious story."

Thoughts Become Things is the pair’s second collaboration after the release last year of Bermudian Poet.

Mr Johnstone said: “It was well received and marked the beginning of what was to become a remarkable journey into the heart of Bermuda's cultural landscape.

“Thoughts Become Things has not only showcased our evolution as film-makers but has underscored our dedication to cultural storytelling.”

The duo admitted that the creative process was “fraught with challenges”, from capricious weather thwarting shooting plans to the rigours of navigating the complex landscape of film festival submissions. But they both felt that ancestors were with them, as they overcame each challenge.

The pair have submitted applications to 15 other film festivals around the world, including in Canada, India, Australia and Britain.

“We consider this film our love letter to Bermuda,” Mr Johnstone said.

“Each festival submission is like sending out a missive to the world, inviting everyone to witness the vibrant tale of our homeland.”

He added: "At the heart of film-making, it's not just about telling stories, it's about sharing pieces of our culture and identity, along with the vibrant hues of our homeland, with the world.

“Having poured every ounce of our passion into bringing Thoughts Become Things to life, we stand at the cusp of a dream that stretches far beyond our island's shores.”

The film-makers are now seeking sponsorship to attend some of the festivals in person.

Mr Rodriguez said: “We've managed to capture the essence of Bermuda on the global screen, yet, our journey doesn't end here.

“As we aim to personally present our film at festivals worldwide, we find ourselves reaching out to the community to help with our next round of fundraising.

“This pursuit is not just for recognition, but a heartfelt endeavour to share the encompassing warmth, resilience and unparalleled beauty of Bermudian culture.

“We hope more will come on as sponsors to lend us financial support so we can not only represent Bermuda’s unique culture on the screen, but also attend the festivals as in-person ambassadors for our island.

“This in itself is an investment in the art of Bermuda storytelling and the celebration of our heritage on the global stage.”

Working alongside Mr Johnstone and Mr Rodriguez on Things Become Dreams were musician Derek Simmons, on-set photographer Jayde Gibbons and set designer Sinead Simmons. It was produced by SJD World Ltd.

The film premiered at the Speciality Cinema in May and is to be released on YouTube next summer.