Bermudian filmmakers are about to shine a spotlight on the Island’s Portuguese community.

Sisters Kara Smith and Karli Powell are behind ‘Carlos and Pacheco’, the story of two Portuguese-Bermudians struggling to get back on their feet in the poor economy.

The film will be shot in Bermuda, entirely in Portuguese.

“I always wanted to shoot a film in Bermuda, about something that was unique to Bermuda and what it’s like to grow up in such a small place,” said Ms Smith.

“I do think we have such a beautiful culture and I feel like from a global perspective it’s great to celebrate who we are and where we come from and the many differences; and to introduce Bermudians to other nationalities in a Portuguese vernacular, I thought that would be very different and interesting.”

Filming starts in March. Auditions for cast members aged 24 to 65 will be held at Alaska Hall on Saturday, between 11am and 6pm.

Ms Smith came up with the idea for the script after realising that few people outside of Bermuda knew about our vibrant Portuguese culture.

“People I’ve met overseas think of Bermuda as an island, like the Caribbean, but don’t actually know there’s a Portuguese community here,” she said. “They don’t realise it’s such a vibrant and significant part of the community.

“So I thought how cool would it be to do a film that celebrates being Bermudian from a different perspective.”

Ms Smith has been working as a scriptwriter in London, UK for the past few years. Most of her jobs are commission-based. Her most recent project is ‘London Blotter’, a film about a psychoanalytic session between a doctor and patient in the 1950s. Production wrapped up three weeks ago.

Her work has already been recognised internationally.

The 29-year-old won the grand prize for an original TV drama in the Hollywood Screenplay Contest last year. ‘Life Anonymous’ a film she shot with her sister, screened at the Cannes International Film Festival in May.

Despite the many challenges she’s had to overcome, the single mother said she “couldn’t possibly do anything else”.

She hopes her hard work and determination serve as a great example to her ten-year-old son, Judah.

“I grew up during a time where not everyone has opportunities in the arts. I didn’t choose to be a writer, it choose me. It’s not like something I can just stop.

“Judah has been here with me the whole time and he is not separate from my career. When I am on set he is on set and he is very much a part of what I do.

“I hope whatever he takes from it he will learn to pursue the things he wants and know he always has my support because, to follow your dreams, that’s what life’s about.

For more details on Saturday’s auditions, e-mail onshotkartel@icloud.com.