What began as a joke about food would lead to the development of a feature film for film-maker Sosiessia Nixon-Kelly. Moving a project from concept to a full-length film is no small feat. But when that work is fuelled by passion, that labour of love can evolve into a production that captivates audiences, sparks conversations in both public and private spaces, and ultimately, earns accolades that place Jamaica on the cinematic map.

Come Saturday, June 27, the Carib 5 cinema will host the premiere of the much-anticipated film Stew Peas. Written, directed, and produced by Nixon-Kelly, an award-winning Jamaican cinematographer, it highlights the trials and triumphs of the Caribbean experience in a medium that is both realistic and riveting. The Sunday Gleaner caught up with Nixon-Kelly to talk about her cinematic adventures and how she cooked up Stew Peas in the first place.

“It was during Hurricane Beryl that I was cooking stewed peas in the kitchen, and my husband walked in and smelled the aroma and said, ‘A dis you use and tie me’, and we started joking about it, and I said I’m going to write a film called Stew Peas,” shared Nixon-Kelly.