Paradise 48 Film Festival 2023: My First Screening, Awards and Photos
Updated: Oct 24
I attended my first film festival on June 24, 2023: the Paradise 48 Film Festival in St. Thomas. The Virgin Islands has some very talented creators. Come experience the screening and awards show with me, including the teams, films and winners from that year.
The challenge gives registered teams 48 hours to write, shoot, edit and score an original short film. It is intense, it is exciting, and it brings Virgin Islands storytelling to the screen.
Watch my Paradise 48 Film Festival 2023 coverage
I do not own the screened films; this is my event coverage. The turnout that year was something else. The packed Prior Jollek Hall at Antilles School did not have enough seats for all the eager festival-goers. The live music from Ruby, Sherwin Williams and friends was a great touch, as were the red-carpet hour and trivia corner.
The 10 finalist films
The real stars of the show were the films themselves. The stories and plot twists left me floored. It was pretty cool to see familiar places from St. Thomas, St. Croix, the BVI and other parts of the Virgin Islands on screen.
These are the Facebook trailer links from my original 2023 coverage:
Hitch by Luminari
Live Prey by Team Faktornize
Rose by Phillips Philms
High School No Musical by GRVSNDfilms
Defeat by Blue Tarp
Emerland Experiment by Soundstage VI
Tales from the Third Pillar by DeVision Media
The Fisherman’s Wife by Story Over Standards
Maria by Key Visuals
Kante by The Redemption Team
My favorites were “Rose” by Phillips Philms, “Hitch” by Luminari, “Defeat” by Blue Tarp and “The Fisherman’s Wife” by Story Over Standards. But honestly, they were all incredible.
2023 award categories and winners
Congratulations to all the participants. Your hard work did not go unnoticed. Here are the winners recorded in my original event coverage:
Best Cinematographer: “Rose”, Phillips Philms
Best Score: “Hitch”, Luminari
Best Screenplay: “Rose”, Phillips Philms
Best Film Editing: “Hitch”, Luminari
Best Director: “The Fisherman’s Wife”, Story Over Standards
Best Actor: Khalarni Rivers, “Hitch”, Luminari
Best Actress: Yashamay David, “Rose”, Phillips Philms
Fan Favorite: “Hitch”, Luminari
Best Picture: “Rose”, Phillips Philms
Photos from Paradise 48 Film Festival
Follow the film festival
Read about the filmmaking challenge on the Paradise48 Film Festival background page. For festival announcements, follow Paradise 48 on Facebook, Instagram or X.
The after-party was held at Victor’s New Hideout for Nick Claxton and the Paradise 48 Film Festival. The original 2023 announcement listed $20 admission, with Blind Earz, DJ General Kuntry and Joka de Baddest.
If you enjoy film and Virgin Islands creativity, this is an event worth following. I left impressed by what the teams created. Follow my stories as I continue discovering the Virgin Islands and trying new experiences.
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About Flo
I’m Latesha “Flo” Isaac, the creator behind Flo Dynasty in St. Thomas. I share Virgin Islands culture and events through photos, video and firsthand stories. I also help businesses with websites, branding and practical training backed by 20+ years in IT. Get to know Flo.
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Updates
October 24, 2026: Refreshed this 2023 recap with clearer formatting, image descriptions and a corrected festival website link. The original event coverage, trailer links and 22 gallery photos remain.
Thanks for your continued support. Let Peace, Love, Blessings, and Wellness Floooo! Just Go with the Flo!
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