Pres Ali engages international film producers to explore local production opportunities 

President Dr Irfaan Ali met with international film producer Philip Herd and screenwriter Sally El Hosaini to explore opportunities for film production in Guyana.

The meeting, held at State House, was also attended by Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Susan Rodrigues and Public Service, and Government Efficiency Minister Zulfikar Ally.
In a brief statement shared on his social media platforms, President Ali said the discussion focused on showcasing Guyana’s rich tourism offerings and exploring how Herd’s and El Hosaini’s expertise can support the growth and development of the local film industry.
Herd is a British independent film producer with a growing international profile. He is associated with Chromatic Aberration Pictures and has produced several notable films, including My Policeman (2022) and Archive (2020). His more recent work includes the feature Unicorns (2023), which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and screened at the London Film Festival. Herd also serves as the patron of the Bay International Film Festival and has industry roles such as teaching scriptwriting at Birkbeck, University of London.
El Hosaini is a Welsh-Egyptian film director and screenwriter known for her critically acclaimed work in independent cinema. El Hosaini first gained international attention with her debut feature film My Brother the Devil (2012), which she wrote and directed; the film won multiple awards and was screened at major festivals including Sundance and Berlin. She more recently directed and co-wrote The Swimmers (2022), a biographical drama about Syrian refugee sisters whose journey to safety eventually led one to compete in the Olympics; the film opened the Toronto International Film Festival and received wide critical acclaim, including a British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) nomination and recognition for El Hosaini’s emerging talent.
President Ali has emphasised that one of his Government’s targets for this term is to invest heavily in the local film industry, as part of a broader strategy to build out the country’s Orange Economy.
“The orange economy ties all of this together – investments in culture, music, drama, craft, and the wider creative industries,” President Ali previously explained. “We’re enriching the visitor experience and creating new opportunities for Guyanese talent.”
In developing the Orange Economy, the sectors that will see direct investments include music, film, theatre, dance, visual arts, fashion, design, craft, festivals and cultural events, along with creative services like advertising, architecture, publishing, animation, gaming and digital media.
In June 2025, James Vancooten, a British-Guyanese director and film-maker, had announced his return to his roots in a major way with the premiere of his locally produced film The Turf, and the official launch of his production company in Guyana.
Born in London, England, Vancooten moved to Guyana at the age of six, where he spent his childhood living with his grandparents and attending Mae’s Under 12 and Mae’s Secondary School in Georgetown. His early years in the capital city left a lasting impression, shaping his perspective and creative voice.
Now based in the United Kingdom, Vancooten has built a successful career in film, starting as a runner and eventually working his way up to camera assistant on a number of large-scale productions.
His team has contributed to projects for major platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, working under subcontracted roles on titles like Blue Story (£12 million budget), Wolf, Jingle All the Way, and Sumotherhood (£2 million budget).
At the same time, his independent projects have gained significant traction online, with several earning over a million views on YouTube. His work has also received accolades from the UK film scene, including Best Director (2019, UK Entertainment Awards) and Best Short Film (2016, Channel U Awards).