Young Guyanese director brings nostalgic “small days” to big screen

By Mishael Henry

If someone told you that it was possible to step into a time machine and return to what many Guyanese describe as the era of “small days”, you might have looked at them with an inquisitive look but still dismissed the idea as impossible.
Yet, 20-year-old Carissa Van Doimen has found a way to bring that nostalgic classroom experience back to life through the creation of her debut Guyanese film, set to be showcased at MovieTowne Guyana, titled “Small Dayz”.
“Small Dayz” is about a young woman stepping into university life and back into her past while navigating campus with a diverse circle of friends, all on a raw and intimate journey to discover who she truly is.

The film, Van Doimen highlighted, will feature brand-new faces in the Guyanese theatre space, creating an arena for a new generation of actors. It is set to premiere on April 2, 2026, and will run in theatres for seven days, with the final showing on April 8.
Taking her place behind the camera in the director’s seat, a role that is far from unfamiliar, Carissa has taken on the ambitious task of bringing a Guyanese story to the big screen. This publication got a first-hand look at what she is set to offer audiences in the theatre, where she explained how the first-time experience was.
“The process, being my first time, was a little tedious and difficult at first, but throughout the course of time, I do believe that I grew to love the people I was working with. They truly embodied passion and resilience in a way that we could easily reflect off each other on the days that were really hard. We always hyped each other up. We were always there for each other,” she explained.

Diving deeper into the film itself, she explained that the tears, sweat, and challenges eventually paid off. For a specific time, cast members would have woken up early, spending gruelling hours just to capture scenes that she would deem up to par standard for wider audiences.
This became easy for her, especially because of the joy she experienced while bringing the project to life.
“Altogether, this film was one of the best projects I have had the pleasure of working on… it was the first time I was able to truly embody concepts that I saw play out in my mind. Notwithstanding, it did have its challenges. There were days when I couldn’t get things out of the way. I wanted to create them, and on those days, I stayed rooted in my best friend, who I was working with as the cinematographer of this film. She pulled me through those moments. I am extremely grateful for her, and without her, I don’t know if we would have such a successful film,” she stated, giving honour to her co-director – Anastacia Shako Van Tull.
What many moviegoers may not realise when they walk through the doors of MovieTowne is that Van Doimen also took on several additional roles during the production process. Along with directing, she helped with makeup, ensured the audio quality was maintained, and even contributed to costume ideas.
“To say that it is difficult would be an understatement. Some days you don’t know what you’re doing. Some days you feel like you’re a fraud or like you will never get any of these things done in time. But I think what really inspires and keeps me going is the grace of God.”

Putting God first
“First, God gets me out of bed every morning. God lets me know that I can do anything that I put my mind to, and it really grounds me and helps me get through the day and keep that energy and pace. It is definitely a risk to take on such an undertaking because it can become burdensome. It can become heavy at times, but I think that’s what really helps me to get through.”
Leaning more into her faith, one of the key factors that kept her head above water while undertaking this grand task of filming, Van Doimen noted that her beliefs continue to guide her journey as a filmmaker.
“Christ is my Lord; He pushes me to go through these things, and I am extremely grateful that He sees my potential and pushes me in the right direction. For anyone out there with a dream that seems extremely big, something that feels like you’ll never get through, I think what helps me stay rooted is remembering that this is not only about me – it’s bigger than me.”
She further noted that if filmmaking in Guyana is taken seriously and supported through funding and investment, it could grow into an industry where people feel seen and represented.
According to her, that vision continues to keep her grounded, as she believes the dream she is pursuing is bigger than herself and worth pushing through the challenges for. Working with a young cast was also a significant part of the experience, and Van Doimen said one of her biggest goals is to see them grow from the opportunity.
“My goal for this young cast is to see them bloom like flowers. I want them to be the biggest thing. I want them to never let shame and doubt dull their light because this cast has the potential to reach the greatest heights. I want them to see that filmmaking is possible, and I want them to inspire generations to come.”
Just as she has brought the concept of a “time machine” to life through her storytelling, Van Doimen also hopes other Guyanese creatives will take bold steps in exploring new ideas and topics.
“My wish for Guyanese creatives is that they stray away from common ideas and comedic backgrounds that sometimes handle heavy themes. Guyanese culture tends to parade around stories that are dark, sometimes removing the merit and reality of hardships and trauma. I hope that people can feel a sense of belonging and connection through this project.