Pres. Ali discusses film production opportunities with int’l producer, screenwriter

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 Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Susan Rodrigues, and Minister of Public Service and Government Efficiency, 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 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.

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