Tenn Productions Awarded Prestigious UNESCO Grant to Power Bold Caribbean Storytelling

Tenn Productions Ltd, led by Teneille Newallo, CEO and Company Director, is proud to announce its recent selection as a recipient of the UNESCO “Creative Caribbean: An Ecosystem of Play for Growth and Development” grant.

In an increasingly challenging creative economy, this grant has proven to be more than just a financial boost—it has been a vital investment in the future of Caribbean storytelling. It enabled Tenn Productions to acquire essential equipment and software, while accelerating the development of three new original projects, all deeply rooted in the cultural and emotional landscape of the Caribbean.

The first, Douen, is a supernatural period drama set in 1899 Trinidad. Atmospheric and emotionally charged, it follows two grieving mothers—one Black, one white—who become spiritually entangled after the death of a child, as folklore and faith collide in a tale of belief, colonial trauma, and spiritual warfare. Douen is especially exciting as it serves as the prequel to Danm (formerly known as La Diablesse), revealing a deeper mythology behind the mysterious forces audiences will soon meet in the feature film. Together, these two stories begin to form an interconnected Caribbean horror universe with wide-reaching potential.

The second project, Mama Glow (working title), is a darkly comedic horror-musical that reimagines Caribbean folklore through the lens of perimenopause and generational silence. When a tightly wound Trinidadian woman begins to see a glowing spirit during hot flashes and emotional spirals, her life—along with her relationship with her teenage daughter—erupts in song, rage, and transformation.

The third, The Voice, is a psychological thriller about a woman held captive in a strange basement who must unravel the mystery of her fragmented mind to escape. It is a tense and moving exploration of maternal trauma, identity, and memory, designed to grip audiences and spark conversation.

These new titles continue Newallo’s legacy of delivering high-impact, high-quality films on microbudgets. Newallo’s past work as a producer, writer and director includes various roles on The Cutlass and Mangroves and her TV series screenplays for highly anticipated projects like Moko Jumbie and Soucouyant have won her international awards and interest. Her latest feature film, Danm (formerly known as La Diablesse)—which she wrote, directed, produced, and starred in— is her most recent venture through Tenn Productions, showcasing the company’s bold storytelling and authentic, Caribbean perspective.

The grant also enabled the development of a detailed Marketing Plan for Danm, spearheaded by Christopher Badal, CMO and Company Director. With over 15 years at Saltwater Studios and numerous regional and international advertising awards under his belt, Badal’s expertise will guide the rollout of this national campaign in Trinidad and Tobago, and possibly the wider Caribbean, in 2026.

Out of hundreds of applicants across the Caribbean, Tenn Productions was honored to be one of the few selected for this grant. UNESCO’s forward-thinking support demonstrates a clear recognition of the importance of creative industries in building a sustainable local economy.

During the pre-production, production, and post-production of Danm, the project directly hired over 60 local professionals and circulated over one million TT dollars within the Trinidad and Tobago economy. Following its theatrical release, Danm is projected to circulate hundreds of thousands to potentially millions more, keeping those funds within the local economy, and supporting a growing ecosystem of creatives, technicians, vendors, and small businesses.

This is not just a cultural win—it’s an economic model for what’s possible when we invest in our own. Grants like UNESCO’s are critical to establishing a viable, self-sustaining film industry in Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean—one where money stays and circulates locally, creating jobs, building careers, businesses, and creative legacies—until the grants are no longer needed.

Tenn Productions remains committed to creating meaningful, marketable Caribbean content—one fearless story at a time.