St. Croix filmmaker brings ‘Verified’ to Miami’s Urban Film Festival

A short film created by young filmmakers in the U.S. Virgin Islands will make its Miami debut next month, highlighting the pressures of social media, personal choices and integrity.

Verified, directed by St. Croix filmmaker George W. Cannon III and produced through the CFEG Film Over Gun Violence Summer Team, is set to screen at the 11th Annual Urban Film Festival in Miami from Sept. 4–6.

The film follows a determined teenager seeking validation on social media. When her values are tested, she must choose between popularity and doing what she believes is right.

The film will screen at 2:55 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, at Silverspot Cinema, 300 SE 3rd St., Suite 100, in downtown Miami.

The project was created through the Film Over Gun Violence program, which uses filmmaking to give young people in the Virgin Islands an opportunity to develop creative and technical skills while exploring issues affecting their communities.

Participants work with local filmmakers to learn the fundamentals of production, including scriptwriting and the collaborative process of turning an idea into a finished film. The program culminates in a production that can be shared with the wider community and local schools.

Cannon, who was born and raised in St. Croix, leads the program and has focused on increasing Caribbean representation both in front of and behind the camera.

“Our young people have stories to tell, and filmmaking gives them a powerful way to share them while building skills they can carry into their futures,” Cannon said.

“Having Verified screen at the Urban Film Festival in Miami shows that Caribbean stories and talent belong on larger stages. I want our young people to see that where they come from does not limit where their creativity can take them.”

Cannon is also the founder of Blue Tarp Productions, an award-winning St. Croix-based production company made up of independent filmmakers living and working in the Virgin Islands. The company brings together local talent for the creative and production roles required to develop film projects.

Through Blue Tarp Productions and Film Over Gun Violence, Cannon is working to expand opportunities for Virgin Islanders to develop filmmaking skills, tell authentic Caribbean stories and consider filmmaking as a potential professional path.

The selection of Verified for the Urban Film Festival gives the young filmmakers an opportunity to showcase their work outside the Virgin Islands and connect with a broader community of filmmakers, film enthusiasts and entertainment industry professionals.

Marco Mall, founder of Florida Film House International and the Urban Film Festival, said the film reflects the festival's goal of creating opportunities for emerging storytellers.

“The Urban Film Festival was created to give storytellers opportunities to be seen, heard, and connected,” Mall said. “Having Verified and the work of these young creatives from the Virgin Islands represented at this year’s festival speaks directly to that mission.”

The Urban Film Festival is celebrating its 11th anniversary this year. Presented by Florida Film House International, the festival features independent film screenings, masterclasses, industry panels, filmmaker Q&A sessions, workshops and networking opportunities.

Nearly 200 independent films from local, national and international filmmakers are expected to screen during the three-day festival. Events begin Sept. 4 in Historic Overtown before continuing Sept. 5–6 at Silverspot Cinema in downtown Miami.

Festival screenings and educational programs are free and open to the public, although advance registration is encouraged because seating for some events is limited.

Festival information, the complete film lineup and registration are available through the Urban Film Festival's website.