For veteran actor and filmmaker Delroy Lindo, returning to Jamaica to direct his first feature film has been both a professional milestone and a deeply personal experience.
Lindo recently wrapped production on Jabari’s People, a Jamaican-set family drama filmed over 22 days, primarily in the Blue Mountains. The film marks his directorial debut, with Lindo also starring as the estranged grandfather of a Brooklyn teenager sent to Jamaica following the death of his mother.
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The project has strong personal significance for the 73-year-old actor, who was born in London to Jamaican parents whose family roots are in Ocho Rios, St Ann. Lindo said his relationship with Jamaica is complicated, but he remains deeply connected to the island and sees the film as an opportunity to channel its talent, beauty and cultural richness into a story for international audiences.
Written by Daoud Abeid and Dakhil Hausif, Jabari’s People follows Jabari, a troubled Brooklyn teenager who is sent to live with his estranged grandparents in Jamaica after his mother’s death. The story moves between Brooklyn and Jamaica, exploring grief, family relationships, identity and spirituality.
Lindo said his experiences working with acclaimed directors including Spike Lee, Ron Howard and Ryan Cooglerhave influenced how he approaches his own work behind the camera. He said the directors who made the greatest impression on him were those who combined a clear creative vision with the ability to bring collaborators into that vision without creating chaos on set.
The production also allowed Lindo to work closely with Jamaican performers and crew members. Producer Robert Maylor said approximately 88 of the film’s 92 crew members were Jamaican, with locals working across departments including accounting, sound, camera, costume, transportation, hair and makeup, and production.
Lindo has praised the Jamaican cast, including Rolando Alberts, Shernet Swearine, Sule Thelwell and Zoë-Daniele Ching Sang, saying they consistently met the demands of the production and helped bring his vision for the story to life. The wider cast includes Trinidadian actor Winston Duke, British actress Marianne Jean-Baptiste, and emerging British actor of Jamaican descent Seyi Andes-Pelumi.
For Lindo, the film represents more than a new chapter behind the camera. It is also an opportunity to present Jamaica through a story that moves beyond familiar stereotypes. He has called for greater investment in the island’s creative sector and urged Jamaicans not to overlook the talent available locally.
As he looks beyond Jabari’s People, Lindo says his priority is continuing to make meaningful work rather than pursuing awards. He hopes the film will eventually reach audiences in Jamaica and internationally, while leaving open the possibility of returning to the island for future productions.
