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Washington, D.C. — Jamaican psychological thriller Stew Peas is heading to the U.S. market this weekend. It is bowing in Maryland as part of Jamaica’s 64th Independence celebrations.
The two-day presentation, running Aug. 22-23, is endorsed by the Embassy of Jamaica in Washington, D.C. It joins the Embassy’s official programming marking the island nation’s 64th year of Independence. Moreover, the debut gives the Washington metropolitan area’s Jamaican and Caribbean diaspora a first look at one of Jamaica’s newest independent film exports.
LBA Holdings, LLC serves as lead sponsor, with the Prince George’s Arts & Humanities Council as partner. The event is hosted in association with Wellspring Manor & Spa.
The weekend kicks off Saturday, Aug. 22, with an invitation-only Artist Meet & Greet at The Barn at Wellspring in Upper Marlboro. It concludes Sunday, Aug. 23, with a public reception and screening at Greenbelt Cinema in Greenbelt.
Jamaican Filmmaker Sosiessia Nixon-Kelly
Jamaican filmmaker Sosiessia Nixon-Kelly wrote and directed the film, and Horane Henry of Ikon Media & Films produced it. Stew Peas puts a distinctly Jamaican stamp on the psychological thriller format.
The film centers on Detective Tessa Riley. Her investigation into the murder of her best friend collides with tensions at home. As a result, when a mysterious housekeeper enters her household with dangerous intentions, long-buried secrets begin to surface.
Billed as both a suspense story and a culture-forward drama, Stew Peas explores family, identity, relationships, and the layered realities of Jamaican life.
Lisa Brown Alexander, CEO of LBA Holdings, LLC, said the U.S. debut is designed to spotlight Jamaican creative talent for American audiences.
“Stew Peas is a powerful example of the storytelling talent coming out of Jamaica, and I am proud to bring this film to audiences in America,” Brown Alexander said.
“Supporting artists and creators is a lifelong commitment for me, and this event is a natural extension of that work.”
For Henry, the Maryland bow marks a strategic milestone for both the film and Jamaica’s independent screen sector.
“We are proud of the work we put into this film, and we are thrilled to bring it to audiences in America,” Henry said. “This film has the ability to transcend physical boundaries and cultures, and Greenbelt is an important step in showing what independent Jamaican filmmakers can do on the global stage.”
Nixon-Kelly said the U.S. screening carries special resonance for Jamaican and Caribbean audiences abroad.
“Sharing Stew Peas with our people at home was essential, and now we get to bring that same energy to the Jamaican and Caribbean diaspora in America,” she said.
“This story is rooted in home, and I am excited to watch it connect with audiences who carry that same culture with them here.”
“Stew Peas” Cast Members
The ensemble includes Tarique Barrett, Mr. World Jamaica and Mr. World Caribbean, making his feature-film debut, alongside Kerry-Ann “ChineyK” Collins, Shernett Swearine, Quera South, Moses Wallace, Kimberlee Dobson and Andre Campbell.
Caribbean Film Awards 2026 Nominations
The film arrives in the U.S. with awards traction, earning six nominations at the inaugural Caribbean Film Awards 2026, including Best Feature Film, Best Director for Nixon-Kelly, Best Actress for Collins, Best Screenplay, the Caribbean Heritage Film Award and Caribbean Film of the Year.
With its diaspora-facing launch, Stew Peas positions itself as more than a festival-style screening: it serves as a cultural showcase for Jamaican filmmaking at a moment when Caribbean stories seek wider international visibility.
As Jamaica marks 64 years of Independence, the Maryland event highlights the wider reach of Jamaican culture. It also reflects the rising goals of the island’s independent film community.
For audiences in the Washington metropolitan area, the weekend offers a rare big-screen showcase of a homegrown Jamaican thriller. It is also a media-ready moment for a film looking beyond its local market.
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