Carefully produced in collaboration with the Caribbean Development Bank’s Cultural and Creative Industries Innovation Fund (CIIF) team along with the Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management (SATIIM), the project centres on how ancient knowledge became a livelihood for indigenous, female entrepreneurs through a CIIF grant that helped launch the sustainable fashion label XE'IL. The project grew into an award-selected short documentary film, a promotional trailer, a film festival submission and outreach package, exhibition-ready documentary photography, and a series of storytelling publications that brought the initiative and its impact to a wider audience.

Together, the film, photography, and written stories brought greater visibility to Indigenous Maya artisans and the cultural heritage woven into their craft. They created space for the women’s own voices, while connecting generations of traditional craftsmanship with real economic opportunity. For CDB and CIIF, the storytelling also offered a more human way to communicate development outcomes, making the work accessible without losing sight of the women at its heart.

Together with Director — Denise Speck | Director of Photography — Dylan Quesnel | Producer — Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) & Cultural and Creative Industries Innovation Fund (CIIF) | Editor + Colorist — Dylan Quesnel | Translator — Elvia Alva Bo | Sound Design — Jelani Serrette