The St Helena tourism film, Come and Find Me, made waves across the short film industry, transforming the island’s on-screen presence from remote into a “filmmaker’s dream.” Produced by South African filmmaker Darren Peens and starring local talent Katie Raye Williams, the film has not only captured the hearts of Saints but has secured prestigious international accolades, proving that St Helena is ready for its close-up.
The film had generated significant traction online and in the film festival world. After achieving a special award at the Japanese International Film Festival, the production moved to the International Tourism Film Festival in Africa, hosted in Johannesburg. Producer Darren Peens noted that the film is likely to secure a third international award, stating, “I think we’re going to win another award. I think it’s going to be a good one”.
Online, the film has been a viral success for the island, gathering over 134,000 views on the St Helena Tourism website and generating high engagement across social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook.
What sets Come and Find Me apart from standard travel advertisements is its narrative depth. Darren explains that while some believe tourism films should be devoid of emotion, his approach is the opposite. “I want to create the emotion, the emotional connection to a place so that when someone’s finished watching that, that they would feel a pull… a void that they need to fill,” Darren said. This emotional resonance was driven by the performance of local actress Katie Williams. Darren praised her “sensitivity to her craft” and the authenticity she brought to the voiceover, noting that “only an actor can really pull something off to sound that authentic” compared to a standard voice artist.
For the film industry, St Helena offers a unique proposition. Darren, who has visited the island three times, described it as a “filmmaker’s dream” due to the diversity of locations and consistent weather. He debunked the myth that the island’s remoteness makes logistics impossible, comparing it favourably to major productions like The Beach filmed in Thailand. “The locations are incredibly close together… It’s got a lot of daylight hours,” Darren noted, emphasising that equipment can easily be brought in by ship or plane.
The success of Come and Find Me highlights a massive, cost-effective opportunity for St Helena: the “creator economy.” Darren argues that the island should leverage the “collective attention” of film festivals and social media influencers to move the needle on tourism.
He views platforms like YouTube and social media as free billboards that the island must utilize. “It’s quality content at scale that gets attention,” Darren advised, suggesting that a mix of high-end productions and local content, such as cooking series or vlogs on fishing and e-biking can create a cumulative effect that outperforms traditional advertising.
“You gotta put your head down and not look up for two to three years and then you’ll have an island that surpasses pretty much any island destination that you’re competing with,” Darren stated.
With Come and Find Me continuing to gather awards and showcasing the island’s sunsets, whale sharks, and history, the film stands as proof that St Helena has an immense amount to offer the world stage.