Indy Calland is a freelance curator, producer and creative researcher engaging with contemporary culture through film, art and design. She was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa and is based in London, United Kingdom.

Set in Freetown, Sierra Leone, a country still navigating the long-term recovery from its 11-year civil war, this film centres the work of a group of extraordinary artists who came through WAYoutArts, a grassroots organisation using creativity as a tool for empowerment. At the heart of this group are musician Mash P, poet Overdose, musician Fal G, and news presenter Nendaywe Thoronka, whose voices offer a beautiful yet complex portrait of contemporary Sierra Leone.

Through a programme of workshops in filmmaking, music production, street art, and storytelling, led by practitioners including renowned graffiti artist Sen-1, music producer Steve Mac, and director William Williamson, participants co-produced a body of work that includes a collaborative music album released in the UK, alongside this film.

While the workshops on the ground were designed for skills-sharing, the film and its title foreground the creative agency of the artists. This is not about charity; it is about collaboration, and about recognising their rightful place as peers in a global cultural conversation.

Special thanks to Gibrilla Kamara and Hazel Chandler for their support and the entire WAYoutArts community for welcoming us.

Director: William Williamson
DOP: Adric Watson
Producer: Matt Hichens
Production Manager: Indy Calland
Production company: Armoury