The 13th annual Caribbean Tales Film Festival opens this year in Toronto, Canada with the preview screening of Hero: Inspired By The Extraordinary Life & Times of Mr. Ulric Cross on September 5th, 2018. Produced and directed by Festival founder Frances-Anne Solomon, the film stars Nickolai Salcedo (Trinidad), Joseph Marcell (St.Lucia/Britain) and John Dumelo (Ghana).

Hero tells the story of Ulric Cross, a Trinidadian trailblazer who made his mark in history flying fighter planes in World War II to become possibly the most decorated West Indian Airman. During a time when racism placed roadblocks in the way of people of African descent, Cross broke down barriers to become a BBC broadcaster, a lawyer, a judge and a diplomat. He played a central role in the independence struggles of both Africa and the Caribbean. Hero tells a story that intertwines archival footage and dramatization. “Ultimately, the story is about us, says Solomon, “About who we are as Caribbean people, and as citizens of the world.”

Fellow Ghanaian Ed Nartey joins Dumelo in Hero during the period of the 1950’s -60’s around the time Kwame Nkrumah was advocating for the independence of Ghana. The 100-minute feature film combines archive of the era with dramatizations inspired by Cross’ life and it was filmed over three years on location in Ghana, Great Britain, Canada as well as in Trinidad & Tobago.