Aiko Maya Roudette

Aiko Maya Roudette is an award-winning filmmaker, film curator, producer, and creative consultant from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Known for her commitment to Caribbean storytelling, she has built a career around using film to highlight local experiences, explore social issues, and give underrepresented communities a voice. Through her creative projects and work supporting the regional film industry, Roudette has become an important contributor to the development of Caribbean cinema.

Early Life and Family Background

Aiko Roudette comes from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, an Eastern Caribbean country with a rich cultural heritage. She is the daughter of artist Vonnie Roudette and the sister of singer Marlon Roudette, giving her family connections to both visual art and music. She was born in 1990 in England. She moved to the Caribbean when she was just a few months old.

In 2013, she earned her B.A. in Film Production from Bard College in upstate New York. She lives in New York City, working towards her master’s degree while freelancing as a video editor.

Growing up in a creative family helped provide a background in which artistic expression was valued. However, Roudette developed her own path through film-making, focusing on telling stories that reflect the experiences of Caribbean people.

She later pursued postgraduate studies in media, earning a master’s degree with a focus on documentary film-making. Her education helped strengthen her understanding of visual storytelling and the ways film can communicate important social messages.

Career as a Filmmaker

Roudette has worked across several areas of film production, including cinematography, directing, sound recording, editing, production management, and producing. This broad experience has allowed her to understand the film-making process from different perspectives.

Her work explores the relationship between personal experiences, community life, and wider social issues. She is particularly interested in stories from the Caribbean that might otherwise receive limited attention internationally.

Since then, her work has been showcased in places like London, Nevis, Trinidad, St. Vincent, Toronto, and New York City, and it’s even been featured in permanent online collections.

Over the course of her career, she has worked with clients and organizations including Soho House Group, Warner Music Entertainment, OkayPlayer, and Little Monster Films. Her projects have also appeared at film festivals and screenings across North America, Europe, and the Caribbean. 

Hairouna Film Festival

One of Roudette’s most significant contributions is founding and directing the Hairouna Film Festival, an initiative focused on developing the film industry in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

The festival provides a platform for filmmakers to present their work, exchange ideas, and connect with audiences. It also helps encourage local talent and create opportunities for Caribbean stories to reach wider audiences.

Roudette believes regional collaboration is important for Caribbean filmmakers seeking to build sustainable careers and compete internationally. Her participation in international film events, including the Berlin International Film Festival in 2023, has helped strengthen connections between filmmakers across the region. 

Personal Life and Legacy

Although Roudette comes from a well-known creative family, she is primarily recognized for her own achievements in film. She has also served as chair of the creative sector of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ Prime Ministerial Youth Advisory Council.