Chalice Richardson is the writer and producer of Just Like Dad, and a youth worker from South London who utilises film as a visual aid in workshops with young people and parents.
In the short film Kimani’s Dad is devoted to fatherhood, but committed to a life of crime. How does Dad shape Kimani’s future? Just Like Dad explores parent modelling through the lens of a young boy and his close relationship with his father.
We spoke to Chalice about the film and his relationship to the Windrush.
What inspired this story?
“Just Like Dad” was inspired by the quiet and powerful ways children absorb everything around them. I have heard countless stories in my 20 year career with young people and families. I wanted to create something that captured the power of fatherhood, and how deeply it shapes identity. The film reflects the emotional truths I’ve witnessed first hand and is a visual tool to spark reflective conversation, healing, and change in our communities.
What does the Windrush legacy mean to you?
The Windrush legacy means everything to me. It’s the foundation of my story and the reason I’m here today. It represents strength, sacrifice, and resilience. My parents’ generation came to this country with hope, often facing rejection and hardship, yet they built lives, raised families, and laid the groundwork for us to thrive. As a proud Caribbean, I carry that legacy with pride and purpose. It reminds me to keep pushing, to honour their journey by empowering the next generation and making sure their voices are never forgotten
How do you hope your work impacts the next generation?
I hope my work plants seeds of self-awareness, healing, and pride. I want young people to see themselves in the stories we tell, to feel seen, heard, and valued. If even one person decides to choose a different path or speak their truth because of something I’ve created or shared, then it’s worth it. My goal is to inspire the next generation to lead with empathy, stay connected to their roots, and realise their story matters.
Catch Just Like Dad and other films at the Windrush Caribbean Film Festival, running from 14 to 29 June 2025 and sign up to the newsletter at https://bit.ly/WCFFNews.
