Chinese Dragon Boat Festival | Toluwani Makinde

HSBC - Chinese

Client

What began in 2012 as a modest community gathering has grown into one of the UK’s most vibrant cultural celebrations. The UK Dragon Boat Festival now draws tens of thousands, uniting communities, cultures, and generations along the waters of Salford. Supported by major institutions and broadcast across both UK and Chinese media, the festival has become more than an event; it’s a symbol of identity, community, and connection.

At the heart of this story was Jin, a colleague celebrating her heritage and the work HSBC does to support the community. The piece needed to feel personal and immersive, capturing not just the scale of the festival, but the meaning behind it.

I worked as part of a team to bring this story to life. I helped shape and bring this story to life from early research through to filming. I contributed to the initial narrative direction during research calls, identifying the key moments and themes that would anchor the story. On the ground in Salford, I filmed the experience through Jin’s perspective, focusing on authenticity, energy, and cultural pride. The result is a piece that feels intimate yet expansive, connecting personal identity with a wider global story.

Story

Year

What I did

Industry

Services

Research & Story Development
Videography
Content Capture
Creative Direction Support

Banking, Culture & Employer Branding

2026