Film Festival LATEST...

Emancipation Park - Opening Night

Just a quick update to let you all know how things are going here in Jamaica, very sorry that we've not been able to update the website since the festival began as we've had some technical problems which stops us from updating the main site but we hope to have this fixed soon. You can catch up on whats been happening via Hype TV and local radio.

The festival begain on the 20th Feb. at Emancipation Park, Kingston. It was a huge success with an excellent turn out of people, so thankyou to everyone who came along, in particular to L.A Lewis and Barbara Blake Hannah who hosted the event plus to everyone else who helped make all this possible, we apreciate your support.

Jungle George, LA Lewis + Barbara Blake Hannah

The festival opened at Emancipation Park, with the documentary titled 'The Legacy' by Jep Jorba who is a film maker from Spain. We where lucky enough to have Jep attend the festival and he also spoke about his film, you should be able to catch this on Hype TV.

Also shown was 'Almost Heaven' by Ed Herzog, and 'Stepping Razor:Red X' by Wayne Jobson, this was a huge success and the crowd loved it. Carl Bradshaw also made a special appearence and was in 5 of the films that we had shown!!

Barbara, Carl Bradshaw & Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, Minister of Culture.

The 2nd night was at the Courtleigh Auditorium, Kingston and films shown included 'Rootstime' by Silvestre Jacobi from Argentina, 'Surf Rasta' by Rick Elgood, 'Countryman' by Dickie Jobson, 'Summer Sound In Canada' by Kevin Howes and Jerry Brown. Also at the event was Wayne Jobson who, he came along with renound film maker Arthur Gorson to represent there new film 'Roots Of Reggae' which tells the ernest Ranglin Story.

This evenings show which is the last night will include 'Klash' by Bill Parker, and we are very fortunate to have Bill in Jamaica to talk about his film, also tonight is '3rd World Cop', 'Dub Echoes' by Bruno Natal and 'Lyn Tait:Rocksteady' by Generoso Fierro. Also at the event is Jungle George with his film 'Destination Jamaica/Rastafarian Dreams', there will be more info on all these films being added over the next few weeks.

The whole event has been amazing, from just an idea we had late in 2007 to the actual event is truely wonderful. I've been amazed by the amount of support we've had for the festival and we hope to make this a regular event and maybe even take the festival further afield

Some of my favourite films so far have been 'Sumer Sound in Canada' (Kevin Howes+Jerry Brown) and Rick Elgoods 'Surf Rasta'. 'Summer Sounds in Canada' which was shot in the late 70's and has only recently been re-edited and made into a short film. You can catch Jerry's interview on Hype TV in Jamaica.

Rick Elgood's 'Surf Rasta' was a very nice film, and i'm sure this is going to be a huge hit when it's released, it follows some young Rasta surfers in Jamaica and is a beautiful film.

There will be lots of reviews, pictures and videos comming to this website soon, as soon as i get back to the UK i will be updating the website.

Big thanks to all the film makers who have travelled out to be with us for the first Reggae Film Festival, your support is much apreciated, and to all our sponsors who helped make this happen.

Big Thanks To:

Virgin Atlantic
The Altamont Court Hotel (Kingston)
HYPE TV
CVM
Strawberry Hill
Air Jamaica
Courtleigh Hotel (Kingston)
Jamaica Tourist Board
+everyone else who has helped make this event happen.


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I just want to apologize for the last minute re-scheduling of some of the films, we had some issues with the amount of time we had to screen the films, due to this some of the film times had to be changed and we've also not been able to show a few of the films as planned which is a real shame but the show must go on and we will do our best to show all that we can today at the UWI and the Courtleigh Auditorium this evening.

LATEST PRESS RELEASE.......

PRESS RELEASE
JAN 24, 2008











(picture) Governor General, the Most Honourable Sir Kenneth Hall listens as Prime Minister Bruce Golding commends his Proclamation of February as Reggae Month.

"FROM TRENCH TOWN TO THE WORLD…REGGAE MUSIC CAN UNITE THE WORLD"…. SAYS PM

It is now official. As of February first 2008, the month of February will be recognised annually in Jamaica as ‘Reggae Month’.

Governor General, Professor Sir Kenneth Hall, this morning officially proclaimed February Reggae Month at a special ceremony held at King’s House, attended by many of the movers and shakers in the music and entertainment industry. The function was addressed by Prime Minister Bruce Golding who used the opportunity to call on all Jamaicans to use Reggae Music as a uniting force.

Mr Golding said the power of reggae music was not just found in the beat and the rhythm but in the message. ‘It entertains as well as uplifts. It’s a profound commentary on life as people see it and feel it. Through its lyrics, it also shows a way and it shows hope that there can be a better way’, Mr Golding told the gathering.

Over the years reggae had been influenced by other musical genres such as jazz, rhythm and blues and rock and roll but reggae music has developed so much and has taken on to itself all these elements of cultures that it is now influencing the music of the rest of the world, Mr Golding said.

He said reggae music is a powerful medium to carry a message that is not just relevant to Jamaica, but the entire world. The Prime Minister said the power of the music could be used as a transformational tool to change how people relate to each other and how they treat each other.

Mr Golding said these were some of the issues that went into the decision to declare February Reggae Month. He said that the month should not just be seen as a period for staging reggae shows and parties but should be used to look at ways of studying the music to see what is in it that has not yet been brought to the attention of the public and the reasons why the rest of the world has gravitated to our music, so that we can move it to a higher level.

In commending the persons involved in pulling the activities for the month together, the Prime Minister said this year should be seen as a learning curve so that come next year, the month can be widely promoted to the rest of the world. He said he wanted agencies such as the Jamaica Tourist Board and Jamaica Trade and Invest to see reggae music as an area of investment that needs serious consideration.

In expressing her appreciation in her vote of thanks, Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange acknowledged the contribution of entertainment lawyer Lloyd Stanbury who brought the idea of ‘Reggae Month’ to her. She expressed appreciation to all members of the industry who played their role in the development of reggae music, taking it from the corners of Trench Town to the halls of Kings House and now to the world.


At the end of the presentation, the ‘Reggae Month’ logo was unveiled by Prime Minister Golding along with the pioneers of the music and those poised to take the music further in the future . The logo portrays the icons of reggae culture composed into an energetic empowering mark. This is complimented by the Star of David which is illuminated upwards, communicating the message ‘Imagine and Believe’. Bold types announce ‘Reggae Month’ with what the designers have described with pride and a gradient of Jamaican colours which spread the message.

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Contact: the Ministry of Information Tel: 9294424/8150818

Welcome.......

Welcome to the Jamaica Film Academy,
This is our new Blog area and will be part of our main website http://www.jamaicafilmacademy.org/ which will soon be online.
We will use this blog to make regular updates about what we are doing,
in particular The Reggae Film Festival 2008, which takes place in Kingston, Jamaica next month 20th-22nd Feb.

Please check back soon for more updates........