Update (30th July 2008)

Sorry we've not posted up on the blog for a while, we hope to get a new website before too long.

Anyway, time is moving on and the 2nd Reggae Film Festival is only 6 months away, we've already started preparing for the event, next year will be bigger and better with plenty of great new films and documentaries from around the world, we will also be reviving some old and relatively unseen films aswell as some obscure titles that never made it to the big screen.

Anyone wishing to sponsor or support the Reggae film Festival, please contact us as we are currently dealing with sponsor packages for the event, we also have a new 'Friends of The Reggae Film Festival' scheme for smaller websites and businesses wishing to support us so if you like what we are doing and would like to show your support please get in touch, we'd love to hear from you.

We are planning a world tour of the Reggae Film Festival in 2010, we already have a few interested parties so if you'd like to see the Reggae Film Festival come to your town or city no matter what country you are in then please contact us.

Anyone wishing to fly to Jamaica for the event then please get in touch and we will help with any info you need. We've found that alot of people are deciding to come out to Jamaica for the film festival, it's the perfect excuse to choose Jamaica as your next holiday destintation, the film festival tie's in with 'Reggae Month' and also 'The Global Reggae Conference' so it's the perfect time to come to Jamaica, February really is a Reggae fans dream.

The Reggae Film Festival is situated in New Kingston right next to the Hilton Hotel and Pegasus Hotel, it's a very nice area of Kingston just a 30mins drive from the beautiful Hellshire beach.

We will post up more info on next years festival later in the year.....

You can also now find us at www.reggaefilmfestival.com which points to the JFA website.

Reggae Film Festival Video....

Just wanted to share these nice videos that Jungle George kindly provided us with recently, hope you enjoy them....(more vids comming soon...)

Film Festival Photos...

I just came across this excellent photo album from the Reggae Film Festival, they've done a wonderful job over at http://www.jamaicapage.com/ hosting these nice pictures, thankyou to whoever took these.....

VIEW PICTURES HERE

More pictures comming soon....


Pictures From Day 1 (Emancipation Park)

Add your own pictures of the film festival to the slide show above.
More pictures comming soon...

First Annual Reggae Film Festival

First Annual Reggae Film Festival on Show
KINGSTON, (JIS)Friday, February 22, 2008

Director and producer, Bill Parker (2nd left) presents a copy of the soundtrack of the movie 'Klash', which he produced and directed, to Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, the Hon. Olivia Grange following Wednesday's (Feb. 20) press conference where Minister Grange, updated the press on the line-up of activities for the inaugural reggae film festival, which kicked off on (Feb. 20), at Emancipation Park. At right is coordinator of the Reggae Film Festival Barbara Blake Hannah, and United Kingdom-based reggae archivist, Peter Gittins is at left.

Jamaicans will be treated to the best of local feature films, documentaries and music videos, as part of activities to mark Reggae Month (February), during the first annual reggae film festival, which is being held in Kingston from February 20 - 22.
The film screenings kicked off last night (February 20), at Emancipation Park and will, over the period, feature more than 30 films, according to Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Olivia Grange.

Speaking at a press conference on February 20, she noted that a number of Jamaican premieres would be screened, including: 'Roots Time', an amusing feature by Argentinian, Derek Jacobi; 'Almost Heaven', a German film about a would-be country and western singer who gets on a plane to Nashville and ends up in Jamaica.

Among the documentaries are the much acclaimed 'Roots of Reggae', the Ernie Ranglin Story by noted Hollywood producer, Arthur Gorson; 'Dub Echoes', by Brazil's Bruno Natal, which traces the roots of reggae music, with interviews and clips. The documentary of Peter Tosh by Wayne Jobson and titled 'Stepping Razor, RedX', is also featured; 'Destination Jamaica', by Canadian-Jamaican George Tait; and 'Portrait of Mr. Pink', by English film-maker Helen Appio.

The music video category has the largest number of entries, including the series called 'Duppy Arts', which feature animated characters of local artistes, such as Yellow Man. Special guest for the festival is Peter Gittens, a United Kingdom archivist of reggae films, who has spearheaded the submission of most of the festival's films. Other special guests are United States Hollywood producer, Arthur Gorson, of box office hits, such as 'Night Watch' and 'Better Watch Out'; Jep Jorba from Brazil, who is the director of 'Dub Echoes'; and Bill Parker, the director of 'Klash'.
Special Jamaican guests are producer/directors, Wayne and Dickie Jobson as well as Carl Bradshaw. The reggae film festival continues for two nights at the Courtleigh auditorium. Tomorrow (February 22), there will be a gala night and the induction of six Jamaican pioneers in film. There will also be screening at the University of the West Indies global reggae conference on February 22 and February 23 and the screening of rastafarian-themed films at the Marley Museum today.

The film festival continues tonight beginning at 7:30 p.m. along with reggae academy opening night reception and showcase at the Hilton Kingston Hotel.
Inductees in the Jamaica Film Academy, Minister Grange said, include film producer, Chris Blackwell, who began his career as the main financial backer of Perry Henzel's 'The Harder They Come'; actor Carl Bradshaw; Sally Henzel, widow of Perry Henzel, who is to be inducted on his behalf; and Trevor Rhone, whose stage play, 'Smile Orange', became one of the earliest Jamaican feature films.

Also to be inducted are: cinematographer, Franklyn St. Juste, who began his film career as a cinematographer at the Jamaica Information Service (JIS); and documentarian, Cynthia Wilmot, who joined the JIS in the mid-1960s to make short documentaries on government topics. She partnered with Hillary Nicholson to produce several documentaries on heritage, environmental and historic themes, including a six-part documentary on national hero, Norman Manley.
Sponsors of the festival are the Jamaica Tourist Board, Altamont Court Hotel, Strawberry Hill Hotel, Virgin Airlines, Irie FM, CVM-TV, Hype TV, and Courtleigh Hotel and Suites.

Film Festival Goes to Island Village........

Just a quick update to let you know that the Reggae Film Festival will have one night at the Island Village in Ocho Rios this evening 29th Feb. where we will show 2 feature films and 2 documentaries.

More pictures and reviews to come soon......

Picture of Barbara blake Hannah and Olivia 'Babsy' Grange presenting Trevor Rhone with his inductee certificate to the Jamaica Film Academy.

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.


************************

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