News

The Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) has received a $5 million grant from the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports & Education (CHASE) Fund in support of the Jamaica Film Festival. The festival, which will be held from July 7 to 11 in Kingston, is aimed at creating an opportunity for independent film-makers from Jamaica and the Caribbean to showcase their films, meet with local film-makers and industry personnel, and provide a launch pad to promote Jamaica as a destination for filming.

It is the focus of the business of film that has attracted the attention of the CHASE Fund. It is expected that the grant will go towards project coordination, workshops and seminars.

“CHASE has been supporting the development of film in Jamaica under its arts and culture mandate and we think the festival will be the perfect platform to advance the discussion on the business of the art,” said Billy Heaven, the head of CHASE.

International Response

In addition to 13 local films to be screened over the five-day period, JAMPRO has received entries from 45 countries, significantly broadening the scope and the agenda of the festival. JAMPRO Film Commissioner Carole Beckford is encouraged by the international response.

“JAMPRO is pleased that the international film community and the diaspora have had a very positive response to the festival and we have partnership opportunities from the Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago Film Festivals for participation at their respective film festivals,” she said.

“The addition of the international films will help to raise the profile of the Jamaican Film Festival and will give it more of an international appeal and create opportunities for local film-makers to interact with their peers worldwide.”

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20150509/chase-pumps-5-million-jampro-film-festival?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

Published Date: May 9th, 2015