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The Most Hon. Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica, officially launched the Jamaica Screen Development Initiative (JSDI); a pioneering financing endeavor by the Government of Jamaica aimed at bolstering and enriching the local film industry while attracting destination films.

Responding to a longstanding plea from industry stakeholders, the J$1b Initiative is set to provide crucial funding for eligible screen-based projects at various stages of development.

The media launch event, hosted at the Office of the Prime Minister, saw the esteemed presence of Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Olivia Grange, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, and Dr Olivia Rose, Opposition Junior Shadow Spokesperson on Sport and Entertainment, alongside filmmakers and other key stakeholders.

To be operated through the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), an agency of the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce (MIIC), the JSDI opens avenues for new, emerging, and established talent within the local screen-based industry to produce high-quality Jamaican content capable of competing on the global stage.  It also provides support for the attraction of global films that are seeking to film in Jamaica.

Prime Minister Holness underscored the initiative’s significance for economic development and cultural preservation, emphasizing the government’s commitment to fostering an enabling ecosystem inclusive of infrastructure development to support the growth of the film industry.

“We need to build that infrastructure so that we can leverage our history and use it to create even greater content for our own development… so there is a bigger picture in the development of our infrastructure,” stated Prime Minister Holness.

Senator Hill highlighted the strategic focus of the MIIC on cultivating new growth industries, recognizing Jamaica’s emerging status as a film destination and its potential for generating employment and economic growth.  He note that the burgeoning film industry is poised to contribute significantly to foreign exchange earnings, further propelling the country’s economic advancement.

Against this backdrop, Dr. Clarke, affirmed the government’s commitment to deepen and expand economic gains by diversifying the economic base and broadening sectors capable of generating meaningful foreign exchange and growing the economy.

Shullette Cox, President of JAMPRO, reiterated the agency’s dedication to driving investments within the sector and producing commercially viable content for both domestic and global markets.  Her presentation focused on the key elements of the programme, while she also announced that the Call for Application for loans and grants to support development, production and post-production under the programme will be issued on March 18, 2024 and will close on April 28, 2024. Additionally, film festival and market attendance grant applications, as well as applications for marketing, distribution, and production rebates, will be accepted on a rolling basis starting March 18, 2024.

Overview of JSDI

• Eligible projects include feature films (at least 60 minutes), short films (7 to 20 minutes), animated shorts (2 to 11 minutes), web series, episodics, mini-series, or reality and unscripted content.
• Ineligible projects include music videos, advertisements, news, sports, or daily content, as well as work primarily intended to capture another art form, such as filmed theatre, sporting, or music events, podcasts, livestreams, or influencer content.
• Individual applicants must be Jamaican citizens (by birth, naturalization, or citizenship) or ordinarily resident in Jamaica, registered on the National Registry of Entertainment and Creative Industries Practitioners (E-Registry), be 18 years of age or older, and must be GOJ tax compliant at the time of contract.
• Company applicants must be registered at the Companies Office of Jamaica, GOJ tax compliant (proof required), registered on the National Registry of Entertainment and Creative Industries Practitioners (E-Registry), Jamaican-owned or at least 51% Jamaican co-owned, and operate as a production company in audiovisual production activities. Companies must own or will own and control the copyright and other intellectual property rights in the project during development.
• Interested persons are encouraged to visit www.dobusinessjamaica.com or contact JAMPRO at jsdi@dobusinessjamaica.com for more information on application guidelines.

The Jamaica Film Commission 

The Film Commission, under JAMPRO, is responsible for promoting Jamaica at international festivals, trade shows and content markets as a premier location for filming and to position business linkages for Jamaican industry participants.  

The Commission is tasked with circulating regional and international export and investment opportunities to local industry stakeholders, pursuing investor progression for eligible international projects that will result in the employment of Jamaicans in the film industry and lobbying for incentives and policies to strengthen the business environment and increase investment opportunities in the industry.