The REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL introduces a new Award category for Best Music Video, inviting the public to view and cast their votes online for the winning music videos. The winner will be selected for technical and artistic excellence in film production, and selections are made from all genres of reggae music.
The competition invites votes for Top Ten selections by 3 music industry experts:YASMIN PERU, entertainment journalist/Editor Chaty Chaty News; RHONA FOX, US actress and CEO of FoxFuse artist management & promotion company, and JOHAN DAWES – CEO of HYPE-TV Jamaican Entertainment channel. Voters register to cast their votes in the online poll and each month the list will be narrowed down until ten finalists are identified. The Top Ten will be broadcast on HYPE-TV during July, and voters will then have an second option to text their votes.
The Judges selection and an Audience Award, will be announced at the Reggae Film Festival Awards on August 5.
Nominations are accepted from the public for their own Top Ten choices, and film makers can also submit their work. Voters are asked to Register and may return once per day to cast a vote. Visit our Music Videos page to view the videos, Register and Vote.
The nations of Israel and Egypt may not meet often in friendly encounter. However, they met in fraternal embrace when entries from both countries arrived on the same day in the Reggae Film Festival post box.
Egyptian director Sameh Estefanos sent his wry documentary “I’m tremendously happy that I am going to play Golf”, which takes a look at the facilities in new Egyptian luxury housing estates, while the country faces a perennial water shortage.
Israeli director Ronen Davidesco submitted The Keeper of Zion Gate“, A Musical Journey with the late, great Joseph ‘Culture’ Hill and his visit to Israel on a mission of Peace. “It is a work of LOVE, fascinating and inspiring of a pure Rastaman,” says the director.
Reggae Film Festival director Barbara Blake Hannah says it would be good for both films to be shown on the same night, to demonstrate even more clearly how Jamaica’s reggae culture is a unifying force of Peace and Love.
The Jamaica International Reggae Film Festival takes place in Kingston, Independence Week – August 1-5, with a full programme of features, documentaries, animation, shorts and music videos from Jamaica and the world.
The Reggae Film Festival has received an international promotional boost with the signing of a partnership with Eurochannel, the European movies, series and music TV channel broadcasting to 11 million viewers in Latin America, USA, Portugal, France, Serbia and Africa (www.eurochannel.com).
The partnership gives the Reggae Film Festival a variety of promotional opportunities including broadcast of the RFF TV trailer 300 times on all channels during July, promotion of the RFF logo and poster in its monthly newsletter and on its Facebook and Twitter pages, and in full-page advertisements in all 18 edition of its Eurochannel Guide magazine published in 7 languages.
The partnership with Eurochannel will provide unique international exposure for Reggae Film Festival’s Gold Sponsors, whose logos will be included in the RFF poster, banner,TV trailer and all press releases.
Eurochannel supports important film festivals with international exposure through its media and the Reggae Film Festival will be promoted byEurochannel as one of the major international film festivals worth planning a trip to.
In the decades since 1972 when Jamaica’s first feature film “The Harder They Come” exposed reggae to the world on its soundtrack, a growing number of films have continued to be made that focus on Jamaica’s music culture. In 2008 a new film genre was born when these films were gathered together in one place for the first ever REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL, held at Emancipation Park in New Kingston, February 25th-27th.
Organized as a feature of the first Reggae Month by the Jamaican Ministry of Culture with the co-sponsorship of private sector companies, the REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL 2008 presented 20 films over three nights in the presence of film makers and actors from Jamaica, Spain, Germany, the UK, USA, Canada and Britain — some of whom came specially to bring their films to the Festival. On closing night six film pioneers were inducted as the first Executive Directors of a Jamaica Film Academy and the Reggae Film Festival was declared a success.
AWARD WINNING FILMS
Several of the films shown then and in the four succeeding festivals have received international exposure and distribution as a result of the international media coverage of the REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL over the years, including the German feature film ‘ALMOST HEAVEN” , the reggae documentary “DUB ECHOES”, the sports documentary ‘WHY DO JAMAICANS RUN SO FAST?”, the tribute film “BOB MARLEY: MAKING OF A LEGEND” and the Feature films “WAH DO DEM”, ‘A DANCE FOR GRACE” and “CONCRETE JUNGLE – KINGSTON 12″, each of which won Reggae Film Festival Honour Awards before going on to international fame.
In 2010 the RFF introduced the annual Make A Film In 24 Hours competition, which has proved popular and successful in giving new and upcoming Jamaican film makers a chance to test their film skills and brought them to public attention and new projects. The RFF has also unearthed and showcased the surprising talents of a growing number of 2- and 3-D animators, as well as several ‘urban guerilla’ Jamaican film makers who honed their talents on camdorders recording weddings and graduations, before venturing out to make their first experimental, but admirable feature films.
2013 FESTIVAL PROGRAMME
The 2013 Festival will honour WOMEN IN FILM, with a special posthumous tribute to Jamaican-American actress Madge Sinclair. Invited guests include Jamaican singer-actress Grace Jones and American director Ava DuVernay, CEO of AFFRM film distribution network, among others. This year the Festival will include a larger emphasis on Reggae Music with live performances by reggae artists and the addition of new Music Video Awards that will add a second venue to the Festival. Resort Screeings in Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Port Antonio will bring the Film Festival to hotels on the island’s best beaches.
The JFA promotional partnership this year with EuroChannel, the international TV Channel and film streaming website, will encourage more entries in the International Award category and provide visibility of RFF activities and news across their network of 11 million viewers worldwide. The annual Best of the Reggae Film Festival International Tour will once again present screenings in the UK, Europe and North America.
The Jamaica Film Academy thanks all its supporters, friends and helpers over the years, and looks forward to a bigger and better JAMAICA INTERNATIONAL REGGAE FILM & MUSIC FESTIVAL 2013. See you in the Gardens of the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Jamaican Independence Week, August 1-5.
Visitors to the Festival Jamaica 2012 event at the Stratford, London Olympic Village in July will be exposed for the first time to a wealth of new Jamaican feature, documentary and animated films never before seen in England, as Jamaica’s Reggae Film Festival brings a collection of the Festival’s best films to celebrate Jamaica’s 50th anniversary of Independence.
The Reggae Film Festival will showcase more than 40 new films at the FESTIVAL JAMAICA 2012 venue next door the Olympic Stadium, to provide a window on Jamaica’s contemporary life and culture. The London programme specially showcases the CINE JAMAICA collection of short films by the many bright young Jamaican film makers, whose productions made with low budgets and high ambitions are winning international film awards.
Wayne Benjamin
Amaziyah the Great
From full-length features, half-hour shorts, 5-minute entries in the popular Make A Film In 24 Hours competition, music videos and 3-D animation, the CINE JAMAICA collection carries to London the hopes and dreams of young film makers from the home of THE HARDER THEY COME for whom the Reggae Film Festival provides a chance for them to take their films ‘to the world’.
CINE JAMAICA films include the triple-award-winnng short RED, AMBER, GREEN by Christopher Byfield, the popular dancehall-themed animated series DUTTY BWOY by Reinardo ‘Mental’ Chung, and the feature film MISTAKE by Karret Barclay, as well as short films by directors Jones Jr., Adjani Samuels, Wayne Benjamin, Mezan Ayoka, Darren Scott, Maurice McCallum, Jay Will and Amaziyah The Great.
HIGHLIGHT PREMIERE Among the special highlights of the Reggae Film Festival programme is the UK premiere of BOB MARLEY: THE MAKING OF A LEGEND, the documentary collaboration by NAACP Image Award-winning actress Esther Anderson and Gian Godoy of scenes and interviews with a pre-locks, pre-fame Marley while she had a two-year relationship with the reggae legend in the early 70s. The film has been screened at more than 35 festivals in the USA, Cannes, Brazil, Barbados and at the RFF in 2011, where it won the UNESCO Honour Award.
In a review in Echoes Magazine noted reggae journalist John Masouri, wrote: “Ms. Anderson’s film doesn’t consist of the usual parade of archive footage and talking heads but revolves around priceless, early footage of the Wailers she shot in Jamaica during 1973, when Peter Tosh and Bunny Livingston were still in the group and Marley had just delivered the groundbreaking Catch A Fire album to Island Records. To watch all three Wailers … at 56 Hope Road is to witness reggae history at a crucial point in its development. It’s a revelation in truth – one of immense interest to Marley fans and anyone else sharing a love of Jamaican music and the cultural heritage from which it springs. ”
The Reggae Film Festival programme also includes international feature films set in Jamaica with Jamaican stories and music, documentaries about reggae including a rare interview with Lee Scratch Perry, the latest music videos, and a special programme of films about Jamaica’s Rastafari religion and culture. The films will be screened in the Festival Jamaica 2012 Cinema over 7 days beginning July 28.
The BEST OF THE REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL opened at the Drum Arts Center on Friday, May 18th with the UK Premier of young Jamaican film maker Chris Byfield‘s new and first-ever film “Red, Amber, Green“, a tale of three windscreen washers earning a living at Kingston’s busy stop lights. The audience gave a long around of applause after the film in support of the young film maker’s first film. The positive storyline went down well with the locals.
Following Red, Amber, Green, local Dub Poet and performing artist Kokumo made an onstage performance with full band which included a violinist, which is quite unusual for a reggae band. Next film shown was “Fire Burn Babylon“, the story of a group of displaced Rastas who were forced to leave their homeland after the volcanic erruption on the island of Monserrat. The group of friends moved to London and the film followed the trials and tribulations which laid ahead, as they coped with the dramatic change in their lifestyle and environment.
Following this was the film that everyone had been waiting for, Esther Anderson’s ‘Bob Marley: Making of a Legend’. This was the UK premier of the final edit of this film, so quite a special occasion for all. All seats were taken and for the next 90 minutes all eyes were glued to the screen.
Following the film Esther Anderson and producer Gian Godoy were invited up to speak for a Q+A session. Esther talked about filming Bob back in the early 70′s and also spoke about the new soundtrack that she has put together for the film with the help of many of Bob’s friends and their children. She said it didn’t start out this way; the film originally had the original audio which Esther had filmed of Bob singing, but Chris Blackwell who owns the majority of all Bob and the Wailers works did not give her the permission she needed to go ahead with the film with Bob’s music. This was quite a disappointment for all involved in the film, but Esther later realized that it would be better to have Bob’s friends and their children get involved in the film which seemed to be the right thing to do with this film, so she put together a new soundtrack which is really amazing. Andrew Tosh was involved, Lioness Fonz, and Akila Barrett also contributed, amongst many others.
Esther also mentioned that the new Kevin MacDonald film “Marley” used her footage without permission. She said they asked her for permission and she gave them a quote, but they ended up using it anyway without paying her anything and said that a 3rd party claimed ownership. It all sounded like a ploy to get the footage for free, knowing that Esther would have to take them to court to do anything about it, but this is exactly what she is doing. She refuses to just sit back and let them steal her material without her permission; she says this is a matter of principle and she will not settle until the matter has been dealt with.
DAY TWO (19th May)
The first film shown at 3pm was ‘Fire in Babylon’ directed by Stevan Riley and made by the producers of Academy Award-winning films ‘The Last King of Scotland‘ and ‘One Day in September’ about the domination of the West Indian cricket team who, with a combination of phenomenal skill and fearless spirit, became one of the greatest teams in sports history. With impressive archival footage and a robust soundtrack that includes the likes of Bob Marley and the Wailers, Gregory Isaacs, Faithless and Horace Andy, FIRE IN BABYLON celebrates the emancipation of a people through sport, and paints a fascinating picture of an era rooted in sports, politics, pride, anti-colonial fury and music.
Cedric Sanders
This was followed by ROCKSTEADY – THE MOVIE, a coming of age story set against the world of dirt track stock car racing in rural New York, starring Cedric Sanders and David ‘Steel Pulse’ Hinds. Set to a reggae soundtrack and featuring acting and musical performances by Grammy award-winning group Steel Pulse, ROCKSTEADY follows a young man’s journey over the course of a racing season, but more importantly of self-discovery and growth. The story is filled with humor, poignancy, subtle racial tension, intrigue and plenty of racing action.
This was a very interesting day at the Festival, due to the discussion after the second feature film “We The Raggamuffin” by Julian Henriques, a film made in 1992 for Channel 4. The story of how two killers invade a club and the local musicians drive them peacefully from their manor, was the first film of it’s kind to use an all-Jamaican cast in a UK dram, including local reggae stars Original Mikey General and the Saxon Sound System crew. The film depicts the North Peckham housing projects outside of London, home to many Britons of West Indian heritage. Henriques’s film examines the “Ragamuffin” urban subculture in the area, with its distinct clothing style and ties to Rastafarian ideology.
The audience laughed and cheered the comedy duo who were thugs chasing down Bucky Ranks, a local dancehall star. This film is a rare little gem from the Channel Four archive which is rarley seen and only broadcast once back in 1992. This film was a great choice for the program which the locals most certainly appreciated.
‘BAD FRIDAY’ by director Deborah Thomas and Junior Wedderburn, a documentary that focuses on a community of Rastafarians in western Jamaica who annually commemorate the 1963 Coral Gardens “incident,”. This was a moment just after Independence when the Jamaican government rounded up, jailed and tortured hundreds of Rastafarians after 3 men attacked a gas station and killed 2 men. The film chronicles the history of violence in Jamaica through the eyes of its most iconic community, and shows how people use their recollections of past traumas to imagine new possibilities for a collective future. The film was shot on location in Jamaica, and the original score features modern renderings of the traditional musical forms that comprise the roots of reggae music.
Following the screening we had a special guest, local dub poet Moqapi Selassie to host a debate on the film which included the subject of Rastafari. Fortunately, we happened to have some of members from the different local Rasta groups in attendance and the debate got quite lively at times. What really came through in the discussion was the sadness felt by those watching the film and the point was raised that Coral Gardens took place not too long ago, in the early 1960′s in the lifetimes of most of those in the room watching the film.
One person commented on how he shed a tear while listening to the comments from those who were involved. Someone else asked the question of whether the mass rounding up of all the Rastas of the time was possibly part of a bigger plan to wipe out Rastafari in Jamaica at the time, as the whole government/police reaction to such a minor event in a small region seemed to have such a huge consequence for Rastas all over Jamaica, and the audience questioned why this was.
BIRMINGHAM EVENT ‘A GREAT SUCCESS’. The Reggae Film Festival opened the Drum Arts Center‘s long list of Jamaica 50 Celebrations and was a great success. This was the RFF’s second year at DRUM and we hope to visit the venue again next year to bring more films about Jamaican culture, which are proving to be very popular amongst the locals. Birmingham has one of the UK’s largest Jamaican communities. You might walk down the street and think you are in Jamaica just by the number of Jamaicans and Rastas, so it is an ideal location for the Reggae Film Festival to showcase its films. We intend to build on our links next year with the City and the well-known DRUM Arts Center.
The Jamaica REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL begins its 2012 World Tour with THE BEST OF THE REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL 2-day event on May 18 at the DRUM Festival in Birmingham, UK. This second visit to DRUM will screen 7 films, including RFF 2011 UNESCO Honour Award winner BOB MARLEY: MAKING OF A LEGEND, the documentary by Jamaican award-winning actress Esther Anderson who will attend in person to introduce her film.
The event will present the UK premiere of RED, AMBER, GREEN by director Christopher Byfield, winner of the CINE JAMAICA Best Short Film Award at the April 2012 festival. Other films scheduled are the 2011 Best Feature Film ROCKSTEADY – THE MOVIE co-starring David Hinds of Steel Pulse, the 2011 Best Documentary FIRE IN BABYLONabout the victorious West Indies cricket team and WE THE RAGAMUFFIN, a classic rare gem by Jamaican-born British film maker Julian Henriques – winner of Best Soundtrack 2012. The Festival will close with a special screening of BAD FRIDAY, the documentary about the notorious Coral Gardens incident of 1963 when hundreds of Rastafarians were rounded up, jailed and brutalized.
LONDON – JAMAICA 50
In July the REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL is one of the events that will deliver a Jamaican cultural experience at FESTIVAL JAMAICA 2012 to coincide with the London Olympics. The event will last over a period of 17 days from 27th July – 12thAugust in the heart of Stratford just 6 minutes walk from the Stratford Olympic City . The Festival Jamaica 2012 experience will be a fun and celebratory event, educating and entertaining visitors with the experience of Jamaican culture, film, music and food, while also celebrating and showcasing Jamaica’s many achievements.
ONE LOVE FESTIVAL 2012
The UK’s leading reggae festival takes place August 10-12 at Paddock Wood, Kent where thousands of visitors will enjoy leading Jamaican and European reggae artists. The REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL will occupy a movie tent where Peter Gittins, director of the Jamaica Film Academy and host of Reggae Films UK will show films around the clock.
RFF @ Rototom 2010
ROTOTOM REGGAE SUNSPLASH
This will be the second year that this well-known European reggae festival taking place at Bencassim, Spain August 16-22, will again feature films from the REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL. In addition, RFF Director Barbara Blake Hannah is invited to present a Lecturer on ‘Reggae In Film‘ in the Rototom Reggae University chaired by RIDIM Magazine Editors Ellen Koehlings and Peter Lilly. Festival headliners are Marcia Griffiths, Morgan Heritage, Sly & Robbie, Freddie McGregor, Etana, Raging Fiya and Beenie Man, to name a few.
SERBIA JAMAICA 50 The REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL established a link with Serbia in 2008, when Belgrade businessman Mirko Miljus unveiled the first statue of Bob Marley in Europe at a reggae festival he organized, then personally brought a film he made of the event to the 2009 Reggae Film Festival. In 2012 Mr Miljus was appointed Honorary Consul for Jamaica in Serbia and to celebrate this, he is organizing a JAMAICA 50 Festival to showcase Jamaican music, arts and culture. The REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL will be a feature of this event, scheduled for August 26-28.
NORTH AMERICAN DATES
Dates are being confirmed for RFF presentations in Florida, New York and Canada to continue the summer tour. Hannah believes the globetrotting festival brand functions as “an international distribution chain for Jamaican films, film makers and musicians,” she says. “Whether it is DVD sales, or direct to cable TV the Reggae Film Festival is helping these films get the exposure they deserve.” JAMAICA REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL – CELEBRATING JAMAICA 50 IN FILM
The 5th annual JAMAICA REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL opened on Monday, April 16 with the start of the RBC Make A Film In 24 Hours competition. The Gardens of the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel were neatly trimmed and flowering, as competitors arrived to register, then listen to words of encouragement from Chief Judge, Psychologist and Motivational Speaker Dr. Leahcim Semaj.“Why is it,” he asked, ‘that the story always ends ‘… and the hunter killed the lion? Because the hunter always tells the story. If the lion told the story, it would have a different ending. Go out now and be lions,” he advised, “telling your own story in 24 hours.”
Competition Judges Dr. Leahcim Semah, 'Jungle George' Tait, with Technical Director Makonnen Hanna, RBC Staffers
Seven teams then set off to make their films and on Tuesday, April 17, 24 hours later, the team of 5 judges sat down to consider the entries and award their points. Eventual winner was “Take Me To the Ball”, with second place winner “Grow Jamaica, Grow” and third place to “Cyan’ Stay Suh” (Read complete story on RBC 24 Hours Competition HERE).
Young film makers & guests
OPENING NIGHT The Opening Night of film screenings took place on Wednesday, April 18, in the presence of the Mayor of Kingston, Her Worship Mrs. Angela Brown-Burke; the US Ambassador to Jamaica, H.E. Mrs. Pamela Bridgewater, the Jamaican Ambassador-Designate to London, Hon. Aloun Assamba-ndombett and Mr. & Mrs. Ray McElrae, Second Secretary of the Canadian High Commission. Also present were Hon. Maurice & Mrs. Valerie Facey, , Dr.Marcia Forbes, PhD of Phase Three Productions, Mr. Wayne Chen, Chair of the Jamaica Employers Federation and wife Diana; the Chairman of the Broadcasting Authority Mr. Cordel Green, former Miss Jamaica Joan McDonald and sponsors representatives Mrs. Janice Murdoch of RBC Royal Bank, Jeanette Lewis of FLOW Communications and several filmmakers.
The Opening Night feature documentary was “SING YOUR SONG”, the tribute to singer and social activist Harry Belafonte whose Jamaican roots gave him hit songs “Jamaica Farewell” and “Day Oh, The Banana Boat Song”. Belafonte’s work as a leader of the US Black civil rights movement, his work with Dr. Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela and his continuous fight against racism, were some of the issues highlighted in the film, which received great commendation from the audience.
The feature film WE, THE RAGAMUFFIN was screened in the presence of stars Mikey General and Bucky Ranks. The film, made in the 1990s by Jamaican director Dr. Julian Henriques for Britain’s Channel Four TV, this was the film’s first screening in Jamaica.
THURSDAY – SEMINAR Due to the surprising scheduling of the MARLEY documentary premiere in the middle of the Reggae Film Festival dates at a location exactly across the street from the Festival venue, the Jamaica Film Academy decided not to screen any films on Thursday, April 19. However, the afternoon was used to hold a Seminar on Scriptwriting. This was led by writers Amba Chevannes, a graduate of the University of the West Indies and the Tisch School of the arts in New York with a MFA in Dramatic writing, and Tanya Davies, a creative agent who teaches and consults in the field of Traditional, Digital and Interactive Media and is a lecturer at the Northern Caribbean University in Jamaica teaching TV Production, Writing for E-Media and Script writing.
Joe Isaacs & Marcia Griffiths
FRIDAY NIGHT Film screenings resumed on Friday night, with the presentation of the CINE JAMAICA films “I RASTA” Director: Adrian Curry (Canada/JA) and the music videos “Cyan Lock Off the Dance” by Tillibop, “Juiceman” and ‘Babylon Trail”. It was followed by the music documentary STUDIO DRUMMIE ONE AND THE HISTORY OF ROCKSTEADY MUSIC. Legendary music icon Joe ‘Drummie’ Isaacs, the ‘star of the film, was present in Jamaica for the screening, as was director Guy Ragosta, plus several of the musical legends with whom Joe isaacs has worked. These included The Heptones and Marcia Griffiths, who shared memories of musical times past.
The Jamaica feature film ‘MISTAKE’ was screened, one of two features entered by young director Karret Barclay (only one was programmed).
The tale set in a rural ghetto where crime has power and life is cheap, is well filmed, directed and edited with a soundtrack that pays attention to the visual action. While the theme may be just another ‘badman’ story, Barclay shows he has full grasp of the cinematic medium to tell his story. (His other feature ‘CAUGHT WITH MI EYES” is the story of a man who goes insane when he finds his wife being unfaithful in their marital bed, and follows the madman’s crazy behaviour around the countryside, until he regains his senses, forgives his wife and returns to normal life.)
After screening the entries in the RBC 24 Hours competition, the documentary ‘FIRE BURN BABYLON’ was shown. Directed by Sarita Siegel (UK), it depicts the life now being lived by some Rastafari men relocated from Montserrat after the volcanic eruption to life in London, and how their lives have changed from pure Rastfari spirituality, to becoming petty criminals, with music as a hope for escape from their new, unwelcome lifestyle.
SATURDAY NIGHT The CINE JAMAICA films shown were the animated short “DUTTY BWOY” by Reinardo Chung, “RED, AMBER, GREEN, Director: Christopher Byfield, third place winner of the 2011 RBC 24 Hours Competition and eventual winner of the 2012 CINE JAMAICA AWARD – SHORT FEATURE (under 30 mins). The film about three boys earning a living at Kingston’s stop light was a winner in another local film competition. Also shown was ‘CAMARIAH’S WAY” a film by Craig ‘Amaziyah the Great’ Kirkland , who has participated and won previous 24 Hours film competitions.
The documentary ‘WITH FIDEL, NO MATTER WHAT” by Goran Radovinovich (Serbia), a documentary without commentary that shows a day in the life of 3 Cubans, in preparation for celebration of May 5th, Revolution Day, was screened. Comments from the Jamaican audience showed surprise at how simply Cubans live without complaining, saying that the film showed good reasons to admire the Cuban revolution.
The feature film ‘BLIND SHOTTA‘ was shown, in the presence of Director Diavallian Fearon and several of the actors who starred in the film. The comedy about a blind man in the ghetto who decides to become a ‘don’ even though he can’t see where to fire his gun, had the audience in stitches, and talking about it after the film ended.
Director & stars THE INCREDIBLE BANANA
After screening of the entries in the RBC 24 Hours Film competition, the feature film THE INCREDIBLE BANANA, directed by Paulette King (JA/USA) was shown. The story of a wealthy man who loses his job, his big house and possibly his high-maintenance wife and family, but saves himself by remembering an old Jamaican proverb, was much appreciated by all who came to see the director’s first feature film.
AWARDS NIGHT Torrential rains that pelted Kingston on Sunday, April 22 caused an emergency move of venue from the Gardens to the Jamaica Pegasus Ballroom, where the Montego Suite was hastily converted into a new venue for the Awards Ceremony. Decorator Scheed Cole of Props & More rescued and repaired the signature clapper-board screen and film-reel sculpture to create a beautiful backdrop to the Awards.
Honouring Christopher Browne
The night began with a welcome to the Sponsors and to Guest of Honour, Jamaican filmmaker CHRISTOPHER BROWNE. First the final CINE JAMAICA -Short Feature entry, “6AM” by Director Wayne Benjamin, in which the Devil offers to buy a man’s soul. Then JFA Executive and Reggae Film Festival Director Barbara Blake Hannah invited Christopher Browne to take the Seat of Honour, while she read his Biography. (Read Christopher Browne’s bio HERE.) Next his short film “ENTRY DENIED” was screened, to much applause from the audience at the end. Chris Browne then spoke a few words, encouraging new young film makers to continue honing their craft. He advised them to get as much training as possible and continue following their dreams.
The films in the RBC 24 Hours competition were shown, and Awards presented. (See Judges REPORT of RBC 24 Hours Competition HERE) . Thanks were expressed to Sponsors of competition Second Prize Couples Tower Isle Hotel and to Phase Three Productions which sponsored a special prize of a two-week internship with their company.
The Awards for the 2012 JAMAICA REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL were then presented. Mrs. Blake-Hannah announced that the JAMAICA FILM ACADEMY was presenting a REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL -JAMAICA 50 HONOUR AWARD to Harry Belafonte, subject of the documentary film ‘SING YOUR SONG’. (See list of RFF 2012 Awards HERE.)
After the presentation of Awards, a leter of greetings and apology from film producer/director/actor Giancarlo Esposito was read in which he explained that rehearsals for a new play prevented him from attending the Reggae Film Festival as agreed. Then the feature film ‘GOSPEL HILL”, produced and directed by Giancarlo Esposito was screened to close the nigh.
The 5th JAMAICA REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL was historic, because for the first time more than 60% of the Festival films were Jamaican, with all four feature films by Jamaican directors. The Jamaica Film Academy is pleased to see its objective of developing the Jamaican film industry being accomplished.
JAMAICA REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL – PROUDLY CELEBRATING JAMAICA 50 IN FILM.
The RBC Make a Film In 24 Hours competition had a successful third year of development of the Jamaican film industry, with entries from first-time, upcoming and seasoned creative film makers.
The competition opened at 9 a.m. April 16 in the Gardens of the Jamaica Pegasus, addressed by Chief Judge, motivational speaker and resultant Dr. Leahcim Semaj. “Why does the story end “…and the hunter killed the lion”? he asked. “That’s because hunters wrote the books and lions cannot write. What will happen when lions learn to write their own stories? Time now for you to go out there like lions who know how to not just write your stories, but also to make your own movies in 24 hours.” He then informed them of the Theme: JAMAICA 50: REBIRTH OF A NATION.
24 Hrs START: Judges Dr. Leahcim Semaj and George Tait, Technical Director Makonnen Hanna, RBC Staffers
There were 7 entries in the competition, four of whom set off from the Gardens at 10:00 a.m. to make their films. One entrant was given permission to stay in Portland and work from there. Another from Spanish Town arrived two hours late and delivered two hours after the competition closed on Tuesday, April 17 at 10:00 a.m. The Judges decided to deduct 10 points from that entry’s marks, as a penalty. A competitor who came from Newcastle, also arrived at the start late, yet delivered her entry on time.
On the afternoon of April 17, Phase Three Productions provided the hospitality of their Boardroom for the Judges to view and assess the entries. Judges were: Dr. Leahcim Semaj; Film/TV Producer/Directors Michelle Geister and Tanya Taylor, Canadian film director ‘Jungle George’ Tait, and Producer/Director Herman Green.
Judges George Tait, Michelle Geister
JUDGES REPORT – Chief Judge Dr. Leahcim Semaj
I think the team of judges collaborated well in selecting a suitable theme for this year’s competition. It was good that we were able to use the technology to hold virtual meetings and achieve the objective without meeting physically, which would have interrupted each of our schedules. The theme was suitable and fitting.
The contestants, though fewer than expected, interpreted the theme well and provided a good mix of analyses as we had anticipated. The number of entrants made executing our task less time consuming while being more thorough.
I think the five of us worked pretty well together. Opinion differences were accepted and logical reasoning brought us to our objective quickly. For the most part, we were able to stay focused on the task at hand and complete it professionally.
FIRST PRIZE – $50,000
‘Take Me To the Ball” by Aston Cooke. Cooke, a playwright well-known in theatre circles, cast stage actors Dhalia Harris, Fabian Thomas and Akeem Mignott in a comedy with a twist the evoked laughter and commendation for concept and execution.
JUDGES COMMENTS: Perfect story-telling. Wonderful story … simply and cleanly presented. Excellent effort that bodes well for the future of Jamaica’s rich roots theatre’s expansion to cinema. Very nicely scripted imagery. I was rolling. LOVE THOSE TWO! Well done!
Camera angles were flat and lacking in creativity. Audio mix off with level of end music. Stage actor’s performance, could have been more nuanced for film. Shots blown out completely. Rookie misstep that shouldn’t have happened.
‘Grow, Jamaica, Grow’, TEAM: Mezan Ayoka, Director; Kyle Chin, Co-Director. An inspirational and motivational essay told without commentary to inspire Jamaicans to invest in our land and ourselves.
JUDGES COMMENTS: Excellent multi-layered social commentary with emotional notes communicated very effectively without dialogue. Best depiction of the competition theme. Great use of natural light. Brought tears to this judge’s eyes. Excellent submission that shows significant promise for this production team. Very nice imagery, simple poetic and well crafted. Sexy! Beautiful shots – made me fall in love with Jamaica again.
Some resolution pixillation, A few jump cuts that didn’t work. The [font] for GROW JAMAICA, GROW was lazy. Obviously they were acting and not really In the role. Story seemed to drag in final two minutes.
THIRD PRIZE
‘CAH STAY SUH‘ Director: Basil Smith. On his way home early morning, a man sees a Jamaican flag lying in the dirt. He picks it up, takes it home, washes and cleans it, before finally lying down to rest.
JUDGES COMMENTS: A very good story. The shots and angles moved the story along well. Directing good except for the vital piece that would explain the ending. The only flaw that cost it dearly. Excellent concept effectively told with strong production values. Good blend of social commentary with comedic notes. Vivid photography with interesting angles and tight editing.
Missed a key establishing shot so that the end of the film would have tied together easily. Aside from the end and beginning not being tied together, the middle told a good story. Grade for emotional impact given after exerting tremendous effort to understand the ending.
AUDIENCE AWARD – “INDEPENDENT 50” - Director: Craig ‘Amaziyah the Great’ Kirkland. Placing 4th in the Judges scores (with a deduction of 10 points for late entry) this drama showed a working class interpretation of the Jamaica 50 theme.
JUDGES COMMENTS: Solid camera work and authenticity shows promise for this film maker who is encouraged to get more experience with scripting, direction and film visual theory principles. Ambitious attempt with strong photography, but concept and story needed refinement. Great opening montage, Beautiful shots cut together at top. Beautiful camera angles. Loved the harshness of the lighting depicting their environment.
Difficult to understand some dialogue and lack of story direction lost viewer interest. There was no story. Flipped a shot several times. Loved the shots but there was no story. No emotional impact. Communication of theme confusing initially and not successful.
This entry proved a winner with the public. During the Festival screenings of the RBC 24 Hours Competition entries, Audience Response Cards were distributed to give the public a chance to express their opinions. When the Cards were tallied, the public gave this film 3 points less than the competition First Prize winner and, in agreement with First Prize winner, the Audience Award gift was presented to the director of this film.
WINNER – PHASE THREE APPRENTICESHIP
‘JAMAICA ACHIEVED IN 50 AND SO SHOULD I - Director: Jordain Freeman. After a run-in with the area don, a youth decides to study and make something of his life.
JUDGES COMMENTS: Impressed by the perseverance and courage of this first-time filmmaker and encourage him to study both the theory and technical aspects of film making. An attempt was made to edit. Some of the shots actually look nice. Titling at beginning was nice.
Basic concept good but fell short due to production values. Dramatic presentation too ambitious for resources and time.
Phase Three Productions, Jamaica’s leading film, television and event production company, offered a prize of two weeks apprenticeship for a competitor selected by the event organizers and judges. Jordain Freeman, a 19 year old UWI Science student with his first-ever attempt at film making, was considered the most deserving of this training and experience. Saying he had always wanted to make films, but never having tried, Freeman went online to YouTube in the 24 hours to edit and add sound to his film.
FINAL ENTRY
“JAGAJU” – Director Maxine Suki – Genre: ARTISTIC. This entry was a prose poem to an African ancestor inviting the spirit to see how Jamaica has grown in 50 years. Shot on cellphone, mostly in black-and-white, this entry was unusual.
JUDGES COMMENTS: Interesting concept that fell short of success due to production values. Strong narration. Shots would have looked good at a higher resolution.
Limited by sound and video quality, repetition of images. No creative interpretation. No emotional impact. Would encourage this entrant to learn more about the film production process.
AWARDS PRESENTATION
Awards in the 2012 RBC Make A Film In 24 Hours Competition were presented at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Sunday April 22, by Mrs. Antoinette Reid-Walker, Area VP, RBC Royal Bank.
JAMAICA REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL – CELEBRATING JAMAICA 50 IN FILM
The 5th JAMAICA REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL could not have taken place without the help of several organizations and individuals. The JAMAICA FILM ACADEMY uses this opportunity and medium to express our THANKS.
A gigantic THANK YOU to our GOLD SPONSORS, RBC Royal Bank, who joined us for a second year to support our groundbreaking competion Make A Film In 24 Hours. The RBC support from Day One of our plans and preparations enabled most of our hopes to be realized for staging the Festival, because of its belief in the competition as a showcase for upcoming Jamaican film talent. This year seven individuals or teams presented an interesting variety of interpretations of the theme “Jamaica 50: Rebirth of a Nation” and brought to the fore some new film talent. We sincerely could NOT have done the Reggae Film Festival without you, RBC. THANKS is a very small word for our deep gratitude.
To our SILVER SPONSORS, Jamaica Tourist Board and FLOW Communications, we welcome you to the Reggae Film Festival and THANK YOU each for adding your special touch to the event. The connection with the JTB will continue throughout the Reggae Film Festival 2012 international tour, during which we will proudly promote our island and Jamaica 50. Our connection with FLOW will establish a Reggae Film Festival TV channel where Jamaican films can be viewed and downloaded, creating a new area of distribution and sales for our locally-produced film work.
Our creative designer PROPS & MORE, whose clapper-board screen and giant film reel anchored our decor, created the first Reggae Film Festival Awards, presented in addition to our framed Certificates. Most of all, our thanks go to the rescue of all our decor from the rain-soaked Gardens, repair and move to the Jamaica Pegasus Ballroom and restoration in time for the Awards Ceremony. Again, THANKS is a very small word.
To the FIM MAKERS, Jamaican and international, who considered the Reggae Film Festival a worthy event in which to display their works, we THANK YOU. The variety of films, and the inclusion of so many Jamaican films, made our event a huge success.
'Jungle George' Tait & Michele Geister
To the members and friends of the Jamaican film industry who lent their time and support to various aspects of the presentation. Film entry judges Colin Leslie (continuing his support as JFA member since 2008); Cordel Green of the Broadcasting Authority who facilitated the viewing sessions for a second year; Kevin Jackson of the Jamaican Film Industry FB group, who also organized the Scriptwriting Seminar. The judges of the RBC 24 Hrs. film competition Dr. Leahcim Semaj, chair; JFA director ‘Jungle George’ Tait; film/tv producers Michelle Geister and Tanya Taylor, and amateur film maker/businessman Herman Green. THANKS is such an inadequate word for the considerations given to the works submitted and decisions reached. Thanks here also to the donors of competition prizes, Couples Tower Isle, Phase Three Productions and HEART Runaway Bay Hotel.
To our SERVICE SPONSORS, we send our customary grateful THANKS for providing behind-the-scenes work and investment of time, labour and more. REGGAE FILMS, our dear film curator Peter Gittins who is the heart of our overseas links; TAIT COMPUTER SERVICES, whose CEO ‘Jungle George’ Tait is our key Canada connection; SUGASHAK RECORDS, sponsor of the Best Soundtrack Award, MULTICAST ENTERTAINMENT, home of our digital designer and technical director Makonnen Blake Hanna, and the support of JAMEDIA PRODUCTIONS co-director and Event Manager Eric Dixon.
I cannot end without expressing a very special and heartfelt THANK YOU VERY MUCH to my friends and colleagues in the print, electronic and digital media, who came to the support of the Reggae Film Festival with endless newspaper articles, interviews, TV news stories, on-air mentions. Despite the RFF not achieving enough cash sponsorship to advertise the event in the media, so many showed both their commitment to the film festival’s success as well as their fraternity as journalists, that the film festival received as much (and perhaps even more!) publicity as received by other more financially-able events. This loving support kept our name ‘out there’ and informed our audiences of what was in store. Some names we have to BIG UP include (in no special order) Cecelia Campbell, Novia McDonald Whyte, Sharon Leach, Andrea Williams, Elise Kelly, Joy Douglas, K’shema Francis, Keisha Gay, Paul-Andre Walker, Tyrone Reid; Michael Anthony Cuffe, Robin Jerry Small , Yasmin Peru, JIS-TV News; TVJ, CVM, Hot 102, Roots FM, BESS-FM, PBCJ.
JFA Chairman Carl Bradshaw and RFF Director BBH
On behalf of the JAMAICA FILM ACADEMY and as chief architect of the REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL, I personally thank you each and every one from the fullness of my heart. We are already planning the 2013 RFF, recognizing the areas of need as well as plans for expansion. We look forward to your continued support. A full report on the 2012 Reggae Film Festival will be published shortly.
JAMAICA REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL – PROUDLY CELEBRATING JAMAICA 50 IN FILM
Music Video Competition begins
The competition invites votes for Top Ten selections by 3 music industry experts:YASMIN PERU, entertainment journalist/Editor Chaty Chaty News; RHONA FOX, US actress and CEO of FoxFuse artist management & promotion company, and JOHAN DAWES – CEO of HYPE-TV Jamaican Entertainment channel. Voters register to cast their votes in the online poll and each month the list will be narrowed down until ten finalists are identified. The Top Ten will be broadcast on HYPE-TV during July, and voters will then have an second option to text their votes.
