THE Chinese Benevolent Association (CBA), in association with the Institute of Jamaica (IOJ), will host a two-day film festival marking the 160th anniversary of the Chinese arrival in Jamaica.

The festival is scheduled to start at the University of the West Indies Mona Campus on Friday, and moves to the IOJ Lecture Hall, in downtown Kingston, the following day.

All events are free.

“The 160th anniversary of the arrival of the Chinese in Jamaica, is an important milestone. IOJ is pleased to partner with the Chinese Benevolent Association (CBA) and Jeanette Kong to share with and engage members of the public about the impact of the Chinese to Jamaica’s development. This will create a deeper understanding and appreciation for our multi-faceted cultural heritage and backgrounds,” Anne Marie Bonner, IOJ executive director, told the Jamaica Observer.

A reservation is required to view the film Finding Samuel Lowe: from Harlem to China on Friday. The documentary chronicles Paula Williams-Madison and her brothers’ attempt to find their grandfather’s descendants in China.

Saturday’s two films, The Chiney Shop and Half: The Story of a Chinese-Jamaican Son, are from Kong, a Jamaican of Chinese heritage who migrated to Canada in 1974.

“I was delighted to meet Jeanette Kong in Toronto, and being aware of the important work that she was doing as a Jamaican-Canadian to showcase the history of her Chinese heritage, it was a perfect opportunity to get the IOJ involved,” said Bonner.

The Chiney Shop explores the cultural connection between Chinese shopkeepers and Jamaicans, while Half: The Story of a Chinese-Jamaican Son is another examination of multi-culturalism. It looks at the common practice by Chinese parents to send their mixed-race sons to China to seek wives and learn the country’s customs.