TITLE sponsor of the inaugural Jamaica Film Festival, which was staged in Kingston July 7-11, Red Stripe, will be adding The Business of Film to the curriculum of its Learning For Life programme.

Managing director of Red Stripe Cedric Blair made the announcement recently.

“We will be working closely with JAMPRO to develop this as a best practice, covering all areas relating to the film industry, from accessing funding to showcasing the contributions of the creative sector, to the country’s attractiveness, economic and social development,” Blair said.

“Red Stripe encourages both existing and aspiring talent to continuously seek to become the best and the brightest of the industry and maintain the same level of vibrancy our culture is known for. We are looking for great things to come from this partnership,” he added.

The course is to become available next year as part of Project Entrepreneur.

Red Stripe beer has been featured in many local, regional and international films. As such, the company has decided to take it a step further to ensure that it helps to play a role in paving the way for local talent and showcasing some of these on the big screen.

“Jamaica’s local talent in the areas of directing, scriptwriting, producing and acting can compete anywhere in the world,” Blair argued. “Our natural resources are the envy of most and can attract a huge chunk of the US$1.2-trillion worth of international film business. The Jamaica Film Festival is a great initiative that will capitalise on all this, and in the short, medium and long term will help to fuel our local economy. It has the potential to unlock key linkages for the creation of jobs, and establish a platform for discovery of new talent.”

According to Blair, this is more than a one-time partnership and with the help from other sectors the company will be able to achieve great things.

“It has come at the right time. Bringing together professionals, industry players and journalists from around the region provides us with a huge opportunity to draw attention to and raise the profile of the Jamaican film industry while also facilitating networking opportunities for the exchange of information and negotiations.

“Brand Jamaica will be all the better for this and, for Red Stripe, a Diageo company that is happy to be on board as the title sponsor for the next three years,” he continued.

The five-day Jamaica Film Festival brought together local and overseas screenwriters, filmmakers and producers. More than 40 films were screened, six of which were produced by Jamaican filmmakers, and 32 by international directors with Jamaican connections.

Cedric Blair (left), managing director Red Stripe, speaks with minister of industry, investment & commerce Anthony Hylton at the opening ceremony of the Jamaica Film Festival at the Courtleigh Auditorium recently.