The Jamaica Promotions Corporation (Jampro) is currently leading the 2018/19 Jamaica Film and Television Association (JAFTA) PROPELLA finalists on a film promotion mission at the 41st annual Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival being held in France. JAFTA Propella is a national film development programme designed to bring attention to local film-makers and promote their work to audiences around the world.

The delegation began their mission to the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival on February 1, 2019. The festival attracts over 3,000 international film industry professionals including producers, buyers, and distributors who are seeking new content for various platforms.

Leader of the delegation, Jampro Film Commissioner Renee Robinson, underscored the importance of the trip.

“Clermont is one of the most important short markets on the festival circuit, bringing us into contact with buyers, distributors, and agents from all over the world,” she said. “In the 2019/20 cohort we will be opening up the opportunity for corporate partners to get involved in the international components, now that we’ve fine-tuned the programme and documented its successes. This is a new mode of operation for us, but one which will strengthen our global competitiveness as we exchange more deeply with the international market.”

The delegation includes Jamaica Film and Television Association (JAFTA) President Analisa Chapman; Going Down film-maker, Mezan Ayoka; Flight film-maker Kia Moses, and Ina Sotirova, who is promoting her film Agwe.

They will be meeting various influencers in the international film industry including sales agents, Video on Demand (VOD) platforms like Netflix and Hulu, financiers and potential producing partners. The mission to France is part of the JAMPRO, JAFTA and CHASE Fund collaboration to promote Jamaican film-makers and screen-based content internationally.

This is the second JAFTA PROPELLA delegation to the festival, as the programme continues to see success. Previous participants have enjoyed significant success since their participation in the programme including one short under development towards feature status, one short under development towards TV series, and several being accepted and winning awards at various international film festivals.

In addition to the premiere of the JAFTA PROPELLA films at the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival, local filmmakers have participated in workshops focusing on script development, directing and producing, and the business of film to prepare for the international industry. Market attendance at Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival indicates the final stage of the 2018 cohort.

JAFTA President Analisa Chapman said the programme has provided excellent support for local film-makers.

“At its core, JAFTA Propella is a developmental programme, and with the financial support of the CHASE Fund and facilitatory and promotional support from Jampro, our aim is to help develop and showcase more local creative content and skill sets,” she said.

“We are extremely grateful to Jampro for facilitating and sponsoring representatives from the selected projects, and JAFTA to go the Clermont-Ferrand International Film Festival as it not only further exposes our local talents and stories to the world, but exposes our participants to other film markets as well as the practice and importance of the business of film. It will be an experience that the participants will undoubtedly learn from and share on their return.”

JAFTA, with support from Jampro and CHASE Fund, is engaged in an ongoing commitment to foster a spirit of togetherness, community and advancement for the Jamaican film and television industry. The Jampro film commissioner spoke to the need for continued exposure at the international level.

“The world is curious and eager to see what is being produced in Jamaica, and what type of cinematic aesthetic is emerging from the region,” she stated. “Ongoing annual market attendance continues to be crucial to entrench the message that Jamaica is ready to do business on the global film festival circuit.”

Jampro is Jamaica’s trade and investment promotions agency and is an agency of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries.

— Alexis Monteith