Reggae In Film

Minister Of Culture Announces Reggae Film FestivalA reggae film festival featuring films that have reggae music as the subject, story line or content will be held in Kingston on February 15,17 to focus on film as an aspect of Jamaican music culture. This was announced today by Minister of Information, Culture, Youth & Sports with responsibility for Entertainment, Hon. Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, who said that her Ministry will be assisting the Reggae Film Festival to showcase some of the many documentaries, feature films and music videos being made that incorporate or highlight Jamaica's unique reggae music.

The Film Festival will be a prelude to the Reggae Academy Awards being presented at that time by Recording Industry Association of Jamaica (RIAJam) as well as a sidebar of the Global Reggae 2008 conference hosted by the UWI Institute of Caribbean Studies.

The REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL is organized by film maker and film festival organizer Barbara Blake Hannah in collaboration with ReggaeFilms.co.uk, a UK-based online community and marketplace for films, books and music highlighting Jamaica's reggae culture. Minister Grange says the REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL will give Jamaicans the opportunity to view some of the best of the hundreds of films made about and because of the world famous music of Jamaica, that not only reflect the wide interest in Jamaican music, but also bring tourists on vacation and income to members of the entertainment fraternity, as well as the nation.

"Most of the films about Jamaica are made by reggae lovers in countries outside Jamaica and we here at home have never seen them. There are also some Jamaican films that equally have never had local TV or cinema exposure. The REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL will showcase the best of these. There is certainly enough material of interest continually being produced to make this an annual event," said Minister Grange.

Co-ordinators Barbara Blake Hannah and Peter Gittins of Reggae Films UK, say the Reggae Film Festival will be a Red Carpet event of films in the categories of Reggae Rock-umentary, Roots – Rock - Reggae, and Give Thanks & Praise. Films include "ROOTS TIME" an amusing feature film by Peruvian film maker Silvestre Jacobi that follows two Rastas who travel around Jamaica selling records.