HUNDREDS of patrons who turned up for the premiere of Jamaican Mafia at the Sunrise Multiplex Cinemas in Valley Stream, New York, on Wednesday, left bitterly disappointed as the film never made it to the silver screen.

The producer/technican, Nigerian Vafomba Donzo, who had the sole copy, suffered a stroke en route to the venue and had to be rushed to the hospital.

“We are deeply sorry for what transpired, but the decision to cancel the event was out of our control,” said Bobby Clarke, CEO of Irie Jam Radio.

Irie Jam Radio assisted the production company, Donzo Productions, with the promotions of the event.

Filmed entirely in New York City last year, Jamaican Mafia is directed by Donzo and stars Paul Campbell, whose credits include Dancehall Queen and Third World Cop.

According to Clarke a statement, Irie Jam Radio threw their full support behind the movie “because we wanted to support a project which showcased so many notable Jamaican/Caribbean actors here in the Diaspora under our MOVING FORWARD campaign. We also wanted to shine the spotlight on the young, aspiring Jamaican writer/actor Mykal Fax, as well as accomplished actor Paul Campbell.”

Ticket holders will be refunded and new date for the premiere will be announced.

According Fax, he tried to retrieve the film from a person travelling with the victim but was unsuccessful.

Fax explained that the reason for having a sole copy of the movie was a means of protecting it from being bootlegged.

“They never wanted the movie in the wrong hands. So decided not to make more than one copy for safety.”