KINGSTON, Jamaica – The first annual IPHIAS International Film Festival is scheduled to kick off on Thursday in the western parish of Trelawny and run into the weekend.

Starlyte Entertainment Enterprise & Media Inc (SEEMI), whose vice president of Operations is Anthony ‘Bassie’ Hibbert, is one of the supporting sponsors of the event that will run from November 12 to 15 at the Glistening Waters Resort, Rock, Trelawny.

The festival is expected to attract a huge turnout of players from both the local and international film and music industries.

SEEMI is among a steadily growing list of international producers, distributors and media personnel, aimed at offering exposure to the Jamaican film, and by extension music, industry.

SEEMI is “committed to showing films that will change lives and empower the audience”, said a press release.

Hibbert is to, among other things, determine how SEEMI may contribute to the development of the Jamaican music and film industry.

He has made sterling contribution to reggae music where his skills and abilities as a musician, and production engineer have kick started, and or sustained the careers of many of reggae music’s greats.

A solid bass player, Hibbert, has worked with the likes of The Heptones, Jackie Mittoo, Leroy Sibles, Johnny Osbourne, Horace Andy, Yellow Man, Sugar Minott, Linvall Thompson, Sammy Dread, Buju Banton, Admiral Bailey, Capleton, Carlene Davis, Junior Murvin, Lady Saw, Lee Perry, Luddy Pioneer, Brent Dowe, Lutan Fire, I Wayne, Kronix, Jah Mason, Yammy Bolo, George Faith, Luciano, Frankie Paul, and Gregory Isaacs.

Bassie produced the song Dance With Me, which was sampled by Kanye West.

In true Jamaican style, Bassie humbly acknowledges that he is the man behind the bass on the Hard Times.

SEEMI has been in business for over 20 years and is gearing up to re-launch it’s recording label with additional facets, to include movie and television.

Paul Henry