KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaican High Commission in Pretoria participated in the 2016 film festival hosted by the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries with Diplomatic Representation in South Africa (GRULAC).

The festival was held from October 6 to October 9 at the Open Window Institute for Arts and Digital Sciences in Centurion, South Africa.

According to a news release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Jamaica, was the only English-speaking country of the 10 participants this year, and screened three short films from the JAMPRO/JAFTAPropella Initiative.

“These films — “Origins”, written and directed by Kurt Wright, “Shoot the Girl”, written by Anthony Hendriks and directed by Natalie Thompson, and “Shock Value”, written and directed by Adrian Lopez, were shot on location in Jamaica with a 100 per cent Jamaican crew, 100 per cent Jamaican talent, and 100 per cent Jamaican production service companies.”

High Commissioner Cheryl Spencer reportedly used the opportunity provided by the festival to promote the work of the Jamaican Film Commission and highlight Jamaica’s award-winning participation in international film Festivals to date. She indicated that the High Commission would be working to facilitate the participation of the South African film industry in the 2017 Jamaica Film Festival.

Throughout the festival, and prior to the screening of the Jamaican films, patrons were able to view a short promotional video highlighting the country as a venue for film production and showcasing the many popular films which have been shot on location in Jamaica over the years.  

The ministry said the Jamaican contribution to the film festival was warmly received as evidenced by the enthusiastic response at the end of the film presentation and the many questions which High Commission staff received from patrons before and after the screening.