Jamaican feature film project Raised by Goats is the first Jamaican project to be selected for the acclaimed La Fabrique Cinéma de l’Institut francais programme to be held at the Festival De Cannes in France.

Jamaican film-making participants Gibrey Allen (director) and Nadean Rawlins (producer) will also take to the international stage for their project as part of a pitching session on May 16, 2024 in the official Marché du Film line-up at the 77th staging of the renowned Cannes Film Festival.

The Institut français, in collaboration with its official partners France Médias Monde (RFI, France 24, and Monte Carlo Doualiya) and l’Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), unveiled the selection of the projects and participants from various countries and regions for the 16th edition of La Fabrique Cinéma de l’Institut français.

“I am so proud of Nadean and Gibrey on this tremendous achievement,” said French Ambassador to Jamaica Olivier Guyonvarch, “and hope that the selection of their project leads to greater collaborations between Jamaica and France.”

This year’s coveted selection comprises 10 projects in development, including
Raised by Goats, representing diverse voices and narratives from around the globe. Notably, this marks the first time that a project from Jamaica has been selected for La Fabrique, signifying the country’s rising prominence in the global film landscape.

Raised by Goats marks the second feature film project of Allen, and is being produced by Rawlins under the banner of her production and talent company Raw Management Limited.

Allen and Rawlins are also 2022 and 2023 alumni of the Locarno Open Doors programme, in which Raised by Goats was selected for its Project Hub in 2023.

“Being selected in La Fabrique is a testament to the growing recognition of Jamaican cinema and the power of our stories to resonate with audiences worldwide,” noted Rawlins, “I am eager to embark on this transformative journey to further develop Raised by Goats and showcase the vibrant voice of Jamaican cinema on the global stage.”

Of note, La Fabrique will be facilitating co-production meetings with international producers and forums for the projects at the Cannes Film Festival’s industry market to foster international co-production with France.

“It’s incredibly meaningful to have a profoundly Jamaican film project featured on such a prestigious platform like Cannes,” said Allen. “This achievement also marks a significant milestone for me personally.”

Inspired by the story of Allen’s mother, this project pays tribute to the resilience of Jamaican women, the struggle for personal and national emancipation, woven with mysticism and liberating love.

Raised by Goats is a multi-generational drama set in Jamaica in the 1960s that explores the fate of Trudy, a young widow whose quest for renewal takes her to the mystical Blue Mountains. There between legends and reality, she discovers truths that will transform her life.

Jamaica’s recently launched a national film fund under the Jamaica Screen Development Initiative brand.

La Fabrique Cinéma de l’Institut français is a renowned program dedicated to identifying and promoting film-makers and producers from developing and emerging countries. It offers tailored support for first or second film projects, fostering international co-production with France.

Since its inception in 2009, the programme has supported numerous projects, including 154 from developing and emerging countries, with an impressive 43 per cent of participants being women.