Professor Abel Marquez, executive director of Hope Channel Inter-America, will be a special guest presenter at the inaugural Jamaica Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (JAMU) Film Festival scheduled for May 10, 2025, at West Jamaica Conference Centre, starting at 3:00 pm.

The festival, a collaborative effort between JAMU and  Hope Channel Inter-America, aims to promote and encourage the use of short films to uncover members’ creativity while winning and retaining souls for Christ.

“We hope this initiative will inspire every attendee artistically and, beyond that, begin a network of Adventist film producers in Jamaica who will use every camera, every script, and every scene to create messages that speak of God and His love,” a news release from the Adventist church quotes Marquez.

“More than just a technique, film is a universal language — one we use at Hope Channel to share messages of faith, love, and hope. We have precisely that commitment: creativity in the service of values that transform lives,” he said

Márquez, a Mexican, is a commissioned minister of the Seventh-day Adventist Church who has worked for the church since 1992, consistently engaged in communication. He began his service as a producer in the North Mexican Union of Seventh-day Adventists and was later called to Montemorelos University where he served as a professor, communication director, and dean of the School of Arts and Communication.

In 2008, he was appointed Inter-American Division of Seventh-day Adventists (IAD) associate communication director. In 2015, he was elected department director and
Hope Channel Inter-America executive director. He holds a degree in visual arts and a master’s in communication management.

“We look forward to having Professor Marquez in Jamaica and to benefiting from his vast experience in communication and film-making as we navigate our first-ever festival,” the release quotes Nigel Coke, communication director for JAMU.

“Jamaica has many creative and digital disciples who have done innovative work for their churches and groups. Our primary focus is to provide an opportunity for Adventist creative disciples to hone their talents while providing an avenue for witnessing to non-believers and establishing a firm foundation in the faith of believers,” Coke added.

“I am anxiously looking forward to the festival and extend an invitation to all interested persons,” Coke said.

The keynote speaker will be Everett Wiles, the former general manager of NCU Media Group, who currently serves as vice-president of marketing and communication at Washington Adventist University in the USA.

The main presenter will be Dr Lizbeth Elejade, a professor and film producer at Montemorelos University in Mexico and the festival’s chief judge.

The Jamaica Stock Exchange and Caribbean Business Exchange, a dedicated cable TV channel featuring content and messaging produced by the JSE and regional and international broadcasting partners, are on board to assist with the festival’s awards, recording, and delayed coverage. NCU TVand Radio, Bless TV, and the West Conference Communication Network will broadcast the event live. It will also be streamed on the YouTube channels of the JAMU and West Jamaica Conference.

The festival theme is ‘Recapturing the Spirit of Mission’ and the submitted films are categorised into Music and Animation, Short Films and Mobile Films, Public Service Announcements, and Commercials.

The festival format includes showcasing top entries, presentations on film-making and an awards ceremony that recognises the best short films in various categories.

ELEJADE… the festival’s main presenter

WILES… keynote speaker