This August, Jamaica Film and Television Association (JAFTA), a leading non-profit championing the island’s screen industry, proudly marks its 10th anniversary celebrating a decade of empowering Jamaica’s film and television practitioners and shaping the nation’s creative future.

Since its founding, JAFTA has played a pivotal role in building Jamaica’s audio-visual industry, uniting creatives, lobbying for industry growth, and launching initiatives that have propelled local talent onto the world stage.

“To create a whole new world in front of a camera every production day takes enormous skill, talent and determination, not from one person, but from an association of people bent on telling our stories, on our land, to which the Jamaica Film & Television Association aims to protect, prop and promote. Happy Anniversary JAFTA!” said Basil Jones Jr, JAFTA founding member.

Over the past decade JAFTA has impacted countless individuals, families, and businesses through training programmes, funding opportunities, advocacy, and member benefits such as health insurance. Key achievements include:

JAFTA Propella — the flagship script-to-screen short film programme has produced more than 25 short films, several of which have won awards at international film festivals. Notably, Flight was screened on HBO, showcasing Jamaican storytelling to a global audience;

Feature Film Lab — trained over 30 participants, including screenwriters, editors, and producers, equipping them with the skills to develop high-quality feature film scripts for international markets;

Specialised workshops — delivered technical skills training in camera operation, sound recording, and post-production, as well as actor training, enabling practitioners to compete at international standards.

Through strategic partnerships with government agencies, the private sector, production houses, and community organisations, JAFTA has expanded opportunities for its members and strengthened the national industry.

“This milestone is not only a time to reflect on our accomplishments, but also to celebrate the incredible talent Jamaica has to offer and to reaffirm the importance of creating opportunities for our stories to be seen by audiences everywhere,” said Nadean Rawlins, JAFTA president. “Our mission remains to empower our members, strengthen our industry, and ensure Jamaica’s voice resonates on screens across the globe.”

As JAFTA steps into its future, the organisation said it is committed to expanding workshops, launching new initiatives, and bringing film outreach programmes to rural communities, while forging partnerships that create even greater opportunities for Jamaican talent.