A J’can first at internationally-acclaimed Rotterdam Lab

Emerging film producer Nadean Rawlins will be the first Jamaican producer selected to attend the internationally-acclaimed Rotterdam Lab for its 21st staging in 2021.

Initiated in 2001 and organised by the International Film Festival of Rotterdam (IFFR) in the Netherlands, the Rotterdam Lab is an industry lab for emerging film producers, organised during CineMart, the renowned co-production financing forum that falls under the IFFR’s industry arm. The aim of the Lab is to provide promising producers with the means to build and develop an international network and develop various skillsets along the way.

This year, IFFR Rotterdam Lab welcomes 74 producers from 40 countries, selected through numerous partners of IFFR Pro. The participants are nominated by the respective 44 of the 73 IFFR Pro partners and supporters, which for the first time this year includes Jamaican partners through the creative industry audio-visual association, Jamaica Film and Television Association (JAFTA), and the government’s trade and investment and film commissioning agency JAMPRO, which is also financing Jamaica’s attendance.

“We are absolutely delighted to welcome the first Jamaican producer to this very special edition of Rotterdam Lab 2021” said Rotterdam Lab coordinator, Alessia Acone. “Expanding the territories of our various Rotterdam Lab collaborations towards the Caribbean was a goal we have finally achieved. We hope Nadean will be, yes the first, but not the last Jamaican producer we could introduce to the Rotterdam Lab community. Wishing her the best for this upcoming and valuable experience with IFFR.”

VERY GRATEFUL

“I am so excited to be the first Jamaican to be accepted into the prestigious Rotterdam Lab” said Rawlins, who recently co-directed and produced the proof of concept short film, Traytown to aid with the development of the larger project of the same name. “I know this lab will positively impact projects such as Traytown, and others that I have in development and of course contribute to my own development as a producer. I am very grateful to JAFTA and JAMPRO for the amazing opportunity and I am committed learning and applying it all and to make the partners and Jamaica proud.”

“Nadean’s and Jamaica’s participation at such a long-standing and widely respected industry programme is a considerable step forward for the development of local talent and the industry,” added JAFTA president, Analisa Chapman. “It will not only aid with capacity-building for the individual practitioner, but lead to the application of those skillsets and international networks to advance more local projects.” JAFTA and JAMPRO will also have an industry presence at IFFR through Cinemart to advance their respective wider mandates for development of the Jamaican audio-visual sector, and to provide any in-kind support for the Jamaican participant.

“Accessing the right international networks has always been a priority for the Film Commission, especially as we have started seeing more and more talent emerging who demonstrate that they are ready for these big next steps,” noted JAMPRO Film Commissioner Renee Robinson. “The developmental initiatives that we have supported locally, are a key path towards established and prestigious networks – such as the Rotterdam Lab – which has spring-boarded the careers of countless emerging talent. These are the bridges we’ve been missing, and now, with Nadean’s selection and attendance – these bridges are opening. Warm thanks for JAFTA’s ongoing collaboration in advancing opportunities for local talent, and to our inaugural Jamaican producer participant, Nadean Rawlins – you are joining the rank of ‘firsts’ in 2021… Go get ‘em.”

The 2021 Rotterdam Lab will run from January 25 to February 5, and will have a special interactive virtual edition due to the ongoing pandemic.