WIFT-JA’s new board ready to empower female creatives

The newly elected board of the professional organisation, Women in Film and Television – Jamaica (WIFTJA), is ready to continue its mission of empowering and increasing the visibility and professional development of female creatives in screen-based media.

The all-female board comprises Jamaican creatives who continue to actively influence the film and television landscape, locally and internationally, through their involvement in various projects and initiatives.

The board members for the period 2022-2024 are: president, Nadean Rawlins; vice president, Mezan Ayoka; secretary, Romi Toyloy; treasurer, Tiffany Lewis; membership and training director, Brianna Rae Nelson; and marketing and communications Director, Krystia Royes.

WIFTJA is the local chapter of the professional organisation Women in Film and Television International (WIFTI), which is a global network of nearly 40 ‘Women in Film’ chapters worldwide with more than 10,000 members.

WIFTI is dedicated to advancing professional development and achievement for women in the audiovisual industry. The global organisation provides the unique opportunity for members to share ideas on chapter development and co-production options, as well as participate in international work exchange programmes.

“We believe we have so much to offer from our collective experience over the years in the industry and connecting our members with other chapters in WIFTI is key for us moving forward,” Rawlins, whose areas of focus are governance and internationalisation, noted.

In July 2019, the newly reconvened WIFTJA was accepted by WIFTI as an emerging chapter attached to the WIFT Florida Chapter. WIFTJA was made an official international chapter in 2020.

Between April-November 2020, the film industry generated about 954 jobs and an estimated J$168 million (unaudited) in film-production expenditure.

“We want to play our part in the development of the industry and so we are focused on providing the knowledge and expertise required to share and create Jamaican content that can position the Jamaican film and audiovisual industry as a more viable contender in the international market,” Rawlins emphasised.

Members of WIFTJA are automatically included among a cadre of dynamic WIFTI professionals who represent every aspect of the global audiovisual industry. These include executive producers, directors, camera and sound technicians, accountants and lawyers.

“WIFTJA is ready to provide the necessary support to our members in a truly meaningful way. Whether through assistance with participating in international film festivals or providing workshops to upskill and introduce new techniques, we’ll work with our members to help them achieve success across all areas of the industry,” Ayoka added.