5 Questions with Savannah Peridot

The Greater August Town Film Project, which expanded into GATFFEST (the Greater August Town Film Festival), started with a vision to provide a platform for the graduates of the UWI Community Film Project “to unveil their cinematic creations”. GATFFEST had its first staging on June 20-23, 2013 and the journey has continued in a magnificent way. This week’s Five Questions With ... shines the spotlight on GATFFEST Film Festival Director, Savannah Peridot. GATFFEST 2024 had its official launch on June 15 and runs until July 7.

1. What was the thought process behind the creation of GATFFEST, and has the goal been accomplished?

The festival was created to support the UWI Community Film Project, initiated by Professor Ian Boxill. This community outreach programme was established in August Town to teach young people filmmaking. It has since expanded to other underserved communities. The GATFFEST Film Festival was launched to provide a platform for students from the film project to showcase their films. Over time, the festival has grown, now featuring not only films from the project but also other local and international films.

2. How important is the Greater August Town community to the longevity/continuity of GATFFEST?

We are first and foremost a community film festival, so August Town is a very important part of our identity. We strive to host as many film nights as possible within communities and rely on the filmmaking talents of creative individuals living there. The UWI Community Film Project still takes place annually, and these students play a significant role in the festival. Often, the première film is created by them, or they submit films for the Jamaican film night. Many of these individuals also volunteer for the festival. The Centre for Community Outreach and Development at UWI Mona, which organises the festival, has a very small staff, therefore, we heavily depend on our volunteers for assistance during the festival.

3. What are the opportunities for filmmakers who participate in the festival?

Filmmakers who participate in the festival get the opportunity to have their films viewed by a captive audience, receiving valuable feedback that is crucial for advancing the industry. They also get to meet other local and international filmmakers and individuals from the creative industry. We host an awards ceremony where films are judged by a panel and the winners are recognised. Recently, we have introduced a prize for the Jamaican filmmaker who wins the viewer’s choice award on Jamaican Film Night. This award is significant not only because of the cash prize but also because it validates the filmmaker’s talent if the audience loves their work.

4. GATFFEST is “the Caribbean’s premier community short film festival”. How involved is the Caribbean, and are you satisfied with this level of involvement?

We receive numerous submissions from filmmakers all over the Caribbean. This year, we were pleasantly surprised to receive a significant number of submissions from Trinidad, more than we usually get. Over the years, we have also received submissions from Barbados, St Lucia, and Guadeloupe. Guadeloupe has a thriving film industry, and thanks to our collaboration with the Embassy of France in Jamaica, we have received some outstanding films from there. These films usually perform very well in the festival. We are pleased with this level of involvement, but we plan to establish connections with other islands to encourage even more submissions from across the Caribbean.

5. What is your vision for GATFFEST?

My vision for GATFFEST is for the festival to become a household name. When we first started, many Jamaicans believed that Jamaican films were of inferior quality. However, I believe this perception has changed, particularly with the advent of social media. People now appreciate content created by us, for us, and recognise its value. My goal is to garner more attention for Jamaican films. We’ve established a platform where Jamaican filmmakers can reliably showcase their work locally each year. Our aim is to expand the festival so that more people, both locally and internationally, can discover and access Jamaican films. By doing so, I envision significant growth for our film industry. Many filmmakers begin with short films, and by recognising and supporting this talent, we can pave the way for more Jamaican feature-length films annually.

BRAWTA: (a) Share with us two standout GATFFEST moments for you, and (b) What are the top three films that you would watch over and over again?

When Flight, directed by Kia Moses, won the top awards. This marked a significant turning point for the festival, as international films typically dominated these prizes. This win underscored a shift in the local industry, demonstrating that our filmmakers were capable of competing with international standards. The film featured very young leading actors, and seeing them dressed up at the awards ceremony, posing on the red carpet, was truly memorable.

Another standout moment was walking the red carpet with my daughter for the first time. The entire experience felt surreal. Now four years old, my daughter has been attending film screenings this year, and sharing this aspect of my job with her has been incredibly special. I’m even considering adding a special GATFFEST night just for children next year.

(b) My top three films in general would be the Avengers: Infinity War and End Game, those are my comfort movies, as well as Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. I watch these films at least once per year. My top three films from GATFFEST would be Flight, directed by Kia Moses; Black Girl in the Ring, directed by Saeed Thomas and Joshua Paul; and Yellow Girl and Me, directed by Isabella Issa.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com