Kwame McPherson, overseas actors for Black River Film Fest

Fade to black is a term used in film making to refer to a transition from colour to total blackness. And come June 29 to 30, persons will be fading to Black River for days two and three of the inaugural Black River Film Festival, at Cloggy’s on the Beach at Crane Road.

The opening day’s activities, set to start at 9 a.m., will be held at St Elizabeth Technical High School in Santa Cruz, on June 28. The 2023 Commonwealth Short Story Prize winner Kwame McPherson, Games of Thrones actor Marcus James, Black Panther actress Connie Chiume, and Sundra Oakley, producer, author, actress ( Bob Marley: One Love), will speak over the three days.

“Inaugurated with a vision to cultivate budding filmmakers and ignite creativity in the heart of rural Jamaica, the festival emerges as a groundbreaking platform on the South Coast. Breaking away from tradition, this unique celebration has chosen to grace an area that traditionally sees fewer cultural events compared to the bustling capital,” the organisers say.

“The festival’s primary goal is to illuminate and uplift the region, with a special focus on the enchanting narrative of Black River. More than an event, it stands as a catalyst for local talent, inspiring the youth to explore the realms of filmmaking, documentary creation, and various creative expressions, all within reach through their mobile devices.”

On June 28, the spotlight will be on young people age 14 to 18 years old. Festival Director Dr Ava Eagle Brown will introduce patrons to the festival, after which Kwame McPherson will give a masterclass on ‘The Science of Storytelling’.

The films in the students’ short film competition will be viewed before the lunch break, to be followed by the second masterclass of the day, ‘Penning Pain to Purpose’, by Anita Bailey,communications relations education officer from the Ministry of Education and Youth.

A panel discussion,‘No Gatekeeping: Gen Z’s Path to Film through Social Media’, will precede the announcement of the winners in the film competition. Feature film, ‘Lady Bird’ (directed by Greta Gerwig), will put the wrap on day one.

Day two will unfold at Cloggy’s on the Beach, and after the welcome by Dr Eagle Brown, the first masterclass for the day,‘Crafting character: An actor’s perspective’, will be given by Marcos James (Game of Thrones Actor), to be followed by ‘Fireside Chat’ with Marcos James. Kevin Jackson, president of Jamaica Animation Network, will moderate.

The second masterclass, on ‘Versatility in acting: From screen to stage to stand-up’, is to be taught by Angie Le Mar, actress, director and producer.‘Deep dive piece: A producer’s conversation’ with Diane Houslin, television and film producer, is to be moderated by Dr Eagle Brown. Then, the feature film, ‘The Jamaica Story’ (directed by Mikey T Campbell) will hit the screen.

UNDISCOVERED TALENT

Kaydian Myers-Brown, president of the St Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce, Black River Chapter; Claudia Gardner, CEO, Negril Times; Dr Eagle Brown, and Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Floyd Green, member of parliament for South West St Elizabeth, will give answers to the panel discussion question, ‘Why Not Black River?’, to be moderated by Beverly Martin Berry.

After the screening of short films, the evening climaxes with‘Desecration’, directed by Niyi Towo lawi.

A masterclass on ‘Film craft: The art of casting’ by Jeremy Zimmerman, director and producer, will zoom in the final day. The cameras will be busy as Rochelle Brown, vice president of sales in entertainment at Harbor Picture Company, discusses her masterclass, ‘Navigating the entertainment industry: From production to sales’.

‘Women in Film’ is the topic of the panel discussion to be moderated by Angie Le Mar. Justine Henzell, film producer; Jackie Jackson, film commissioner of Jamaica;and Sundra Oatley are the panellists. Casting call, led by casting director Jeremy Zimmerman, will be made by way of an open mic. Screening of the short film, ‘Flower from a Brook’ (directed by Lisa Dawes), is up next. After the short film screenings, ‘Desecration’ (directed by Nivi Towolawi) pulls the curtain down for the evening.

A ‘fireside chat’ – ‘Film critique vs film creation’, moderated by movie critic Damian Levy, will take the form of a conversation between critic and actor Cornelius Grant, and Ryan Singh, producer and director. Dr Eagle Brown will moderate the final fireside chat, with Connie Chiume, and after ‘The Harder They Come’ (directed by Perry Henzell) is projected, a bonfire will be the backdrop for the after-party, with Mutabaruka at the controls.

“This inaugural festival acts as a bridge, forging connections between the undiscovered talent of rural Jamaican creatives and international luminaries, including casting directors and producers. This exchange is not just about showcasing; it’s about providing invaluable opportunities for growth, fostering collaboration, and unveiling the rich tapestry of talent that flourishes in the often-overlooked corners of Jamaica,” the organisers also say.

“As we gather for the Black River Film Festival, we celebrate not only the art of cinema, but also the living history that courses through the veins of the Black River. Through the lens of film, we honour Jamaica’s cultural richness, acknowledging the river’s role as a silent storyteller of the Black River Film Festival.”