‘Black Girl in the Ring’ triumphs at GATFFEST

The Saeed Thomas and Joshua Paul-directed Black Girl in the Ring swept an impressive six awards at this year’s GATFFEST. This compelling narrative, which follows a teenage Nanny of the Maroon orchestrating a daring escape from slavery with her brothers, has been celebrated as a testament to Jamaica’s rich history, the power of women, and its masterful blend of human drama and justice.

The film earned the prestigious Archibald McDonald Award for the Best of GATFFEST as well as awards for Best Director and the Lennie Little-White Award for Best Local Film. Garreth M. Daley was recognised with the Best Cinematography Award for his exceptional work, and Kodi Brown’s portrayal of Nanny of the Maroons earned her the award for Best Performance. Additionally, Black Girl in the Ring captivated audiences, earning the Jamaican Film Night Viewers’ Choice Award.

Other notable Jamaican short films also received accolades at the festival. A Shade of Indigo, directed by Hanif James and produced by Tanya Batson-Savage, was awarded Best Screenplay and the Judge’s Choice Award for Notable Performance. Blackbird, directed by Joel Carrington Miller, received the Most Original/Creative award for its innovative storytelling approach. Nande Walters’s Soon Come Back won the Ian Boxill Award for the Spirit of GATFFEST.

In the international category, Miquel Galofre’s Stick is Life emerged as a standout, earning awards for Best International Film and Best Editing. The film offers a fascinating look at Trinidad and Tobago’s Moko Jumbies (stilt-walker) tradition. Iranian filmmaker Medhi Sedighi’s The Splint won the Director’s Award for Best Animation.

The Dr Olivene Burke Award for Contribution to Community Development was presented to Oneil Coke. This accolade recognises a UWI Community Film Project graduate who is actively working to transform and uplift their community. Oneil Coke leads the Tivoli Artwalk campaign, an initiative aimed at redefining his community’s narrative and addressing its history of violence.

This year’s panel of judges, comprising Dr Lisa Tomlinson, UWI senior lecturer in film and literary studies; Shaun Drysdale, drama, theatre, and film development specialist; and Tonijean Mustafa, content creator, faced the challenging task of selecting winners from 23 outstanding entries.

Founded in 2012, GATFFEST is Jamaica’s premier international film festival dedicated to promoting independent cinema and cultural exchange. The festival originated as an initiative of the Centre for Tourism and Policy Research at the University of the West Indies, Mona, and has grown to become a significant event on the global film festival circuit. It is now organised by the Centre for Community Outreach and Development at the University of the West Indies, Mona.