Holness sees Jamaica as an emerging force in film

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has declared that Jamaica's film industry must become the country's next major global export, arguing that the nation should establish itself as a creator, owner and exporter of world-class screen content.

Speaking at a special Jamaican screening of Possession, a five-part supernatural thriller produced by Snowed-In Productions in association with Sky Studios, at the Courtleigh Auditorium in St Andrew on June 20, Holness said the production highlights the immense potential of Jamaica's creative sector when local stories, talent and locations are fully embraced.

“Tonight, we see a glimpse of what is possible when Jamaican talent, Jamaican locations, and Jamaican stories are taken seriously,” Holness said.

The supernatural thriller follows Claudia, a biracial lawyer who travels from the United Kingdom to Jamaica to challenge an inheritance claim, only to discover that the estate at the centre of the dispute is the same place that has haunted her nightmares.

Created by British writer Karla Crome and directed by Storm Saulter, the five-episode limited series brought together Jamaican and international production talent. It is scheduled to premiere on Sky Atlantic and streaming platform NOW in the United Kingdom later this year.

The prime minister stressed that Jamaica has already built a powerful international reputation through reggae, dancehall, athletics, food and fashion, and believes film should now join that list as a vehicle for showcasing the country to the world.

According to Holness, the Government's vision is to transform Jamaica into a hub not only for international productions, but also for home-grown content creation and creative entrepreneurship.

He pointed to the economic impact of Possession as evidence of the industry's potential, noting that the series employed more than 300 Jamaican cast and crew members, while contributing approximately US$4 million (approximately J$600 million) to the local economy through jobs, contracts, training opportunities, and investments in production infrastructure.

Holness underscored that the film industry should be viewed as a serious economic sector capable of creating jobs, attracting investment, boosting exports and generating tourism opportunities.

“Film is culture and storytelling, but it is also work. It is business. It is enterprise,” he added.

The prime minister highlighted the Government's commitment to the sector through the Jamaica Screen Development Initiative, which was established to help bridge the gap between creative talent and access to financing while fostering a sustainable local film industry.

He noted that the programme has already attracted hundreds of applications, demonstrating the depth of local talent and ambition, while several productions have benefited from the initiative since its launch.

But Holness said financing alone will not be enough to develop a thriving industry and stressed the importance of building a complete production ecosystem that includes trained crews, post-production facilities, efficient permitting systems and strong local producers.

While welcoming overseas productions to Jamaica, he said the country's long-term goal is to ensure that Jamaican companies are financing, producing and exporting their own content and benefiting from the ownership and value generated by those projects.

Meanwhile, Holness paid tribute to Saulter, an acclaimed Jamaican film-maker, recalling their first meeting roughly 15 years ago when Saulter was working on the acclaimed film Better Mus' Come.

The prime minister said he has long admired Saulter's work and acknowledged that Jamaica had not done enough over the past five decades to invest in film-making following the release of the iconic movie The Harder They Come.

“We are actually putting money into the industry because we believe in the industry. And I believe in the industry. And I see Storm as a great ambassador for film in Jamaica,” he said.

The prime minister encouraged young Jamaicans interested in careers such as writing, acting, directing, editing, animation and production to develop their skills and safeguard their intellectual property.

He also issued an invitation to international investors and production partners.

“To our international partners, Jamaica is open for serious creative business,” he said.