Lynn Taitt - founder of the immortal 'Rocksteady' rhythm

The REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL is saddened by news of the passing of LYNN TAITT, the musician from Trinidad accredited with creating the 'rocksteady' rhythm of Reggae.

Lynn Taitt was memorialized by Director and Reggae fan GENEROSO FIERRO in his documentary 'LYNN TAITT ROCKSTEADY" which was screened at the Reggae Film Festival 2008. The film brought the history of this unsung Reggae hero to the forefront of our national consciousness and reminded us of his immense contribution.


In tribute to LYNN TAIT, Japanese Director Shizuo "EC" Ishii has requested that the REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL 2010 Opening Night screening of his film RUFFN' TUFF: FOUNDERS OF THE IMMORTAL RIDDIM'. be declared a Memorial Tribute to Lynn Taitt -- who is one of the Immortal artists featured.

Reggae's musical creators are thankfully being immortalized on film, which can say so much more about them than the music they leave behind. Thanks to all the reggae film makers who have been creating a film archive of this important history.

The REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL serves to encourage, display and circulate these important memorials. But for these works of art and of love, many would never have learned about LYNN TAITT, the Trinidadian man who created the rocksteady rhythm and influenced so many musicians and singers.
JAH BLESS HIS SOUL

Reggae Film Festival - Make A Film In 24 Hours” Competition

The Jamaica Film Academy, producers of the REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL, invites Jamaica-based film makers -- professionals or amateurs -- to use film, video or cell phone cameras to make a 5 minute film in 24 hours at the REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL 2010. The competition will see teams and individuals commencing their film on Monday morning, February 22 and handing in the finished film on Tuesday morning, February 23. Entries will be shown during the REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL 2010 and prizes will be awarded.

Entry Forms and Rules for the MAKE A FILM IN 24 HOURS are available for download on the Jamaica Film Academy website and by e-mail from info@jamaicafilmacademy.org. Closing date for applications is Thursday, February 16.

All production in the 24 Hours Film Competition must take place in 24 hours only. To ensure that no pre-filming takes place before the competition begins, entrants will be informed one hour before the competition starts of a Theme and/or Element that must be incorporated in their film.

Films must be 5 minutes long, submitted in mini-DV, DVD or DATA-mpeg and contain no explicit sexual, violent or illegal images. Ten films will be selected for final awards using a judging criteria of 25% for Story, 40% for Directing, Editing and Cinematography, 20% for Production Values and 15% for Acting/Presenter.

Films will be shown at the Reggae Film Festival on each night's programme and become part of the travelling showcase 'The Best of the Reggae Film Festival' to be presented in Montego Bay, Miami and California. Winning film makers will receive 50% of net proceeds of any sales for internet streaming, pay-per-view broadcast or as part of a DVD collection put on sale by the Jamaica Film Academy.

Entry Forms and Official Rules can be downloaded from the Jamaica Film Academy website: http://www.jamaicafilmacademy.org/ and must be received by February 16.

Big plans for Reggae Film Festival 2010

Article taken from The Observer - Friday, January 15, 2010

THE Reggae Film Festival 2010 at the Hilton Kingston, produced by film-maker and film festival organiser Barbara Blake Hannah, will open February 25 with a Red Carpet Gala Reception and screening of the documentary Made in Jamaica. This features a galaxy of reggae stars including Capleton, Bunny Wailers, Third World, Beenie Man and Lady Saw, all of whom are among the VIP reggae celebrities invited as special guests.

The Hilton Ballroom will be transformed into a cinema for nightly screenings, while the Jonkanoo Lounge will host lunchtime screenings, a seminar and a special children's programme. The Hilton Kingston offers a special Reggae Film Festival accommodation package and will also offer lunchtime specials for midday cinemagoers.

Films already entered include several premieres by Jamaican and international directors, including entries from Hawaii, Italy, Japan, UK and Brazil. Awards will be presented by a panel of judges in nine categories, including Best Film, Best Documentary and Best Music Video, and audiences will be invited to select their favourites.

Several international celebrities have been invited to attend, including Spike Lee, rapper/actress Eve and Roger Guenevere Smith, star of Jamaican feature Betta Mus' Come and eight Spike Lee films, as well as the blockbuster American Gangster, starring Denzel Washington. The noted actor will present a lecture with film clips as part of the festival's programme.

The Reggae Film Festival 2010 is produced by a planning committee of the Jamaica Film Academy, comprising Mikey Barnett, Dr Michael Barnett, Lloyd Laing, Teddy Laidley, Lesley-Ann Welsh and UK film archivist Peter Gittins.
Jamaica will have more than one festival of reggae films in Reggae Month, as the Reggae Film Festival 2010 will be preceded by a film series presented by the JARIA Reggae Month Committee. The JARIA film series is co-ordinated by Marjorie Scott-Anderson, organiser of the Songwriters Bootcamp, under Reggae Month Committee chairman Charles Campbell. Funding for JARIA is by the European Union PSDP programme, while the Reggae Film Festival 2010 is sponsored by Jamaican private sector companies.
When asked why she had not co-ordinated the Reggae Film Festival 2010 with the JARIA programme, Blake-Hannah said that it was when she called the committee chairman Campbell to see if the dates planned for the RFF 2010 would clash with anything else planned, that he informed her that JARIA was already planning its own film festival.
She said that since the first Reggae Film Festival in 2008, there have been many spinoffs, with festival film winners being invited to international events and winning awards. Film festivals and people around the world, including Jamaica, have begun including reggae films in their programmes or presenting look-alike events, but these all have served to achieve the main objective of the Jamaica Film Academy, which is to promote Jamaican film culture, which is what the JFA set out to do.
Nevertheless, she said she was surprised that the Jamaican reggae music industry thought so little of her efforts to promote the industry through film, that they went ahead with similar plans without inviting her to assist, but felt there was no turning back on her plans to give Jamaica another Reggae Film Festival.

Blake-Hannah, who presented Jamaica's first film festival in 1974 and has produced several more since, has been a guest of international film festivals in Venice, Iraq and Cannes. She has produced several films of her own and worked on The Harder They Come, A High Wind in Jamaica and Kla$h. She conceptualised the first Reggae Film Festival as a special project while she worked as consultant to the minister of information, culture, youth & sports, and assisted with the setting up, planning and procedures for declaring and presenting the first Reggae Month in 2008.
The Reggae Film Festival is a privately funded activity of the Jamaica Film Academy. The JFA's aim is to see the festival become an annual date in Jamaica's events calendar that will provide Jamaican films with the needed international exposure that they deserve. The Reggae Film Festival has already seen four different films made as a direct result of its first event in 2008 and two films winning international awards, evidence of just how important this event is.

Reggae Film Festival: SPECIAL Accommodation packages @ HILTON KINGSTON

2010 Reggae Film Festival @ HILTON KINGSTON Hotel, Jamaica - February 25-27, 2010

ACCOMMODATION PACKAGES FROM US$85.00 PER NIGHT/ PER PERSON
Experience one of the World's Most Exciting Events AND the World’s Most Exciting Culture

This is your chance to join stars from all over the Reggae world as they gather in Kingston for the REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL 2010 @ the HILTON KINGSTON Hotel. Experience the world’s most exciting film festival in the heart of Kingston’s entertainment center at the HILTON KINGSTON, the perfect venue to host the beautiful people of the film, music and entertainment industry.

You can have your chance to be a critic, as films from all over the globe are screened, competing for several prestigious Awards. Every evening famous Reggae stars, film makers, directors and producers will walk the Red Carpet to the REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL @ the HILTON KINGSTON Ballroom, while the paparazzi cameras flash and fans shout for autographs. Every night the After Parties go late, pumping to the beat of Reggae, Ska, Dance Hall and Rockers.

You can join the stars at this famed event with your customized Reggae Film Festival Overnight Package. Customize your stay with Dinner before the show, late Morning Breakfast, and special city and country Day Tours.

Room Only (w. Continental Breakfast)

Garden Room – US$85.00 per person, p .n.

Tower Room – US$105.00 per person, p.n.

Executive Club – US$165.00 per person, p.n.

Reggae Film Festival Package A:

Garden Room - US$350 (Single) US$380 (Double)

Tower Room – US$410 (Single) $460

4 Days/3 Nights Accommodations as Selected

Breakfast Daily

Access to 3 Film Festival Screenings, 2 Lunchtime Film Programmes

VIP Invitation to Official Welcome Party & Opening Night Reception, Awards Presentation

2 VIP Passes to all Reggae Film Festival After Parties

Day Tour to: Port Royal, Bob Marley Museum, or Blue Mountains (Picnic Basket by request)

Optional Airport Meet and Greet and Private Car Transfers to and from the Airport

Expert Travel & Concierge Services of the HILTON KINGSTON At-Your-Service Desk™


Reggae Film Festival Package B:

Garden Room – US$280 (Single) US$330 (Double)

Tower Room – US$320 (Single); US$370 (Double)

3 Days/2 Nights Accommodations as Selected

Breakfast Daily

Access to 2 Film Festival Screenings, 1 Lunchtime Film Programme

VIP Invitation to Opening Night Reception, Awards Presentation

2 VIP Passes to all Reggae Film Festival After Parties

Day Tour to: Bob Marley Museum, Blue Mountains (Picnic Basket by request)

Optional Airport Meet and Greet and Private Car Transfers to and from the Airport

Expert Travel & Concierge Services of the HILTON KINGSTON At-Your-Service Desk™



Reggae Film Festival Package C:

Garden Room – US$120 (Single); US$150 (Double)

Tower Room – US$150 (Single) US$175 (Double)

Executive Club – US$ 210 (Single) US$220 (Double)

Overnight Accommodation – 1 Night

Continental Breakfast

Access to 1 Film Festival Screening, 1 Lunchtime Film Programme

VIP Invitation to Opening Night Reception or Awards Presentation (as per night selected)

2 VIP Passes to Reggae Film Festival Opening Reception/ After Party/Awards Presentation

Optional Airport Meet and Greet and Private Car Transfer to and from the Airport

Expert Travel & Concierge Services of the HILTON KINGSTON At-Your-Service Desk™



Add-Ons and Possibilities:

Extra Nights * Room Upgrades

Reduced price for additional Tickets * Additional Tours

Daily Car & Driver Rental

Reservations Online: info@jamaicafilmacademy.org.

Tel: HILTON-KINGSTON Hotel: 876-926-5430