Holness backs Jamaican film as billion-dollar screen fund supports Love Offside

Jamaica’s film sector is being positioned as a major new area for economic growth, with Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness pointing to the country’s stories, locations, talent and cultural reach as assets that can support a competitive screen industry.

The comments came as the locally made film Love Offside was screened at Carib before a full cinema audience. The event highlighted a growing confidence among filmmakers and industry stakeholders who believe Jamaican productions can attract viewers at home and overseas.

Holness said the Government has committed $1 billion in taxpayers’ money to filmmakers through a process intended to be open and competitive, so strong projects and skilled creatives can gain access to support. He said the aim is not only cultural visibility, but also a film business capable of generating profit.

Love Offside was produced by The Lab with backing from the Jamaica Screen Development Initiative, a $1-billion fund administered by the Jamaica Promotions Corporation, Jampro. Promotional material for other upcoming Jamaican films was also displayed at Carib, underscoring the number of projects being written, filmed and produced locally by Jamaican talent.

Kim-Marie Barrett, chief executive officer of The Lab, said financing alone will not be enough. She stressed the need for practical training, including internships that give young people hands-on experience on real productions. She compared film development to learning to drive, noting that skill improves through practice rather than theory alone.

Jamaica’s film commissioner also pointed to the business skills needed to strengthen the sector, including intellectual property management, film financing, budgeting and scheduling. The commissioner said Jamaica must also develop more production infrastructure, including studios and specialised facilities such as underwater pools, so local and overseas projects can shoot both interior and exterior scenes in the country.

For Danielle Campbell, writer of Love Offside, the film marks her first big-screen project. She said her hope is for Jamaican films to travel internationally, arguing that while local audiences support home-grown work, export markets are important if creatives are to keep producing at scale.

Holness said the Government wants to better monetise Jamaican culture while protecting its value, adding that filmmakers should be able to earn profits and deliver returns to investors.