CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR JAMAICA’S SCREEN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE IS OPEN

The Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), an agency of the Ministry of Industry, Investment & Commerce and home of Jamaica’s Film Commission, has announced the opening of the Call for Applications under the Jamaica Screen Development Initiative (JSDI) on, Monday, March 18, 2024.

The JSDI is a J$1 billion financing initiative by the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) aimed at bolstering and enriching the local film industry while attracting destination films. Through the JSDI, filmmakers, animators and creatives will be supported in developing eligible, local screen-based projects across various stages of development.

The Call for Applications for grant and loan support for Development, Production and Post-Production (Completion) phases will end on April 28, 2024. However, applications for Film Festivals & Market Attendance, and applications for Marketing & Distribution, as well as Production Rebates will be accepted on a rolling basis.

Applications will be subjected to a validation check to ensure eligibility and assessment by an evaluation panel comprising local and international film industry experts. Assessment factors include the strength of the application, demonstrated track record and/or ability to progress project development and execution, financial feasibility, market interests and marketing plan, as well as the overall benefit of the project to the Jamaican economy.

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, under whose portfolio JAMPRO falls, in commenting on the announcement noted that, “the JSDI is a significant commitment by the Government of Jamaica to the country’s creative industries. We look forward to seeing the impact of this investment in creating Jamaican films that can be exported globally and earn our Jamaican creatives much needed foreign exchange as well as attracting more destination film investors.”

President of JAMPRO, Shullette Cox, endorsed the JSDI as an unparalleled economic investment that opens avenues for new, emerging, and established talent to produce high-quality Jamaican content capable of competing on the global stage.

“It is a very exciting time in Jamaica’s film industry and the JSDI is one of the ways in which the Government of Jamaica, acting through JAMPRO, remains committed to strengthening the film and animation industries, to produce highly commercially viable content targeted for domestic and global markets,” President Cox said.

Eligibility Criteria

Projects eligible for funding includes feature films, short films, animated shorts, web series, episodic, mini-series, or reality and unscripted content. Music videos, advertisements, news, sports, or daily content, as well as work primarily intended to capture another art form, such as filmed theatre, sporting, or music events, podcasts, livestreams, or influencer content will not be accepted.

Application guidelines as well as the application form can be found at: https://dobusinessjamaica.com/jamaica-screen-development-initiative/

About the Jamaica Film Commission

The Film Commission, under JAMPRO, is responsible for promoting Jamaica at international festivals, trade shows and content markets as a premier location for filming and positioning business linkages for Jamaican industry participants.

The Commission is tasked with circulating regional and international export and investment opportunities to local industry stakeholders, pursuing investor progression for eligible international projects that will result in the employment of Jamaicans in the film industry and lobbying for incentives and policies to strengthen the business environment and increase investment opportunities in the industry.