GATFFEST celebrates 14 years of film with Rewind event
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The Greater August Town Film Festival (GATFFEST) will celebrate its 14th anniversary with an expanded programme of screenings, workshops, and special events, reinforcing its position as one of Jamaica’s leading platforms for emerging filmmakers, cultural exchange, and the showcasing of Jamaican, Caribbean, and international cinema.
Acknowledged as the Caribbean’s premier short-film festival, the event officially kicks off on May 16 with a Community Film Night in Port Royal. A full week of activities subsequently gets underway May 30 through to June 7.
Since its inception, GATFFEST has served as an important incubator for local and regional talent, providing filmmakers with opportunities to showcase their work, connect with audiences, and engage with the broader creative industry. This year’s festival programme reflects that enduring mission while also honouring the legacy the organisation has built over more than a decade.
A centrepiece of the anniversary celebrations will be GATFFEST Rewind, a special retrospective event on Saturday, May 30, at the UWI Mona Confucius Centre, featuring more than 30 standout films from the festival’s archives. The showcase offers audiences a rare opportunity to revisit some of the most compelling stories and cinematic voices that have emerged through the GATFFEST platform over the years.
The retrospective will include works by celebrated Jamaican filmmakers including Kevin Jackson, Kia Moses, Tony Hendriks, Nadean Rawlins, Gareth Cobran, Joshua Paul, Kyle Chin, Kaiel Eytle, Kurt Wright, among others whose films have helped define the festival’s creative journey.
Festival Director Savannah Peridot said the 14th anniversary represents both a celebration of achievement and a recommitment to the festival’s founding purpose.
“Reaching 14 years is a significant milestone for GATFFEST, particularly within an industry where independent creative platforms often face considerable challenges in sustaining long-term growth. This anniversary is not simply about looking back; it is about recognising the impact the festival has had in creating access, nurturing talent, and helping to shape Jamaica’s independent film ecosystem,” Peridot said.
“GATFFEST Rewind is a celebration of the creative voices that have grown with this festival. Many of the filmmakers featured have gone on to build meaningful careers, and their journeys reflect exactly why platforms like this matter. We want audiences to see not only the films themselves, but the evolution of Caribbean storytelling, the risks our filmmakers have taken, and the cultural narratives that deserve continued visibility.”
Peridot also emphasised the festival’s broader international dimension, noting that this year’s programme will continue to include collaborations with diplomatic and academic partners, including the French, Colombian, and German embassies, as well as CARIMAC. These partnerships will support a diverse programme of showcases highlighting Jamaican, Caribbean, and international cinema.
“Film has a unique ability to connect communities, cultures, and perspectives. This year’s programme reflects that spirit of exchange bringing together local stories and global voices in a way that strengthens dialogue, creative collaboration, and audience engagement. GATFFEST has always been rooted in community, but it has also consistently looked outward, creating opportunities for cultural connection through cinema.”
The 2026 festival will feature both free and paid events including community film screenings, professional development opportunities, curated local and international film nights, and a closing awards ceremony recognising excellence in filmmaking.
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Filmmaker Joshua Paul with awards. Paul's short film 'Sugarcake' won the Lennie Little White Best Local Short Film, Viewers' Choice and Spirit of GATFFEST awards at the 2023 GATFFEST Film festival. hIs other entry, 'Key Love', was second in the Viewers’ Choice and Lennie Little White Best Local Short Film categories.
Filmmaker Joshua Paul and Festival Director, Savannah Peridot