The Black River Film Festival (BRFF) has announced the postponement of its June 2026 festival edition.

This decision reflects a strategic shift to prioritise sustainability, international growth, and the long-term strengthening of BRFF’s creative and community impact. The postponement of the Festival allows the organisation to focus resources on international engagement in 2026 and to support the launch and development of the newly established Black River Film Festival Foundation.

This year, the Black River Film Festival will centre its efforts on international cultural exchange, including leading and supporting the London premiere of Stew Peas, a Jamaican feature film written and directed by Sosiessia Nixon-Kelly. This international focus aligns with the Black River Film Festival’s mission to expand Jamaican storytelling globally, strengthen diaspora connections, and create pathways for investment and collaboration that will benefit future Festival editions.

“This is not a pause caused by loss, it is a pause guided by purpose,” says Dr. Ava Eagle Brown, founder and CEO of the Black River Film Festival. “We are building deliberately so that when BRFF returns in 2027, it does so stronger, more impactful, and more sustainable.”

The Black River Film Festival reiterated its commitment to the coastal town, its creatives, and its partners. Community engagement will continue through foundation-led initiatives, including a free community day scheduled for June 28, ensuring that connection and care remain at the heart of the organisation’s work.

The Black River Film Festival vowed to return in 2027 with renewed energy, expanded partnerships, and an even stronger platform for Jamaican and Caribbean storytelling.