The Government will be establishing the inaugural Jamaica Screen Fund to provide financing for the development and production of local films and television (TV) shows in the country. 

The initial amount of J$1 billion will be provided over two years and will stimulate local content MSME’s and enable creatives to devote time to developing their projects towards access to financing and production feasibility.

Over the past decade, Jamaica’s film and TV industry has experienced considerable and consistent growth, benefiting from a strategic focus on the sector by the government, industry practitioners, and private investors – both locally and internationally.

Jamaica boasts the oldest Film Commission in the English-speaking Caribbean and a vibrant film industry which generates millions in investments and creates approximately 2,000+ skilled jobs annually. Between January 2022 and January 2023, JAMPRO recorded an unprecedented US$ 21 Million in film production expenditure (FPE), which is the value of the production budget contributed directly to GDP through economic activity in the film industry.  

“The Government of Jamaica has recognised the great potential of the local film industry and has taken note of the challenges faced by our local creatives. This Jamaica Screen Fund will be that cushion that our creatives can use to assist them in bringing support and success to their projects, building brand Jamaica internationally and ultimately attracting more projects coming to Jamaica,” noted Senator the Honourable Aubyn Hill, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce.

“Significant work over several years has gone into developing this initiative, with a goal of stimulating the local industry and our creative practitioners – who have proven their economic resilience and high potential for positive economic impact,” added Renee Robinson, film commissioner of Jamaica, at JAMPRO.

Although music has traditionally been Jamaica’s primary exportable creative product, the film and animation sectors are also demonstrating significant economic potential for the future. 

“I envision a vibrant bustling local industry – creating high calibre content that is commercially viable and investment-ready. There is a global demand for stories like ours that are culturally specific with universal appeal. With this new access to financing, we can finally tell our stories in our voices with our aesthetic, to be experienced by the world,” noted Robinson.

Jamaica’s Film, Animation and Music (FAM) sector is the third largest contributor to the island’s GDP and has a significant multiplier effect on the economy through its seamless linkages with other industries such as tourism and services. 

Our rustic countryside, majestic mountain ranges, white and black sand beaches, secret coves, dramatic cliffs, mini-jungles, and historic edifices have made the country an ideal location for filming and creative projects since the early 1900s.

In recent years local professional crews have delivered “No Time To Die” from the James Bond franchise, Idris Elba’s directorial debut, “Yardie”, the HBO / Marlon James’ series “Get Millie Black”, the Hulu / Oprah Winfrey-supported “Black Cake” and are currently working with Paramount Pictures filming the Bob Marley biopic. Talent discovery programmes, such as JAFTA Propella, the Feature Film Lab with JAFTA and the British Council, and the World Bank BOSS programme among many others, have equipped the industry with script development, production management, festival strategy, and distribution skills. Local talent has been selected for prestigious international labs, cast in high-profile international films, and most recently, the first Jamaican film to be awarded at an Oscar-qualifying festival, was announced.

The Jamaica Screen Fund aims to support the production of films locally by providing access to financing for projects primarily at the development and production stage. The structure may include a combination of defined percentages of the production costs up to a maximum contribution for local productions, with varied structures for international films being shot in Jamaica once certain eligibility criteria are met.

“JAMPRO has been working with our local partners to ensure that the Jamaica Screen Fund is supportive to the needs of our local film industry, and in line with best practices from other global film funds,” said Shullette Cox, President of JAMPRO.

The resources for the Fund will remain with the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service to be drawn down in tranches once the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce approves eligible projects that have completed and fulfilled the application requirements. The fund has been described as a welcome gamechanger amongst members of the local film and creative industry.