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| Issue#1 |
August. 2008 |
Dear friends,
It's been a while since we've been in touch!
A lot has happened in the past months but mainly, we've been busy structuring Fondation Festival Film Jakmèl (FFFJ), defining our long-term goals in a delicate environment, securing funds and resources, implementing new projects, and planning exciting ones for the near future. With film as our fuel, our engine is now running at full speed!
In this newsletter, we share with you the details of our most recent activities. Hope you enjoy reading it and stay tuned for so much more to come soon.
Warm regards,
The FFFJ Team.
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photos: Stylish picture from Marc Baptiste / Beethova Obas performing.
HAITI OPTIMISTE
Bubble Lounge, New York, December 16, 2007: A celebration of the positive aspects of Haiti, this evening featured projected photography and video accompanied by live music. It was the first in a series of Fondation Festival Film Jakmel's (FFFJ) initiatives to improve the image of Haiti and to encourage Haitian Diaspora and friends of Haiti to reconnect with the homeland, to support its causes, and to donate to reputable organizations working in development there.
On white winter night, Haitian rum and tapas were served in this Tribeca champagne lounge hot spot. Bubble Lounge owners donated use of space and all profits to FFFJ.
Hosted by; Marc Baptiste, David Belle, Emmanuelle Chiche, and Harry Hjardemaal
Music: Beethova Obas, Paul Beaubrun from Zing Experience, and Manze Dayila
Photography by: Maggie Steber, Marc Baptiste, Chantal Regnault, Leah Gordon, Marc Steed, Daniel Kedar, Patrick Clinton, Christopher Mitchell, Phil Roc, David Belle,Kevan Bean, Clare Davies, Milos Loncarevic, Francios Legris, Gael Monnin, Andrew Bigosinski, Andre Laurent, + Tequila Minsky.
Vodou flags by: Constant
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photos: Hillary Brown from CARICOM Secretariat / French filmmaker Gérard Theobald with members of Haitian delegation: Nathalie Brunet (FFFJ), Award Winning Director Richard Senecal (Haitian Filmmakers Ass), and William McIntosh (Muscat TV).
FFFJ Leads Trade Delegation to Guadeloupe
World Trade Center, Point-a-Pitre, February 29-30, 2008: FEMI (Guadeloupe International Film Festival) asked FFFJ to select and lead a delegation of Haitian professionals to participate in a two-day conference on the creation of a Caribbean Market on Film and Television.
Attending professionals came from all Caribbean islands to discuss the importance of their respective national film industries, their challenges for growth, opportunities for trade, and potential as a source of economic revenue.
Some of these countries have old reputable film schools benefiting from government support (Cuba, for example) and regularly produce high quality films suitable for export. Many others struggle with poor quality due to lack of training and funds, and in the case of Haiti’s industry, is riveted by piracy due to lack of government protection (Haiti’s Minister of Culture Edy Lubin was invited to attend as guest of honor but did not show). However, participants agreed that we all share a tradition of storytelling, a common history and could share resources to ameliorate our production and promote it in higher consumption markets. Even countries in the Caribbean basin which do not have a film culture per say, are geographically destined to become important film destinations which can bring about much $$ revenue, as traditionally Jamaica, and increasingly the Dominican Republic, or more recently, the small island of Dominique.
Anita Bully from Dominique shared their story about “Pirates of the Caribbean” sequels recent shootings, which injected about $18 million in her island’s economy and temporarily employed about 3% of the natives. She was able to attract these productions by selling to Disney Pictures the physical attractiveness of the island, as well as its overall secure climate, in tight collaboration with the national government. Since then, the government has created a film commission bureau and launched a major campaign for generating economic revenues through film.
Another important argument for increasing the production of Caribbean films is to create content for local TV channels. Traditionally, the viewers are bombarded with images from northern societies, promoting cultural values very different from our islands’. FFFJ suggested dubbing films from neighbor islands in local languages, as it dubs foreign movies in Creole for Haitian viewers.
CARICOM’s rep, Hillary Brown, confirmed the organization’s commitment to the region’s development through cultural growth. Ms. Brown offered to further debate on film and TV at CARIFESTA in Guyana (Aug.2008), and to facilitate a lobbying campaign towards governments of member countries for stronger support of cultural industries (in particular, audiovisual productions, trade fairs and festivals).
Other attendees varied from entertainment lawyers, independent filmmakers, reps from ELIZE (an important film distribution circuit in French speaking Caribbean), from regional film festivals, and FESPACO (African film festival). In the end, many resolutions were taken for strengthening the common resources and ties.
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photos: Francine Champagne « Vision Models Exec », Marc Baptiste, Keisha Whitaker, David Belle / Poker room
2nd Annual HANDS FOR HAITI Fundraiser
Buffalo Club, Santa Monica, CA, April 26, 2008: Charity Poker Tournament raised big bucks and awareness for FFFJ and Millennium Village Haiti projects this year!
Hollywood celebs joined top Hedge Fund managers for a glamorous night of gambling for good causes. 100% of proceeds were split between the two organizations and priceless prizes were awarded to the top 13 finishers.
FFFJ will use portions of the proceeds raised to establish Sine Lekol, a facility offering year round educational screenings, technical training and production support for aspiring local filmmakers.
The event was organized by Hedge Against Poverty, a group specialized in raising funds for select charities operating in developing nations.
Top prizes included: lunch with Dr Maya Angelou, portrait shot by Vogue photographer Marc Baptiste, race car driving lessons with Emerson Fittipaldi, golf lessons with PGA tour winner Raymond Floyd, VIP tickets to Diane Von Furstenberg’s NYC Fall Fashion Show, lunch with top economist Dr Jeffrey Sachs, game of horse with NBA All Star John Starks, ball kid experience with NY Knicks, batting practice with LA Angels All Star Vladimir Guerrero, sailing with Olympic Gold Medalist Magnus Liljedahl, VIP package on the floor with the Miami Heat, VIP package on the floor with Miami Heat, and a surf lesson with Giant Wave Rider Laird Hamilton.
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FFFJ Launches Video and Photo Blogs
Jacmel, June 6, 2008: Jacmel Journals, a series of regularly updated multimedia shorts produced by FFFJ students about regional subject matter. Pumpkin Soup, Cockfighting, The High Cost of Living, Motorcycle Traffic in Jacmel, Holiday in Haiti – 2008 (Christmas in rural Haiti), Boat Traffic are some of the segments produced and posted on our website.
Currently, FFFJ students are producing eight Jacmel Journals per month, each averaging 3-4 minutes. Jacmel Journals provide job training for aspiring storytellers and streaming them on the internet attracts a worldwide audience for local issues.
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photo: Students at Sine Lekòl | Opening of SINE LEKÒL
Jacmel, July 20th, 2008: Proud to announce that thanks to proceeds from Hands For Haiti event + grants from Cinereach and Artventure, FFFJ has created SINE LEKOL, a facility offering year round educational screenings, technical training and production support for aspiring local filmmakers.
Located in the Concord Cine Complex of Jacmel, FFFJ’s renovated theater will serve as screening room during the Film Festival and for other occasional showings, but will mainly accommodate three of our long-term projects.
FFFJ’s three main activities at Sine Lekol’s will be:
- Films to Schools: A major project in collaboration with the regional bureau of the Haitian Ministry of Education that provides students from the National Schools of Jacmel, with monthly educational screenings relevant to their current curriculums.
- Film training workshops
- Cine Club: Film projections 3 nights per week for film training students, selected upon recommendations of our guest instructors.
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