23349: Minsky: Jacmel Film Festival wrapup-update (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: "tminsky@ix.netcom.com" <tminsky@ix.netcom.com>

Festival Film Jakmel

Mission

Our mission at the Festival Film Jakmel is to offer the Haitian public high
quality films from around the world.  Through doing so we also offer the
world an opportunity to discover Haiti. It is our hope that this exchange
will allow Haitians to extend their horizons to other cultures and allow
foreigners an opportunity to challenge their own understanding of Haiti.

Fondation Sant D’A Jakmel (FOSAJ), 5-7 Rue St Anne, Jacmel, Haiti
509-288-2071
www.jakmelfilm.ht

kate.cross@jakmelfilm.ht



Background

Along Haiti’s southern coast, at the mouth of a magnificent Caribbean bay,
lies the historic town of Jacmel.  Once a port of great significance
exporting coffee and precious oils to the world, today Jacmel finds itself
struggling to preserve its proud heritage while confronting the
ramifications of Haiti’s past sixty years of dictatorship that has left the
nation amongst one of the most struggling on the planet.

Despite the ravages of poverty, Haiti retains much of its unique beauty and
rich cultural identity. It is a country of extremely proud and inventive
people who eagerly welcome visitors with open arms.  Jacmel in particular,
is one of the most dynamic and interesting places to begin to understand
this often-misunderstood nation.

In a united effort between local and foreign artists to reverse the ravages
of poverty, the Foundation Centre d’Art Jacmel, was formed in 2003.  The
Centre is a dynamic non-profit foundation dedicated to providing education
and economic development through encouraging and supporting culturally
based initiatives.  One of the Centre’s critically acclaimed projects is
the Festival Film Jakmel founded by David Belle and Patrick Boucard in 2004.

The Festival

The 1st Edition of the Festival Film Jakmel, from July 9th to July 18th
2004, featured one hundred ninety five projections of eighty-five films
free of charge at six different venues around Jacmel; five indoor screening
rooms and a large open-air public space for night showings.

In addition to screenings, the festival presented five intensive workshops,
hosted by visiting directors on various aspects of filmmaking; The Director
and his/her Language, Documentary & Fiction, Editing, Sound & Music, and
Analyzing a Film.

The festival also held two large concerts, a widely attended press
conference, book signings with four acclaimed authors, an exposition of
painting and sculpture featuring four renowned artists, seminars on AIDS,
an awards ceremony, a vodou ceremony and various dinners and parties.

The festivals principle theme was the history of cinema in Haiti.
Seventy-eight films and videos spanning over the past seventy years were
exhibited; works by Haitians and foreigners, of both fiction and
documentary.  The secondary theme of the festival was films about subject
matter relevant to Haiti but not necessarily set in the country.  Seven
internationally acclaimed films covering AIDS, globalization, poverty,
capitalism, migration and exile were presented in a special Global
Selection.




Impact

The response to the festival has been overwhelmingly positive. The
estimated daily audience was approximately 3,500 people  totaling 35,000 in
attendance over the festival’s ten days.  The festival website
www.jakmelfilm.ht was rated by EC.com, a web traffic tracking center, as
being the second most visited in Haiti.  During both weekends of the
festival all the major hotels and restaurants of Jacmel were filled to
maximum capacity.

Over twenty directors attended including delegations from France, Cuba,
Jamaica, New York, Miami and Spain.  Forty three local and foreign
journalists were present to cover the event and reports about the festival
appeared in Le Nouveliste, Le Matin, Haiti Progress, Tele Haiti, Tele
Nacional, Tele Éclair, National Public Radio, Voice of America, Vision
2000, Radio Metropole, Jacmel Inter, Radio Detente, Radio Vibration, Radio
Infatha, Radio Hispaniola, Knight Ridder Newspapers, Yahoo Movies, Indie
Wire, Dox Magazine, and Le Monde.

The Association of Haitian Filmmakers issued a special communique
commending the initiative, preparation and presentation of the event.

The festival received support and sponsorship from over twenty-two
corporations, foundations, government agencies and individuals.

Future
As of 2005 the Festival Film Jakmel will become an international venue for
films from around the world.  The selection process will begin immediately
and carry through to the submissions deadline of March 31st 2005.

The principal themes of the next festival will be: cinema from Haiti and
the rest of the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa, Europe and North America.
A special Global Section will again be featured showcasing films that deal
with subjects relevant to issues that Haiti faces.  As part of the future
selection process, the festival directors will attend the Toronto
International Film Festival, the International Festival of New Latin
American Cinema in Havana and FESPACO of Ougadougo, Burkina Faso.

It is the FOSAJ’s goal to have the festival institutionalized by the
Haitian government within the next five years.








FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT www.jakmelfilm.ht





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