Kingston – the place to be in June

Spend one week in Kingston (June 22 – 29) and experience the joy of seeing the fastest athletes in the world; a chance to feel the beat and rhythm of the city; while taking an adventure out to one of the mountains.

This is going to be a once in a lifetime opportunity. The governing body for track and field will host its National Championships, June 23 – 26. Four days of fast-paced, breathtaking, competitive and fierce battles to make the teams for global and regional meets. Tickets will go on sale soon.

Come in a day early and find a spot where you will hear the drum of bass of Jamaica’s reggae and dancehall. The City will be jamming on and off the track.

Kingston’s pull is the pace, the lights, the sound, the color and of course, the people.

Book your ticket now. Kingston, the heartbeat of the Caribbean awaits you.

Advertisement

Sport Psychologist and Marketer publish book on Caribbean Sport

• ABCs of Caribbean Sport: Marketing and Psychology

KINGSTON, Jamaica – “Sport deserves every bit of attention it can get on and off the field. Athletes need to be prepared for the mind games too,” that is the advice shared by Carole Beckford and Dr Olivia Rose Esperance in their latest collaboration.

The collaboration is shared in a book, ABCs of Caribbean Sport, Marketing and Psychology out now on sale for J$3,000. The book will be available on Amazon soon.

The 140-page publication dives deep into an industry in the Caribbean which has worked and can continue to work if the talent converts to economic activity (marketing); and how athletes and their teams can maximize earnings while being engaged in a process that takes you from any adversity to a winning attitude, via a positive mindset (psychology).

The project began when the two worked together for the 2018 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup which was held in Guyana, St Lucia and the final in Antigua. Rose was the sport psychologist assigned to the Windies Women, while Beckford was head of marketing and communications for Cricket West Indies. Both are on their third publication.

Rose Esperance describes her contribution as “the timing is impeccable, as during the pandemic, sport is a means of escape and sport people can and should use this opportunity to be managed while building on their competitive portfolio. The two areas of sport are of great significance and written by Caribbean authors. I am proud of this project.”

Beckford believes “it is important to continue to share information about an industry that has contributed so much to the exposure of the region’s best in the global sporting world. The pool of sporting officials has not only grown in numbers, but in quality. There is so much more to earn from the business of sport.”

Both are supporters of student-athletes and their continued pursuit of excellence. “While the athletes continue to excel, management can do some more to create better synergies for business,” noted Rose Esperance.

The book will sell for J$3,000 and US$20. Patrons may support by ordering on Facebook at (1) ABCs of Caribbean Sport – Marketing and Psychology | Facebook

-ENDS-

Face to Face and Online for Reggae Sunsplash 2021

Kingston, Jamaica– Reggae Sunsplash will return in November 2021.  The event which returned following a 14-year absence is due for Friday and Saturday, November 26 and 27 at the Grizzly’s Plantation Cove in St Ann. 

Following its successful return to the Entertainment Calendar in 2020, Reggae Sunsplash has some wonderful ideas for the 2021 renewal.

The iconic Reggae Festival that was staged virtually as a result of the worldwide Covid 19 Pandemic, pulled in viewership well over 300,000 from 25 countries after a 14-year hiatus.

This year, the promoters of the festival aim to not only meet but exceed the digital achievements through a 360-degree hybrid entertainment model.

This hybrid model will see an expansion of viewing party experience following in the 2020 model. This will include restaurants, sports bars and hotels.

Festival Producer Randy Mattis stated that “We are very happy with the response to last year’s staging and we want to push the potential of the festival this year. The entertainment package is critical, and we are working with our booking agent, Aaron Spence at Kaboom Agency to secure the acts for 2021.”

Tyrone Wilson – Executive Producer; Aaron Kaboom Spence – Booking Agent; Randy Mattis – Producer – Reggae Sunsplash 2020

Mattis added that “the line-up will be attractive to a wide cross-section of fans and we aim to deliver the best of available artistes.

The plan is to build on the existing model by adding more viewing locations globally while exploring the possibility of a physical experience of the festival for a limited number of patrons over the age of 18 enjoying an exclusive experience at the 100-acre property.

Executive producer Tyrone Wilson added that “The prevalence of COVID-19 requires that we innovate and reintroduce the Reggae Sunsplash brand in a more engaging, interactive and far-reaching way. With the support of our partners and sponsors, it is our vision to leverage Reggae Sunsplash to transform our cultural entertainment sector generating major returns to our economy.”

The 2021 staging of the festival is scheduled for the month of November with two nights of performances and curated content experiences with a number of artistes set to grace the stage.

In celebration of Reggae Sunsplash’s rich legacy, the festival will merge performances from industry veterans and today’s reggae and dancehall heavy hitters.

For more information contact Reggae Sunsplash at info@reggaesunsplash.com

DJ Kurt Riley presents The Global Party

KINGSTON, Jamaica – DJ Kurt Riley, more popularly known as the Party Animal in the Dancehall, took to the digital streets and spun into action last Saturday (March 28).

In what his team dubbed The Global Party – Caribbean Edition, the just over three hours event went live on Instagram; Facebook and YouTube.

Just before The Global Party was launched, Riley had 29,400 followers on Instagram, that has now moved to 30,500 in just a few days. Riley, speaking after the first show said, “I am ready to go again.” He will be on every Wednesday and Saturday through to the end of April in the initial stage.

DJ Nicco (left) and DJ Kurt Riley

Riley had DJ Nicco with him in the Kingston-based studio and hosted personalities from across the world, with heavy inputs from USA, Canada, Africa, Australia, and a host of fans from across the wider Caribbean and home island, Jamaica.

Young and upcoming singer, Abby Dallas made a guest appearance.

The mix of songs attracted a wide demographic as Riley punched tunes from soca, dancehall, reggae – hits after hits, after hits. He also paid tribute to the late great Bob Andy who passed recently. Bob Andy and Kurt’s father, Winston Riley shared a good friendship.

Grace Kennedy Money Services (GKMS) joined in the party too. They partnered using their brands Bill Express Online and Western Union under the theme #StayHomeAndParty.

Senior Communications Manager, Grace Kennedy Financial Group, Yolande Gyles Levy was part of the livestream endorsing the event in a live interview.

Special thanks to Grace Kennedy Money Service, our live guest artist @theabbydallas, our first guest dj @djnicco876 and all who made a success. Big ups to CPJ & Magnum

The event was powered by Animal Instinct Entertainment and was supported by CPJ, Magnum and IPMG.

This Wednesday, April 1

The Global Party will feature a Trailerload of 70s, 80s, 90s music starting at 6pm entertaining the quarantined across the globe.

-ENDS-

March 2019 is Marathon Month in Kingston

When one thinks of the city of Kingston, lots of things come to mind. However, what we want you to think about is what will March 2019 bring.

So far, there are a few important events we have confirmed for the month:

• Boys and Girls Champs – March 26 – 30
• Melbourne (Cricket Club) 5K – March 5
• Long walk to Freedom (Buju Banton) – March 16
• And… The Kingston City Marathon (weekend), March 15 – 17

You then ask yourself, how am I going to do all of this in Jamaica for the whole month of March when I don’t have all that time off?

My choice for you is to come to the Kingston City Marathon www.kingstoncityrun.com and you will get the greatest experience ever.

The weekend’s event will have a welcome (Friday) and an after-party. There will an exhibition on lifestyle and wellness (Saturday) and then there are the races – 5K, 10K, ½ marathon, full marathon (Sunday) (IAAF/Aims certified). The races will take you through some of the historical sites across the city which has been declared one of UNESCO’s Creative City. Also, only recently, reggae has been added to the cultural heritage list. Kingston has a lot to offer to every discerning visitor from home and abroad.

The experience will be diverse. It will have the best of the people of Jamaica. The most sumptuous and tasty food; the best music selections you will hear anywhere in the world; great accommodation – even an hour away in Ocho Rios and the race you will choose to run to relax and to add to your bucket list.

The partnerships established for the Kingston City Marathon will serve not just the business side of the city but will focus its attention of building its Corporate Social Responsibility profile with its continuous support of its charities. You will find the options to support at this link http://www.kingstoncityrun.com/v2/charities/

This 7^th running of the event, while attempting to attract global participation, will have a special focus on the Caribbean and the Project Team has created an opportunity to highlight the top Caribbean winners in each race category. You may even see a Caribbean performer at the after-party.

So, think about this from my view. You have vacation. You have some extra money left over from Christmas. And all the bills are covered – make it Kingston, Jamaica, March 14 – 18 and you will get to have the experience of a lifetime.

Call up your favorite travel agent and secure airline seats and hotel rooms and sign up for the run www.kingstoncityrun.com – you will thank me.

Feel Di Vibes!

#OneLove

Kingston City Marathon – 2019

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Organizers of the Kingston City Marathon (KCM) are looking to surpass 5,000 competitors for its series of raceswith just over 90 days until race day.

Theevent will also seek to recognize “Caribbean Stars” – male and female winners for the first time in 2019. Co-Chair, Nicola Madden-Greig, made the disclosure at a local organizing committee meeting on Wednesday (December 12).

“As part of our efforts to target competitors from the Caribbean region, we plan tohighlight winners from the region in the inaugural marathon event. This is an important event for Kingston and we are hoping to attract competitors from across the globe.”

The event, which is in its seventh year, “is part of what Kingston has to offer, and we are putting out all the stops for a successful event,” noted Madden-Greig.

The Kingston City Marathon is an IAAF/AIMS-certified marathon which allows competitors to use their times to qualify for other international events. 

The three-day event (March 15 – 17) will include a 5k, 10K and the full marathon; in addition to an Expo with a focus on wellness and lifestyle; there will also be a welcome reception and an after-party to complement the weekend’s activities.

Registration remains open at www.kingstoncityrun.com

From: Dale Godboldo – Jamaica Film Festival

Congrats to Carole Beckford and the Jamaica Film Commission on the launch of your Inaugural ‪#‎JamaicaFilmFestival this July 7th!! 🎬

If you didn’t know, Jamaica’s coming out STRONG this year in film and TV. I’ll be showing my support by sitting on a few panels alongside some amazing talent from Hollywood. We’re also bringing out my Executive Producing partner Jeffrey Reddick (wrote Final Destination) to share a little insight on how you create a $650 million movie franchise. I’m hoping to learn a bit from him myself 😉

We’ll be back in Jamaica with Jeffrey, my partner Arthur Wylie, and the rest of the Global Renaissance Entertainment Group team shooting White Witch Of Rose Hall very soon, and I’m looking forward to building relationships with the local filmmaking community on this trip. We’re committed to partnering with the island in a big way, to not only bring attention to the island’s culture, but also to do our part in making real impact in the community through film production and the work of our charities – Arthur Wylie Foundation and Project:NOW / Always In The Club Foundation.

(Btw, the film festival’s sponsored by Red Stripe and Tuff Gong (The Marley Family), so I’ll definitely find a minute to chill and take full advantage of that 😎)

I’m proud to be a part of what I know will be an outstanding tradition in the Caribbean, so I’ll be doing some Periscope-ing and posts while there. Also watch out for my blog post when I get back at www.IAmDaleGodboldo.com.

Stay tuned, and see you JULY 7th from ‪#‎Kingston!

‪#‎JaFilmFest ‪#‎BobMarley ‪#‎Marley ‪#‎Film ‪#‎Jamaica

Jamaica Film Festival holds LA launch

(Los Angeles, CA, March 2015) – Some of Hollywood’s brightest stars and entertainment executives welcomed Jamaica’s film commissioner Carole Beckford recently at a reception announcing the inaugural Jamaica Film Festival. The event was co-hosted by Hon. Consul Lorna Johnson and author/filmmaker/media entrepreneur Paula Madison in Beverly Hills, and served as a kickoff for the festival. JAMPRO, Jamaica Trade and Investment, which houses the Film Commission, will host the festival in Kingston, July 7 – 11.

Among those in attendance were: Shaun Robinson (host of syndicated daily entertainment news program “EXTRA”); film directors Robert Townsend and Bill Duke; actors Salli Richardson-Whitfield and Jeffrey Anderson-Gunter; and studio executives Bruce Evans and Talitha Watkins.

Ms. Beckford’s recent trip to Los Angeles was an opportunity to engage the Hollywood community with a focus on collaboration and partnership. Jamaica will for the first time premiere over ten films, directed, produced and made in Jamaica in time for the Festival.

The Jamaica Film Festival is to become a marketplace for all in the business from ‘Script to Screen’ to hope for the best return on investment. The five-day event will look at workshop sessions, seminars, B2B sessions and a host of networking sessions aimed at connecting the industry at several levels. The five-day event will operate under the theme ‘Art meets Business’.

Kingston to come alive – July 7 – 11

The Jamaica Film Festival, scheduled for Kingston, July 7 – 11, is shaping up to be a very exciting one showcasing the talents of the best and brightest in the Jamaican film industry. The festival promises to be a dynamic cinematic and cultural event featuring both local and international films. There will be business sessions, workshops and seminars, a music day with workshops and a live reggae concert at the Tuff Gong International Recording Studios. The exclusive beach party planned for Saturday promises to be lots of fun in the sun as well as a visual bliss as the majestic, rolling hills of the Blue Mountains, serves as a backdrop in the distance.

Importantly, work from 13 of Jamaica’s leading directors/producers/writers will premier, parading Jamaica’s content in front of an international audience primarily from the USA, Canada, the UK and the Caribbean; but with interest from a variety of other countries to include Australia, Argentina, Serbia and so many more.

Kingston will come alive with the film festival and patrons will have the unique opportunity to experience why Jamaica’s culture is so infectious. The city of Kingston offers an unparalleled culinary experience, a vibrant nightlife as well as museums and galleries rich in culture, coupled with the warmth of the Jamaican people. 

Kingston boasts having restaurants owned by and named after three of our iconic sports superstars, Usain Bolt’s Tracks and Records, Courtney Walsh’s Cuddy’z and Chris Gayle’s Triple Century. In addition, Kingston is home to the fourth best place to have ice cream in the world, Devon House.  Its location was built in the late 19^th century as the residence of Jamaica’s first black millionaire and is a masterpiece of Caribbean Victorian architecture.

Also home to the world-famous Blue Mountain coffee and Reggae Music, Kingston’s energy and vibe will revitalize anyone. A city with the seventh largest harbour in the world and various historic sites, Kingston has a variety of unforgettable experiences to offer that will last for a lifetime.

FILM IS JAMAICA’S BUSINESS

The festival seeks to promote Jamaica as more than just a backdrop location. Jamaica is currently experiencing a creative revolution where it has positioned itself as the cultural powerhouse of the Caribbean, producing outstanding creative products, services and talent. This has led to a deeper focus on developing the island’s creative industries in particular film, with the goal of becoming one of the thought leaders in the industry. The idea is for Jamaica to evolve into being the regional hub for creative talent and services, and having a national film festival will help solidify the growth that has to take place.

With up to five production houses each with over four decades of experience in film and video production, the Jamaican technical skills base in this industry is of world and industry standards. The technical expertise ranges from world-renowned directors to our warm and hospitable drivers, all of whom maintain the passion and drive to make it comfortable for crews to work in Jamaica.

Jamaican TV has evolved and continues to produce relevant, entertaining and engaging content. Home to one of the longest running soap operas in the English speaking Caribbean, Jamaica’s Royal Palm Estate/The Blackburns has set the island’s TV industry a league ahead in the region. The TV industry is looking to continue to create shows that appeal to an international audience.

On the cusp of five feature films being released in the past three years (Better Mus Come, Rise Up, Ghett’a Life, One People and Ring Di Alarm), Jamaica’s emerging film industry has been given new life. More local content is being distributed internationally in countries like the UK, Europe, South Africa and Japan. The growth of the international film industry has set the stage for Jamaicans to further develop as content creators and lends the opportunity for our talent to be in high demand and recognised worldwide.

Prepared by JAMPRO Communications

F: https://www.facebook.com/JAMPROCORP

T: https://twitter.com/Jamprocorp

JAMAICA can host multiple film festivals

KINGSTON, January 4 – Jamaica can and will continue to host a number of film and music festivals. The country’s content and production are of the diversity, quality and brand strength to be able to maintain and sustain festivals for its relevant markets.

The state’s investment and export promotion agency, JAMPRO has secured the services of a number of organisations and professional individuals as part of a continuing effort to market the country’s resources in a number of key sectors, of which film and the creative industry are important. Akin to that is hosting of events, meetings, conferences, workshops, seminars, roadshows, and in this case festivals as mechanisms to showcase the island’s services.

The Jamaica Film Festival 2015, scheduled for July 7 – 11 this year in Kingston is one such event and as the FILM COMMISSIONER, based at JAMPRO, a team is working on delivering this event. So far a major partner, Tuff Gong International has been acquired http://sflcn.com/bob-marley-foundation-partners-with-jampro-for-jamaica-film-festival-2015/

A number of other partners have been pursued (public and private) and those will be announced shortly, to include strategic media partners, local and international. A call for film/documentary projects was announced and 54 projects were observed through pitch sessions. The pitches were seen by a myriad of local experts and a short list has been recommended. The next step is for script experts to match scores from the pitch sessions upon which those selected will be announced for production.

A number of professional development workshops will be held for the teams of the projects chosen to ensure quality and provide the support warranted for the successful delivery of the projects in July.

MULTIPLE FILM FESTIVALS

Though a small country relative to those with longer history with film festivals, e.g. Canada, there is room for more than one. Canada for example, profiles the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) as its premier event, while there are at least ten other MAJOR ones with a few themed festivals. There are ten major ones and that does not include the sub festivals while the major ones are going on. So Montreal, Quebec, Vancouver etc have their own.

More and more cities are becoming the venues for film festivals and here is a link for the ones which were the most recommended festivals for 2014 http://www.moviemaker.com/archives/festivals/50-film-festivals-worth-the-entry-fee-2014/

JAMAICA

Jamaica’s layout by parish/county is distinguished by its culture, and with effective planning the indigenous of each area is at liberty, as has been done, the opportunity to plan its own series of cultural events including film festivals. No government or private sector entity can restrict a community; neither will JAMPRO. The nature of the business is one which is open for a variety of projects, but JAMPRO has a mandate and role to determine programmes in the best interest of Jamaica’s export and investment projects.

The Film Festival in July is scheduled for Kingston and it is on – stay tuned to http://www.filmjamaica.com and information will be revealed in a timely manner.

An earlier post here, identifies the role of film festivals in economic activity, read for background https://carolebeckford.wordpress.com/2014/10/30/film-festivals-benefits-to-cities-worldwide/

We invite all those with ideas to plan to keep Jamaica’s brand in check as we seek to promote our services and products to the world. There is room for all of us to exist.

Film, Music and Entertainment – Jamaica is where it all is!