TORONTO – Two Jamaican movies will premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), while a third will be presented 34 years after its original release.
‘No Place Like Home’ and ‘Made in Jamaica’ will have their world premieres on Wednesday, September 13 and Friday, September 15, respectively, while the acclaimed film, ‘The Harder They Come,’ first released in 1972, will be shown on Thursday, September 14.
The French filmmaker Jerome Laperrousaz’s two-hour movie, ‘Made in Jamaica’ takes an in-depth look at reggae and dancehall music. The movie also features the music and comments from reggae artistes such as Toots, Elephant Man, Lady Saw, Third World, Gregory Isaacs and Capleton.
‘No Place Like Home’, produced by Jamaican filmmaker Perry Henzell, tells the story of “one woman’s journey to the heart of Jamaica.” The movie, a Jamaican/United States production, stars Susan O’Meara, Carl Bradshaw and Grace Jones. Originally shot in the 1970s, the film is only now being released because the footage was lost, according to information from festival organizers.
Mr. Henzell’s first movie, ‘The Harder They Come’ will be shown in a section of the festival called ‘Dialogues: Talking with Pictures,’ where film directors are invited to “select and discuss films that have inspired them, had a significant impact on them, or were pivotal in the progression of their own careers.”
The movie, starring reggae icon Jimmy Cliff, was the first feature-length movie to be made in Jamaica and is credited with popularizing reggae music. Those in attendance will get the opportunity to discuss the movie with Mr. Henzell.
Jamaica Tourist Board’s Regional Director for Canada, Sandra Scott, said that these movies would once again showcase Jamaica to the wider community.
“No other Caribbean country has been featured in the Toronto Film Festival as much as Jamaica has. It shows that we have a thriving film industry and we have a story to tell,” she added.
The 10-day Film Festival, which got underway on September 7, will showcase 352 films from 61 countries. (JIS)
