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The
DBAF is privileged to be governed by a highly respected group of
private and public sector representatives, including those drawn
from the Jamaican film and television industry. Professor, the
Honourable Rex Nettleford, O.M. Vice Chancellor of the University of
the West Indies, has graciously taken up the mantle of Chairman
since its inception.
The
Foundation is committed to initiating strategies, lobbying and
collaborating with like-minded organizations – local and
international – to ensure the growth and development of the
Jamaican film and television industry. Nevertheless, the DBAF’s
major planned event and priority for continuity is the biennial
staging of the DBA. Although the DBA is aimed primarily at the
Jamaican film and television industry, it also embraces the
Caribbean as a natural synergy for its development and enhanced
marketability of its products on the international stage.
To
this end, a special Caribbean Award is also conferred within the
context of the DBA and in this way, the DBA succeeds in holding up a
mirror of Jamaican-Caribbean super achievers in film and television
to not only Jamaicans but to the entire Caribbean region and the
rest of the world.
The
DBAF sought to expand its scope of collaboration in the year 2000
with INPUT (International Public Television). With the support of
UNESCO Crea TV, the first
Caribbean Mini INPUT Screenings and Seminar was introduced.
This collaboration has afforded not only greater Caribbean linkages
but has opened up an international forum for the screening and
discussion of Caribbean film and television products. To date,
Caribbean filmmakers have attended and films/television products
have been shared at INPUT international conferences in Cape Town,
South Africa and in Rotterdam, Holland (the Netherlands) in 2001 and
2002 respectively. The association has been consolidated and is
being further developed each year. In 2002, the DBAF is taking
another step towards greater Caribbean consolidation of efforts.
In
furtherance of this Caribbean synergy, the DBAF has embarked on
the development of a website/portal for the Caribbean film and
television industry. A comprehensive database of individual
players and organizations together with links to existing Caribbean
websites will constitute the thrust of this project. It is
anticipated that this will be a significant contribution to the
networking and information-sharing capabilities of the Caribbean –
regionally and globally.
In
2002, the DBAF is pleased to expand its collaboration with the
local chapter of Women
in Film and Television - (WIFT). WIFT JA – only 2
years old - will be hosting their first WIFT International Summit in
Montego Bay in October. This particular collaboration between the
DBA, the Caribbean INPUT and the WIFTI Summit - between October and
November - serves to position Jamaica and its Caribbean colleagues
at the centre of an international stage. The sharing of ideas and
products, the workshops, seminars and increased networking
capabilities augur well for advancing the objectives of all partners
in this collaboration.
Looking
to the future, The DBAF will continue to engage in such
activities and initiatives that will allow it to remain viable in
pursuit of its objectives. To this end, the Foundation has sought
"charitable organization" status and a "tax write
off" facility for donations to the DBAF. Additionally, a
permanent DBAF Secretariat - linked to the Regional INPUT Caribbean
Office (RICO) - is envisioned that will operate independent of any
specific organization or interest group. This is consistent with the
original architect’s - Mediamix’s CEO, Lennie Little-White's - vision of establishing an
institution that will be nurtured and handed over as "a gift to
the nation" and the Caribbean region.
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