On Saturday, July 10, Jamaica Arts Development Foundation (JADF), in association with Jamaica-based Nice Time Productions, produced and presented a very successful screening and U.S. launch of the award winning film Why Do Jamaicans Run So Fast.

The film includes exciting footage from the 2008 Beijing Olympics, interviews with the athletes, and appearances by top Reggae and Dancehall artists Big Youth, Etana, Elephant Man, Vybz Kartel, and Bugle. The audience left the theater surprised, smiling, and noticeably proud of the island nation’s spirit and wit. 

The JADF events attracted a large number of the South Florida Jamaican community and many friends of Jamaica. Attendees who enjoyed the film and reception included Miramar Commissioner Winston Barnes; Marie Gill-president of the USA Jamaica Chamber of Commerce; Marlon Hill, attorney and president of the Jamaica Diaspora North America; William “Willie” Stewart, former Third World drummer; Vance Carter and Cheryl Wynter from the Miami office of the Jamaica Consul General; Mike Carr, Sr. Director of Programming at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts; and Eddy Edwards, Riddims Marketing and popular South Florida radio personality.

Vance Carter and Cheryl Wynter from the Miami office
of the Jamaica Consul General took photos with guests

On hand to witness the occasion and greet patrons were members of the JADF board of directors: Chairman Lorren Oliver, Vice-Chairman Gerald Belnavis, Director of Operations Halcyone Hoagland, Director of Communications M. Peggy Quattro, and President Lloyd Stanbury. Nice Time Productions Executive Director Shirley Hanna was also present to support the Florida film screening and JADF launch events. 

This screening marks the first in a series of fund raising and awareness-building activities planned by JADF. It follows on the recent establishment of a Nice Time Productions-funded scholarship that enables a student to attend Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston, Jamaica. JADF is now working toward staging other film screenings in cities such as Atlanta, New York, Chicago, Toronto, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. 

The Jamaica Tourist Board, MoneyGram, Kingston-Miami Trading, WAVS 1170, Jerk Machine, and Caribbean Today sponsored the film debut event.

About JADF
Jamaica Arts Development Foundation, Inc. (JADF), a Florida-based nonprofit organization, supports a powerful purpose and mission—to provide educational and developmental opportunities that promote awareness, management effectiveness, and creative excellence among Jamaican arts and entertainment practitioners worldwide.

Relevant news in Chinese: 牙买加艺术基金会在南佛罗里达举行电影放映活动