The film industry’s contribution to GDP
“WHEN WE see things like GATFFEST and the UWI Community Film Project (UWICFP) harnessing youths’ potential, and has its roots in a knowledge economy, that is when we realise that it is industries like the film industry that will future-proof this country. It is activities and activations like GATFFEST and UWICFP that result in that,” said Renee Robinson, film commissioner.
During the launch of the film festival, Robinson shared that the actual economic impact of the local film industry vastly exceeds the two per cent that is recorded as its impact on GDP — a figure that was last recorded in 2003.
“We are not even properly tracking what’s happening locally. It is a reality that the film industry in this country is alive and well. We’re a little quieter than we should be; we’re probably not being measured in the way that we can.”
According to Robinson, statistics show that there are more than 50 music videos shot on a daily basis in Jamaica.
“People are not aware that the Film commission handles up to 200 international film productions per year, resulting in approximately 2,500 jobs,” she revealed. The Commission has tracked $700 billion in film production expenditure being handled on the island, excluding the measure of local production.
“[GATFFEST] is one of the special gems. This is the little film festival that could, and every year we see it grow from strength to strength,” said Robinson.