Jamerican Festival shines in rainy MoBay

By Adrian Frater, Staff Reporter

Sheryl Lee Ralph, main organiser of the International Jamerican Film and Music Festival. - File

WESTERN BUREAU:

DESPITE HEAVY afternoon rains, the third renewal of the International Jamerican Film and Music Festival, dubbed 'Cinema Inna Yard 2001', started without a hitch on Wednesday night. It kicked off against a backdrop of good theatre, pulsating music and fine cuisine at the Wyndham Resort in Montego Bay.

The event, a welcome party designed to get media representative, celebrities and local socialites to mix and mingle, was graced by the presence of its main organiser, renowned actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, as well as fellow movie stars Paul 'Capone' Campbell and Mark 'Ratty' Danvers of Third World Cop fame.

"I am just happy to be back here... maybe more than happy... thrilled," said a smiling Ms. Ralph, who has joined forces with the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), JAMPRO and Red Stripe to ensure the event's success.

The afternoon's activities, which started at approximately 8:30 p.m. and continued until after midnight, commenced with a riveting documentary on the life of reggae king Bob Marley, which was screened in a makeshift theatre in the hotel's ballroom. Applause during segments of the documentary was a clear indication of its pleasing entertainment value. At the conclusion of the documentary, the action switched to another section of the ballroom where patrons had a choice between sitting down to a sumptuous meal or dancing away to the music of the dynamic six-member Remix Show Band. While some persons took a share of both, the majority resorted to the latter.

In a pleasing display of musical competence, the Remix Show Band, which featured both a male and a female vocalist, took patrons on a journey through local music, spanning reggae, ska and calypso. In the reggae segment, which elicited the most dancing, they did justice to Bob Marley's Exodus and Get Up, Stand Up, Shaggy's Angel and It Wasn't Me and Morgan Heritage's Down by the River.

The calypso segment, which covered songs such as Oh Laa, All Night Party, Dollar Wine and Moving was highlighted by an eye-catching dance between Technology Minister, the Honourable Philip Paulwell, and Ms. Ralph. Displaying exquisite dance steps, the duo became the life of the party as they 'swung their engines' under the glare of the cameras and the probing eyes of patrons. When the band turned their attention to ska, the good spirit vibe was all over the ballroom as visitors and locals danced to a collection of songs which included Let's do the Ska, Wings Like a Dove, 007 and Oh Carolina.

The five-day festival, slated to end on Sunday, will feature music and film workshops, film screenings, beach parties, a major concert, an awards dinner and a fashion show.

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