Tanya Batson-Savage, Freelance Writer

A 'reasoning' in 'Forward', one of the films screened at the Flashpoint Film and Music Festival in Negril, Westmoreland, last year. - Contributed

As dreams of sorrel and gungo peas and rice near, the Flashpoint Film Festival readies itself for its second staging. Film festivals are not new to Jamaica, but the tradition has been at best hesitant, with most of those that have been created eventually stumbling and falling by the wayside.

Indeed, Flashpoint seemed to have hit its own stumbling block as the date for the 2006 festival shifted from the expected Emancipation Day weekend, to the Heroes Day weekend, but with very little news to suggest whether the festival would actually occur. Finally, it was announced that the festival, urged by tragedy in the passing of one of its founders, had flown to December 1-3, where it will take place at The Caves, Negril.

Yet, with the value of a platform to showcase regional and international work in a venue more accessible than the stage of the world's most famous festivals, such as Cannes or Venice, Toronto or Utah. Film festivals allow aspiring (and at the larger film festivals those who have already arrived) filmmakers to showcase their work and, hopefully, to the right people.

CONSTANTLY WORKING

The organisers of Flashpoint argue that getting work seen is a key part of their aim in staging the festival. "We're constantly working on encouraging more and more industry players from Hollywood and the region to come," explained Shasta Saulter, festival coordinator.

It is yet to be seen whether and how well they will be able to fulfil that promise of being a great juncture for the networking of local and international filmmakers, inside and outside of the region.

The organisers' dreams for their festival are pretty big. "We want to be the front-runners of a new digital film revolution in the Caribbean," Paul Bucknor, co-founder of Flashpoint, declares. The festival was founded by Bucknor, the late Greer-Ann Saulter and Bertram Saulter.

Of course, this would not be the first time that the arrival of the digital revolution has been heralded, but so far, that tree has borne very meagre fruit. It seemed most fertile with the arrival and success of Dancehall Queen followed by the even more successful Third World Cop. Even the lamentable Rude Boy declared that at least something (though maybe not something good) was happening. Then manure seemed to have run out and the tree seemed to have stopped bearing fruit.

FEATURE FILMS

Last year, Firefly Films, created by Bucknor, premiered two feature films, Twang, written and directed by Storm, and Goathead, written and directed by Bucknor, and two short films, Bad Lucky, written and directed by Joel Burke, and Forward, written and directed by Niles Saulter. It was suggested that both Twang and Goathead were slated for release this year.

The arrival of these flicks suggested that films may be back in season. However, when asked what has become of these films Storm explained that they were "still becoming."

However, according to Bucknor, there is method behind the delay. Firefly continues to produce work, some of which will be showcased at this year's festival and, according to Bucknor, this will give them the opportunity to create a cadre of films that can then be used to create a release schedule.

Whether or not it can fulfil its potential, Flashpoint holds out the dream of presenting a sustainable platform for showcasing Caribbean film. Shasta Saulter noted that the festival aims to showcase films by Caribbean people and their descendants living in the metropole. "They are the bearers of our culture," declared Storm.

According to Bucknor, the long heralded digital technology has made it so that filmmaking is a much more affordable endeavour, and the rise of independent films makes this the perfect time to attempt to step out with cameras blazing. "There's nothing to stop us from making good films except our abilities," Bucknor said.

Festival organisers declare that a part of their mission is also to not just showcase Caribbean cinema, but to encourage the idea that it is a viable career choice. "People are starting to see it as an option," Storm declared. He also noted that his mother had been extremely committed to the development of the film, and since her passing much of the support that she had has galvanised.

In tribute to her, this year the festival will be instituting a Greer-Ann Saulter award for the most popular film of the festival. Another award for best screenplay is also under discussion. Well-managed, these awards can significantly aid in the festival's impetus.

MAJOR CHALLENGE

Yet, Shasta Saulter acknowledges that a part of the major challenge is convincing the would-be audience that Flashpoint is an authentic film festival, which can therefore afford them the opportunities to be seen and for development.

It is hoped that the December date will also help to convince those from the cooler climes to come down to the festival.

According to Burke, the festival provides a good networking tool to meet other film professionals and to get a link to other possible projects.

Niles Saulter is also quite committed to the festival's potential and importance, and argues that it is very important for every Jamaican filmmaker to get their film showcased at the festival as it provides their work with a platform. "You get to watch it with a Jamaican audience," he said.

The filmmaker can then learn from critiques of the film, as well as audience response.

Storm agrees, noting that though the audience benefits, the filmmaker gets an even greater benefit. "This is the place where you show what you're doing," he said. "This is kinda like the finish line where you look at yourself and see where you're gonna go."

According to Burke, seeing other people's work also has its benefits. "Everybody have to pull up them socks when they see how other people work," he said.

"I feel like we're starting a movement," Storm says. He points out, however, that the trick is to get the idea taken on by more than a few, as movements take many people. The question is whether there are enough people who will see the light coming from The Caves.