^TM

A Caribbean Cinematic Cornucopia at the Caves

For film and music lovers who are looking for something a bit more intellectually stimulating and thought provoking than the mainstream hits, you’ll be excited to learn that the FlashPoint Film & Music Festival plans to catalyze the Caribbean's emerging film industry this summer. The days of bit-roles and scenic backdrops are over. ‘Time for local talent to take center stage,’ declare event co-founders Greer-Ann Saulter and Paul Bucknor. Indie and ethnic films gain a spectacular showcase in the first FlashPoint celebration. The Caves, an Island Outpost resort in Negril, Jamaica, unveils this groundbreaking, grassroots event on July 30 & 31, 2005.

Fuelled by digital developments, the program celebrates the country's rich culture. Short films, features, music videos and live performances explore the connections between the real and conceptual. Bucknor, creator and co-producer of the Academy Award-winning Full Monty, debuts a romantic comedy, Goathead.

Another world premiere is Twang!, written and directed by Storm. An LA film school graduate, this 21-year-old prodigy returned to work locally, supported by Firefly Films. Five other Jamaican short films will also launch, plus two documentaries.

The mainstream success of Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 911 attests to the possibilities for Indies, points out Jamaican Film Commissioner Del Crooks. The digital diaspora and affordable hi-definition camcorders will further elevate this medium.

The Festival aids the cause; building networks, while educating about opportunities and finance. The goal? To become the principal forum for film and electronic media in the Caribbean. Meanwhile, the general public can enjoy a break from the usual sound-system-led events...and discover a cultural cornucopia in an incomparable setting.

The two-day festival also features local musicians. Jamming out tunes from dancehall to traditional roots reggae, the bands include Rootz Underground, Kai, Assassin and Fahrenheit. The FlashPoint launch coincides with the festivities of Jamaican Emancipation Weekend, when Negril township blossoms.

At The Caves, the volcanic cliff is honeycombed with grottoes. The resort was designed by the property's owners, Greer-Ann and Betram Saulter.

Ten hand-crafted cottages nestle into this verdant landscape are crowned by a petite Aveda spa. Serenity does, indeed, hold sway here, where the coral reefs, cliff crags and lush Jamaican vegetation merge. Each cottage is unique, harmoniously blending local wood, stone and thatch. The furnishings reflect the same simple aesthetic: high ceilings soar above custom-made wood and bamboo, brightened by bold island colors. The Caves is also owned by Island Records Founder Chris Blackwell, who helped launch Bob Marley, U2, Traffic, Cat Stevens, Robert Palmer, Roxy Music and Melissa Etheridge, to name a few.

For more information about the festival, visit www.flashpointfestival.net

For more information about the resort, visit www.islandoutpost.com  or call 1.800.OUTPOST
(United States and Canada), 0800.68876781 (OUTPOST1) (in the UK) and
1.876.960.8134 for all other countries.

Edited by Erika Wright

Back to TravelLady Magazine