Jamaica positioned for global screen industry - LAB Studios hosts ‘SLATE | Jamaica on Screen’ showcase

The island’s emerging film and television industry took centre stage last Friday,  as creatives, international film executives, investors, industry stakeholders, government leaders, gathered together for SLATE | Jamaica on Screen. Hosted by LAB Studios, the landmark event showcased Jamaica’s growing potential as a global content production hub.

Held at Carib 5, in partnership with Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) and the Jamaica Screen Development Initiative (JSDI), the event featured the private screening of the Jamaican-made feature film, Love Offside, starring Judi Johnson, Mike Merril, Victoria Rowell, and Sundra Oakley. The evening also included a fireside conversation with Paramount Pictures executive Mika Pryce, trailer reveals for upcoming LAB Studios projects, and a keynote address from Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness. Remarks were also delivered by Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, and Senator Aubyn Hill, minister of industry, investment and commerce.

The fireside conversation, Building the Future: Jamaican Stories on the Global Stage, featured LAB Studios CEO Kimala Bennett and Mika Pryce, senior vice-president of development and production at Paramount Pictures. They explored the future of global storytelling, the rise of intellectual property-driven content ecosystems, and the opportunities for emerging production markets like Jamaica to compete internationally. Pryce, whose credits include Get Out, Good Boys, Little, and Pacific Rim: Uprising, also shared insights on what global studios are seeking in commercially viable and culturally resonant storytelling.

The evening also provided a first look at LAB Studios’ expanding film and television projects, including Christmas in the Tropics, Jenna In Law, SEEN, Happily Ever Awkward, and The Marriage Clause, underscoring the company’s continued investment in original Caribbean storytelling and intellectual property development.

$50 MILLION FOR LOCAL PRODUCTIONS

The showcase marked a significant milestone for LAB Studios, which is among the first studios to receive funding through the JSDI, as part of the government’s strategic investment in growing Jamaica’s screen industry. LAB Studios received $50 million in national film financing to support projects.

Speaking at the showcase, Bennett said the event represented more than the launch of new productions. 

“The global media and entertainment industry is now valued at more than US$2.8 trillion, and, as audiences continue searching for stories that feel authentic and emotionally connected, the opportunity for culturally driven storytelling has never been greater,” Bennett said.

She added, “For Jamaica and the wider Caribbean, this represents a real opportunity to claim a meaningful place within the global content economy.” 

The evening also highlighted the government’s broader commitment to developing the creative sector. In his keynote address, Prime Minister Holness underscored the importance of film and storytelling as part of Jamaica’s economic future.

“The Government sees film as part of Jamaica’s next frontier of economic growth. When this industry succeeds and generates revenue, the Government will have every reason to continue supporting it. We are not seeking to devalue the culture; we are seeking to secure our interest in it. That is why we took the decision to make J$1 billion available to filmmakers in a transparent and competitive way, so that the best talent and the best stories can access the fund,” Holness said.

President of JAMPRO, Shullette Cox, emphasised the importance of collaboration in positioning Jamaica competitively within the global entertainment industry. 

“We look forward to supporting more screenings such as this one in the future, as we continue to issue funding under the JSDI, and give support through the Jamaica Film Commission in an effort to ensure that Jamaican stories have visibility on the global stage,” Cox said.

LAB Studios describes its long-term ambition as building “a Caribbean-first global studio” focused on transforming Jamaican stories into exportable intellectual property across film, streaming, and digital platforms.