Shadow Minister of Cultural and Creative Industries, Dr Deborah Hickling Gordon, says a greater development focus needs to be added to the operationalisation of the Jamaica Screen Fund to include projects produced by educational institutions, school clubs, and community organisations.

Her comments follow Wednesday’s launch of the J$1-billion Jamaica Screen Development Initiative (JSDI), which will provide financial support to local screen productions.

Hickling Gordon stated that although the Opposition applauds the initiative, a crucial element absent from the fund is a chance for youths to be exposed to screen-based careers early in their education.

“It’s an exciting time in Jamaica’s Film Industry, and we look forward to a partnership where youth can have greater access and be more meaningfully engaged in greater income-generating opportunities,” she said in a statement presented by Dr Olivia Rose, the junior shadow minister of sport and entertainment, at the launch.

The JSDI is managed by the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO).

The initiative awards creators across all genres of short films, feature films, animated shorts, web series, miniseries, reality, and, or unscripted content, the ability to apply for benefit from grants or loans at different stages of production.

However, applicants must be Jamaican, and 18 years or older. Additionally, the companies must be registered in Jamaica with at least 51 per cent Jamaican ownership, and applicants must have rights to the content being developed. They must also be a national registry of entertainment and creative industries practitioners and must be tax-compliant at disbursement.

Applications for the JSDI open online on March 18. Clarification and sensitisation sessions will take place on February 28 and March 2. The awardees will be notified on August 15.