Barbados Film and Digital Media Commission being developed
Tue, 10/04/2016 - 12:00am
THE Ministry of Culture is presently creating a policy to strengthen the development of the Barbados Film and Digital Media Commission.
Director of the Cultural Industries Development Authority (CIDA), Andrea King, made this disclosure on Saturday night at the launch of the Third Annual Barbados Visual Media Festival at Building No. 2 Harbour Road.
According to her, the objectives of the commission would, amongst other things, market Barbados internationally to attract foreign production companies to use the island as a film location for feature films, television dramas, documentaries, music videos, cinema and television commercials and still photographic shoots; develop efficient systems in co-operation with Government departments for the processing of permits, licences and official assistance, which such foreign production companies may require prior to or during their visit; and provide information on local companies and individuals who can provide services for the visiting production companies.
“The benefits to be derived from the establishment of the Barbados Film and Digital Media Commission will not be available to foreign production companies exclusively, as there will be benefits to Barbadian companies as well. By establishing the Barbados Film and Digital Media Commission, the Government of Barbados would generate foreign earnings for the country in the short term from the use of local facilities, services and creative talent; provide employment; provide opportunities for knowledge transfer, creative interaction and project development with members of the local production community,” she said.
Delivering remarks on behalf of Minister of Culture Stephen Lashley, King stated that a Film Commissioner’s desk was established within the Cultural Industries Development Authority, pending the establishment of the commission and that several film shoots from the Caribbean, Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States of America have been facilitated in the past 18 months. (JMB)