The Lab Studios positions Jamaica for the global screen industry at “Slate | Jamaica on Screen| showcase

Jamaica’s emerging film and television industry took centre stage on the evening of May 22, 2026, as LAB Studios hosted SLATE | Jamaica on Screen, a landmark showcase spotlighting Jamaica’s growing potential as a global content production hub. The event brought together government leaders, international film executives, creatives, investors, and industry stakeholders, where discourse centred on storytelling, investment, and industry advancement.

Held at Carib 5 Theatre 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. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness. Remarks were also delivered by the Honourable Olivia “Babsy” Grange, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, and Senator the Honourable Aubyn Hill, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce.

The fireside conversation, Building the Future: Jamaican Stories on the Global Stage, featuring LAB Studios CEO, Kimala Bennett, and Mika Pryce, Senior Vice President of Development and Production at Paramount Pictures, 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.

Lab secures J$50M to advance local screen production

The showcase marked a significant milestone for LAB Studios, which is among the first studios to receive funding through the Jamaica Screen Development Initiative (JSDI) as part of the Government’s strategic investment in growing Jamaica’s screen industry. LAB Studios received J$50 million in national film financing under JSDI to support projects including ‘Love Offside’, ‘Christmas in the Tropics, and ‘SEEN’.

Speaking at the showcase, Bennett said the event represented more than the launch of new productions, describing it as part of a broader effort to position Jamaica and the wider Caribbean within the rapidly growing global content economy. “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. For Jamaica and the wider Caribbean, this represents a real opportunity to claim a meaningful place within the global content economy. Few countries our size have had the cultural impact Jamaica has had globally, and the opportunity now is to build the infrastructure and production ecosystem needed to consistently bring Jamaican stories to international audiences while creating real economic value in the process. That is the opportunity we see at LAB Studios. We are building a modern Caribbean content ecosystem designed for scale and long-term sustainability across film and digital content. Projects like Love Offside represent part of that vision and demonstrate what is possible when creative ambition is supported by strategic investment. We are grateful to our government partners for recognising the value of the creative economy and helping to position Jamaica as a global content hub,” Bennett said.

Beyond the showcase programming, the evening also highlighted the Government’s broader commitment to developing the creative sector, including its recently announced J$1 billion investment in the industry.

In his keynote address, Prime Minister Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness underscored the importance of film and storytelling as part of Jamaica’s economic future. “This is the latest signal that Jamaica has the talent, the stories, the locations, and the cultural appeal to build a serious film industry. Jamaica has long been globally recognised as a cultural superhub, but we have not always converted that cultural influence into structured economic opportunity. We need to have an unvarnished view of where we are in our development and be honest with ourselves about the things we need to improve. Love Offside shows what can happen when Jamaican creatives take up the challenge of building at home. 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. My message to creators is that, as we invest these funds, we want you to help build the Brand Jamaica, influence our youth positively, and spread values that are pro-growth and pro-social,” Holness said.

President of JAMPRO, Shullette Cox, also emphasised the importance of collaboration between government, the private sector, and creative stakeholders in positioning Jamaica competitively within the global entertainment industry. “SLATE represents the embodiment of the vision of the JSDI. Supporting content creators in bringing their stories onto the screen. 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.”

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. 

The company’s broader strategy also includes talent development initiatives aimed at creating sustainable opportunities for Jamaican creatives across production, writing, editing, marketing, and distribution.