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'Cocktail' & 'Club Paradise' cast and crew set to visit Cinema Paradise

Published:Thursday | August 30, 2018 | 12:00 AM
Robin Williams
Tom Cruise
Kanopi House
Jimmy Cliff
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The eighth annual Cinema Paradise Portie Film Festival is set to be a blockbuster weekend. From November 1- 4, the event will offer patrons screenings, premieres and the opportunity for movie buffs to mingle with international industry players. It will also offer a platform for local independent features to be seen.

With screenings scheduled in Trench Town, Kingston, and Portland, Cinema Paradise promises enchanting cinematic experiences of both Hollywood and Jamaican classics, as well as the added value of actual interaction with successful and aspirant filmmakers.

Playing a powerful hand, Cinema Paradise has invited the cast of the 1988 romantic comedy drama Cocktail, which starred action-movie hero Tom Cruise and the Academy Award-nominated Elizabeth Shue. Cocktail is said to be the film that launched Cruise's stellar film career and will be celebrating its 30th anniversary. Cinema Paradise has also engaged the remaining cast and crew of the 1985 comedy Club Paradise (starring Robin Williams, Peter O'Toole, Jimmy Cliff and Rick Moranis) to participate. Both movies were filmed primarily in Portland.

 

LOGISTIC ARRANGEMENTS

 

Festival director Vivene Levison told The Gleaner that while the blockbusting guest list is still being confirmed, they have made the final logistic arrangements.

The festivities will kick off on Thursday, November 1, at the Ambassador Theatre in Trench Town. The audience will be treated to a VIP screening of Countryman (1982) in the company of the film's star, local legend Carl Bradshaw, and other cast members. The screening will be followed by an after-party with special music performances. The festivities move to Portland on Friday, where Kanopi House will host a screening of the new documentary film Knights to Kings. This movie follows the journey of 10 boys from Atlanta, Georgia, (one of whom is Jamaican) to Ethiopia. Director Crystal Furlonge will be present to discuss the relevance of her work.

The final day of the festival includes a vegan-friendly lunch at the Alligator Head Foundation, paired with the screening of Club Paradise. Patrons can mingle with the cast and crew before heading down to the Port Antonio Craft Village. There, Great Huts Resort will host a free screening of Marvel's Black Panther.

In addition to Knights to Kings, Cinema Paradise will offer other new films. Coming straight off their appearance at the trinidad+tobago film festival, this year's cohort of the JAFTA PROPELLA Initiative will premiere their short films.

The festival will screen Agwe by Ina Sortiva, Flight by Kia Williams, Lovers in the City by Mezan Morrison, and Safe Harbour by Kaiel Eytle. All filmmakers will be on hand to discuss the creative process and experiences, in a session hosted by Jampro Film Commissioner RenÈe Robinson.