Joel Miller’s ‘Blackbird’ soars to victory - Drama wins JCDC FiWi Short Film Competition

Having won top prize for his comedy-drama film, ' Hairport', in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) FiWi Short Film Competition last year, Joel Miller knew his crown would make him a target of other film-makers who are determined to dethrone him.

For this year's renewal of the competition, Miller entered Blackbird, a seven-minute drama. He said he was mindful of the need to raise the bar above the height he cleared last year.

"I knew people were coming to beat what I did last year, so I knew I had to beat them on creativity," said Miller, after outscoring eight other entries to take the overall title at the FiWi Short Film Competition Awards at the Palace Cineplex, St Andrew, last Thursday.

The film also won sectional prizes for Best Drama, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, and Best Adult Film.

"I had to change my style and do something that broadened my horizon, show them my technique more.

"I tried out new techniques. I had to go back to the drawing board and come with something new. I knew I couldn't come back with the same thing. I had to reinvent myself, and I think this year I became so much more mature as a film-maker," Miller said.

Nine films made it to the final round of the 2023 JCDC FiWi Short Film Competition. Second place went to Cool Breeze, directed by George Malcolm Walker, who was also the cinematographer on Blackbird. Third place was won by Shades of Clarity, directed by Malike D. Orane.

Other sectional awards were won by Cool Breeze (Best Comedy, Best Documentary, Best Sound Effects/Score), 5 More Minutes (Best Sci-Fi), Ripple Effect (Best Youth Film), and Full Circle (Viewer's Choice). The other finalists were Carbon Copy (Trishay Beadle), What A Calamity! (Jayda Pitter), and Fragile Fortune (Tiana Smith).

Shaun Drysdale, drama and theatre development specialist at the JCDC, said that the entries were all at a commendable level.

"We received some new entrants and returning entrants. Despite the many challenges we had to navigate, including limited time to complete the films, the final products were commendable. There is always room for improvement, but we now have these emerging film-makers who have benefited from this exercise and in a much better position to move forward with their careers," said Drysdale.