Professor and film producer at Montemorelos University in Mexico, Dr. Lizbeth Elejade, will be the main presenter at the inaugural Jamaica Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (JAMU) Film Festival. The event will take place on Sabbath, May 10, 2025, at the West Jamaica Conference Centre, starting at 3:00 p.m.
The Festival is a collaborative effort between JAMU and Hope Channel Inter-America. It aims to promote and encourage the use of short films to uncover members’ creativity while winning and retaining souls for Christ.
“A film festival is more than a showcase—it’s a mission field of stories,” said Elejalde, the chief judge for the Festival. “Short films allow us to enter hearts quickly, speak the truth creatively, and plant seeds of hope where traditional sermons may never reach.”
Elejalde, a Colombian by birth, is a social communicator, journalist, and specialist in communication design. She holds a Master’s degree in Communication Design Theory and a PhD in Business Administration, focusing on productivity in media centers at Hope Channel. She is the Director of Programming at Hope Channel Inter-America and produces audiovisual content.
“Jamaica has many creative and digital disciples who have done innovative work for their churches and groups,” said Nigel Coke, Communication Director for JAMU. “Our primary focus is to provide an opportunity for Adventist Creative Disciples to hone their talents while providing an avenue for witnessing to non-believers and establishing a firm foundation in the faith of believers.”
The keynote speaker will be Mr. Everett Wiles, the former General Manager of NCU Media Group, who currently serves as Vice President of Marketing and Communication at Washington Adventist University in the USA.
Professor Abel Marquez, Communication Director of the Inter-American Division of Seventh-day Adventists, is the other presenter at the festival.
“The Festival also acts as a platform to inspire modern methods of educating and engaging audiences through films and other short content, utilizing creative expression and storytelling by individuals, groups, or churches in a collaborative effort to convey Adventist doctrines such as the Sabbath, the Second Coming of Christ, and the State of the Dead, as well as our heritage and values,” Coke added.
The Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) and Caribbean Business Exchange (CBX), a dedicated cable TV channel featuring content and messaging produced by the JSE and regional and international broadcasting partners, are on board to assist with the Festival’s awards, recording, and delayed coverage. NCU TV and Radio, Bless TV, and the West Conference Communication Network (WCCN) will broadcast the event live. It will also be streamed on the YouTube channels of the JAMU and West Jamaica Conference.
The festival theme is “Recapturing the Spirit of Mission,” and the submitted films are categorized into Music and Animation, Short Films and Mobile Films, Public Service Announcements, and Commercials.
The Festival’s format includes showcasing top entries, presentations on filmmaking and Hope Chanel, and an awards ceremony that recognizes the best films in various categories.
“I am anxiously looking forward to the Festival and extend an invitation to all interested persons,” Coke added.
