JAFTA Episodics is another off-shoot of the Jamaica Film and Television Association's ongoing developmental initiatives, this time focusing on episodic content. JAFTA Episodics launches in April 2020 with the JAFTA/Porter Screenwriting Fellowship. 

 

JAFTA has collaborated with L.A.-based and Jamaican Screenwriter/Producer Aisha Porter-Christie (Orphan Black, Shadowhunters, Daredevil: Born Again) to develop a screenwriting developmental initiative focused on scripted Jamaican content for television pilots or web-series with international appeal.

 

The JAFTA/PSF initiative would be administered and executed by JAFTA with funding, mentorship and collaborative support from Ms. Porter-Christie. Grants of USD$1000 will be awarded to a maximum of two selected screenwriters (USD$1,000.00 each). Ms. Porter-Christie along with Judalina Neira (Executive Producer, Amazon’s The Boys) and Kevin Avery (Emmy Winning Writer/Producer) will be the mentors. 

 

In the theme of ‘paying-it-forward’, on completion of their fellowship, selected awardees would be required to participate in at least one public-sharing session, one mentorship session and at least one-community outreach initiative to apply what they have learned and to pass on any knowledge or skill-sets to others in the Jamaican screenwriting and/or creative community.