Jamaican suspense drama Behind Closed Doorways, produced by Kingston-based Yaad Boiiz Productions, has been named the Finest Caribbean Movie of 2024 on the Toronto Worldwide Nollywood Movie Pageant (TINFF).
The pageant, held in Toronto, Canada, from September 8 to fifteen, featured almost 100 movies from around the globe, together with function movies, quick movies, documentaries, and music movies.
Behind Closed Doorways emerged as one of many standout movies of the pageant, drawing such sturdy viewers reactions that an extra screening was scheduled on September 14. On the finish of the Saturday screening, the movie obtained a chronic ovation from the viewers, reflecting its success on the occasion.
Orville Matherson, CEO of Yaad Boiiz Productions and producer of the movie, accepted the award in the course of the pageant’s closing evening gala. In his speech, he acknowledged the onerous work of his workforce in Jamaica and expressed gratitude for his or her contributions.
“I’m accepting this award on behalf of my whole workforce from Jamaica who couldn’t be right here tonight and who did such a tremendous job on this movie,” Matherson mentioned. “We had an extra screening right here final evening and the response that we obtained for this labor of affection was unimaginable. As a producer I can let you know proper now—I’m in heaven!”
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Matherson additionally mirrored on the challenges the workforce confronted in finishing the movie, which started manufacturing in 2018. The journey spanned six years, with delays brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and adjustments to the solid and crew.
“It took each ounce of perseverance from myself and the workforce round me to remain the course,” Matherson mentioned. “Day in and time out for over six years we stored at it, with out understanding for positive if this movie would ever get performed and see the sunshine of day. So to obtain this acclaim in Toronto… means an excellent deal.”
Behind Closed Doorways, directed by Marc Anthony Deacon and written by Tachelle Ferron, was filmed fully in Jamaica. The story follows a younger school pupil, performed by Rachel Seaton, who turns to a rich Jamaican entrepreneur, portrayed by Shevrado Oliver, for monetary assist, solely to find that his support comes at a harmful price. The solid additionally consists of Pepita Little, Darron Donaldson, Kay-Ann Dennis, and Leroy ‘Tommy Lee Sparta’ Russell.
Since debuting on the pageant circuit earlier this yr, Behind Closed Doorways has received a number of awards, together with Finest Worldwide Function Movie on the Switzerland Movie Fest and Finest Caribbean Drama on the Worldwide Black Range Movie Pageant.
Matherson is now engaged on securing distribution for the movie and just lately participated in Fame Week Africa in Cape City, South Africa, as a part of the JAMPRO Export Max Mentorship Programme. Negotiations with main distributors and streaming platforms are ongoing, and work on the movie’s soundtrack is nearing completion.
Premieres for Behind Closed Doorways are deliberate for Jamaica and different worldwide places within the close to future.