GATFFEST stands proudly as the Caribbean's premier community short film festival, where the magic of storytelling comes alive on the big screen.

Born out of the acclaimed Greater August Town Film Project, now revamped as the UWI Community Film Project, GATFFEST has evolved into a cinematic celebration like no other. Our journey began with a vision to provide a stage for the talented graduates of the UWI Community Film Project to unveil their creations. The inaugural Greater August Town Film Festival (GATFFEST) took place from June 20-23, 2013, captivating audiences with a dazzling array of films crafted by the community's aspiring filmmakers. The festival's vibrant atmosphere radiated across The University of the West Indies and the Palace Cineplex theatre.
Since those humble beginnings, GATFFEST has blossomed into a significant cultural phenomenon, attracting a myriad of captivating submissions from both local and international talents each year. This festival serves as a dynamic platform, a spotlight on the brilliant minds behind the lens – directors, producers, casts, and crews alike. It's a captivating opportunity to showcase emerging filmmakers who weave compelling narratives through a tapestry of short films and documentaries.

As GATFFEST continues to flourish, it goes beyond being a mere film festival; it is an immersive experience. Join us for premieres, special events, and engaging panel discussions that bring together stakeholders from tourism, academia, and the film industry. We invite you to be a part of the cinematic journey, where professionalism meets pure fun, and where storytelling knows no bounds. Welcome to GATFFEST – where the reel adventure begins!

Awards & Prizes

Awards

Most Original/Creative
Best Screenplay
Franklyn St. Juste Award for Best Directing
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Best Performance
Best Animated Film
Lennie Little-White Award for Best Local Film
Best International Film
Ian Boxill Award for The Spirit of GATFFEST
Archibald McDonald Award for the Best of GATTFEST

Viewers' Choice International Film
Viewers' Choice Local Film
Viewers' Choice of CINEMAC
GATFFEST Director’s Award
GATFFEST Chief Judge’s Award

Rules & Terms

Welcome to the GATFFEST Film Festival, where creativity meets community, and we celebrate the art of storytelling! To ensure a positive and uplifting atmosphere, we've laid out a few guidelines that strike a balance between fun and professionalism:

Positive Spirit: The GATFFEST Film Festival aims for social upliftment and cooperation. Therefore, we do not accept submissions that ridicule, demean, incite hatred, or promote violence towards individuals or groups.

Film Selection: Our Film Review Committee is the powerhouse behind selecting and inviting films to be part of the festival. They have the authority to cancel any submission during the event.

Recognition: Films invited to the Official Selection will be awarded a Certificate of Participation, recognizing their contribution to the festival.

Eligibility Criteria:

Films must have been produced within the twenty-four months preceding the Festival.
Films should be less than 30 minutes in total run time, including credits.
Commitment: Once selected, a film cannot be withdrawn from the Festival program during the event.

Screening Exclusive: Films invited to GATFFEST cannot be shown outside the festival's official theaters before their official screening during the event.

Language and Subtitles:

Films must be presented in their original language, with English subtitles.
Films not in English or Jamaican Creole must have English subtitles.
Categories: Films can be submitted in various categories, including Drama, Comedy, Romance, Animation, Documentary, Musical, Science Fiction, Horror.

Judging Criteria: Our esteemed Judges will award excellence in various categories, including Best Directing, Most Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Local Film, Best International/Regional Film, Best UWICFP Film, Spirit of GATFFEST Award, Best of GATFFEST – "The Archie," and Best Animated Film.

Promotion: Films chosen for the Official Selection must use the GATFFEST Film Festival's "Official Selection" logo in all publicity. Award winners and distribution companies are also expected to use the exact wording of the awards in their promotions.

Rule Clarifications: In cases not covered by these rules and regulations, the Director of the GATFFEST Film Festival holds the authority to settle matters.

Acceptance: Participating in the GATFFEST Film Festival implies acceptance of all regulations and adherence to pre-selection conditions.

Let's embark on this cinematic journey together, where every frame tells a story and every filmmaker becomes a part of the GATFFEST legacy!
21 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Misagh Karimi

    It was an honor to be a part of GATFFEST and the crew helped a lot.

    June 2026
    Helpful
  • Ewoud Bon

    Great festival, warm and welcoming. Nuturing emerging talents. Highly recommended!

    June 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you for your review and recommendation.
    We are honoured by your kind words and delighted that you found GATFFEST to be a warm and welcoming experience.
    We wish you every success in your creative journey and hope to welcome you back to GATFFEST again soon.

  • Laurie Lambert

    Thank you Cylindian and the entire GATFFEST Film Festival team. We were part of a great program of short films and we played to a full house on a rainy night in Kingston. The festival volunteers were professional and all our queries were handled in a timely manner. Amazing to meet other filmmakers and artists as well.

    June 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much for your kind words and for being part of GATFFEST. Your feedback means a great deal to our team and volunteers, who work hard to ensure that filmmakers have a positive and rewarding festival experience. We wish you continued success and hope to welcome you back to GATFFEST in the future.

  • Wayne Carnegie

    I am a huge fan of this festival and I wish it many success.
    I entered my film in the "BEST ANIMATED SHORT" Category and I don't think they had an award for that area in this session of the festival. It would've being nice if that was communicated to me.

    June 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you very much for your kind words and support of GATFFEST. We truly appreciate your participation in the festival and are grateful that you took the time to share your feedback.

    We understand your concern and would like to provide some clarification. GATFFEST does have an Animation category, which filmmakers select when submitting their films. However, we do not have a "Best Animated Short" category. Instead, the festival may present a "Best Animated Film" award when there is sufficient competition within the Animation category.

    As you may have noticed from this year's programme, only two animated films were selected for screening. As a result, the festival did not present a Best Animated Film award this year.

    We appreciate your suggestion regarding communication and will certainly review how we can make this distinction clearer for filmmakers in future editions of the festival.

    Thank you again for your support of GATFFEST and for sharing your work with us. We wish you continued success and hope to have the opportunity to showcase your films again.

  • Hayden Mclean

    Although I was unable to attend in person! This festival is the gold standard! Truly a blessing to bring The Last Dance back home to the motherland. Even more of a blessing to be awarded the Spirit of GATFFEST award & Best Cinematography. The lineup of other films, some of which I've seen were top tier! And I look forward to one day attending in person and being part of future editions. Thanks GATFFEST!

    September 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    We’re truly honoured by your kind words and grateful that The Last Dance could be part of GATFFEST. Congratulations once again on receiving both the Ian Boxill Award for The Spirit of GATFFEST and the Best Cinematography Award —well deserved! Though you couldn’t be with us in person this time, we look forward to welcoming you to celebrate your work with us at a future edition. Thank you for being part of the GATFFEST family!