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ROOTS SPONSORS INAUGURAL GOLDENEYE FILM FESTIVAL
December 15, 2004


KINGSTON, JAMAICA - True to its long-established association with Jamaica, Roots was proud to be an official sponsor of the first-ever Goldeneye Film Festival that just wrapped up earlier this week in Oracabessa Bay, Jamaica. The five-day festival featured more than 150 films based on an eclectic thematic programming.





Founded by Palm Pictures’ Chris Blackwell and David Koh, the inaugural festival was a hugely successful hybrid gathering that served as an exclusive film festival, conference, retreat and musical celebration event. One of the highlights was a special screening of the legendary Jamaican classic The Harder They Come in the presence of its director/producer and writer Perry Henzell and one of its stars Carl Bradshaw. Another highlight was a special guest appearance and performance by singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffet.

Among the cinematic fare presented at Goldeneye was a retrospective of Jamaican films; a program entitled Arthouse Films featuring documentaries on fine artists; a James Bond and 007 retrospective; a history of Hong Kong cinema; a Bob Marley retrospective; a best-of survey of music films and much more. Festival attendees also enjoyed special guided tours of the ReggaeXplosion Museum, and Firefly, the former home of British playwright Noel Coward.

Roots Co-Founder Michael Budman, who attended the festival, had special Roots leather and nylon bags made for the occasion at the Roots leather goods factory in Toronto and distributed to delegates at Goldeneye. “It was really exciting to be part of something new of this creative quality which is on the cutting edge of the entertainment business,” said Michael, who is a longtime friend of Chris Blackwell. “Based on our past experience with Chris, we knew this festival was going to be a winner.”

Chris Blackwell is the founder of Island Records, Island Pictures, Island Outpost and Palm Pictures. He was recently inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He is credited with an extensive roster of artists, including Bob Marley, Stevie Winwood, U2, Cat Stevens, Roxy Music, The Cranberries, Nick Drake, Tom Waits, Marianne Faithfull and others.

Goldeneye is the flagship property of Blackwell’s Island Outpost boutique hotel chain and the former home of Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond. Goldeneye is a magical sliver of Jamaica’s North Shore where Fleming wrote all of the James Bond novels.

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For further information contact:
Robert Sarner, Director of Communication and Public Affairs
416-781-3574 ext 4280
E-mail: rsarner@roots.com

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