Kingston, Jamaica — Women in Film & Television Jamaica (WIFT-JA) is pleased to announce its newly elected Board of Directors for the 2026–2028 term, bringing together a dynamic group of filmmakers, producers, performers, educators, and creative industry leaders committed to strengthening Jamaica’s film, television, and digital media sectors.
The incoming board reflects the diversity, talent, and collaborative spirit of Jamaica’s creative industries, bringing together established professionals, mid-career leaders, and emerging voices, whose collective expertise spans production and post, education and arts management, cultural development, storytelling, and community engagement.
Leading the organization into its next chapter is newly elected President Natasha Griffiths, a screenwriter, director, educator and academic leader who develops compelling character-driven stories across film, television, and animation, while mentoring emerging storytellers and creative professionals. By her side is Vice President Ina Sotirova, an award-winning filmmaker, educator, and multimedia storyteller, whose work explores healing, culture, and social change through film, photography, and immersive experiences. Having served as Directors on the previous Board, the duo brings continuity, institutional knowledge, and a shared commitment to strengthening WIFT-JA’s impact and visibility, amplifying the voices of Caribbean women across the screen industries, and expanding opportunities for professional growth and leadership.
Joining them are a remarkable group of women whose collective experience reflects the breadth of Jamaica’s creative ecosystem. The five Directors elected to the board include film editor and brand and content strategist Alana Nelson, whose work spans narrative features, documentaries, and commercial productions in Jamaica and the United States; arts manager and cultural advocate Kathrine Johnson, who has supported creative sector development through strategic programmes and partnerships; and producer Kalia Ellis, whose credits include Bob Marley: One Love, Get Millie Black, Black Cake, and 007: Road to a Million.
Also joining the board are filmmaker, entrepreneur, and multidisciplinary artist Denia Morgan, whose work explores Caribbean culture, identity, memory, and belonging across film, writing, and handmade creative practice; and filmmaker Cylindian Goodchild, whose experience spans production, camera, casting, performance, and festival programming. Supporting the board in an advisory capacity is actress and producer Mitzie Pratt, a SAG-AFTRA and Actors’ Equity Association member whose work spans award-winning film, television, and theatre productions in both Jamaica and the United States.
Representing both established industry leadership and the next generation of Jamaican screen talent, this Board represents a unique blend of creative practice, industry experience, education,
advocacy, and cultural leadership. Collectively, their work has been recognized by organizations and platforms like the Sundance Institute, ScreenCraft, the British Council, UNICEF, HBO, Hulu, Prime Video, and Paramount Pictures, as well as leading academic institutions in Jamaica and the United States.
Reflecting on the Board Retreat held earlier this year, incoming President Natasha Griffiths shared that “we envision strengthening the role of the organization in not only celebrating women in screen media, but actively helping shape the future of the industry. We see WIFT-JA earning a permanent seat at key industry and policy tables, championing safe and equitable working environments, expanding opportunities for women in underrepresented roles, and strengthening the systems that allow creative professionals to build sustainable careers in Jamaica.”
At the heart of the Board’s vision is a commitment to strengthening WIFT-JA’s role as a hub for connection, mentorship, research, training, and international collaboration, fostering a thriving community of women creators with expanded access to opportunities at home, across the Caribbean, and around the world.
As Jamaica’s screen industries continue to grow and evolve, the new Board is committed to ensuring that women are not only participants, but continue to be leaders in shaping the future of film, television, and digital storytelling in Jamaica and across the Caribbean.