PoFF2026: Activist Documentary Filmmaking Workshop by Esther Figueroa
ย 
On ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐, ๐๐๐น๐ ๐ญ๐ญ, at ๐ญ๐ฌ.๐ฏ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐บ, acclaimed Jamaican activist filmmaker ๐๐๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฎ will lead a ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฝ on ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฐ๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ณ๐ถ๐น๐บ๐บ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด at ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐๐๐ as part of the ๐ญ๐ฌ๐๐ต ๐ฃ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐น๐บ ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐น.
Designed for filmmakers, students, activists, community organizers, and anyone interested in the ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ, the workshop will explore how documentary film can be used as a ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐น ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐, ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ผ๐๐ ๐บ๐ผ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป. Drawing on nearly four decades of experience in film and media production, Figueroa will discuss the creative and practical processes involved in developing documentaries that challenge dominant narratives, amplify marginalized voices, and inspire action.
Participants will gain insight into topics such as identifying social and environmental issues, researching and shaping documentary stories, ethical filmmaking practices, working with communities, and using film as part of broader activist campaigns. The session will also include screenings and discussion of selected clips from several of Figueroaโs environmental documentaries, including her award-winning film ๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐น๐ฒ and her newly completed documentary ๐๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐, which chronicles the ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ ๐ ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ and is also featured in this yearโs festival programme.
The workshop offers a unique opportunity to learn from one of Jamaicaโs most experienced independent filmmakers and to explore how documentary storytelling can contribute to ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐น ๐ท๐๐๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ, ๐ฐ๐๐น๐๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐.
๐๐ฑ๐บ๐ถ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ถ๐ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ, but please ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ by sending an email to [email protected] as space is limited.
๐ฃ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐น๐บ ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐น ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ: ๐๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ถ๐น๐บ๐บ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ช๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฝ
Date: Saturday, July 11, 2026
Time: 10.30am
Venue: Great Huts
Address: 6-10 Boston Bay, Portlandย
Hosted by: Jamaican activist filmmaker ๐๐๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฎ
Extra: The ๐ฃ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐น๐บ ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐น ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ is presented by ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐๐๐ & ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐
Tickets: ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐บ๐ถ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป, but please ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ by sending an email to [email protected] as space is limited
More info:ย www.caribbeancreativity.nl
๐๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฎ
Esther Figueroa is the founder of Vagabond Media and has worked across virtually every aspect of film and television production for almost 40 years. She describes her mission as giving voice to people and perspectives often excluded from mainstream media, while challenging the dominant values, information, and worldviews promoted by commercial media. Her television, video, and film productions have been broadcast internationally, screened at festivals around the world, taught in universities, and utilized by communities and organizations as powerful tools for activism and social change.
๐๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐๐๐
Located on the cliffs of Boston Bay in Portland, Jamaica, Great Huts is an eco-resort that combines natural beauty with a celebration of African and African-Jamaican heritage. More than a place to stay, Great Huts offers a cultural experience that reflects the history, creativity, and resilience of the African diaspora in Jamaica. The resort’s grounds are adorned with African-inspired art and sculptures, while its location provides easy access to some of Portland’s must-visit attractions, including Boston Beach, Frenchman’s Cove, Reach Falls, and the Blue Mountains. With its commitment to sustainability, cultural preservation, and community engagement, Great Huts has become a distinctive destination for those seeking a connection to Jamaica’s rich natural environment and cultural heritage. As the initiator of the Portie Film Festival, Great Huts is proud to welcome the festival back to Portland for its 10th edition, in partnership with Caribbean Creativity, continuing its longstanding commitment to celebrating Jamaican film, arts, and culture. For more information, visitย www.greathuts.com.
๐๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐
Caribbean Creativity is an Amsterdam-based non-profit organization that is, since 2008, committed to the programming and promotion of Caribbean and Caribbean-themed cinema in the Netherlands and beyond. Over the years, Caribbean Creativity has hosted over 300 screenings in Dutch cinemas and at film festivals, including numerous premieres. In 2020, they launched YardVibes, a streaming platform featuring content from independent Caribbean and African filmmakers. YardVibes currently offers over 100 titles, including feature films, web series, documentaries, and short films, with new content added monthly. This year, they are based in Kingston, working on several film projects and film events, including this screening. For more information, visitย www.caribbeancreativity.nl.
