Portie Film Festival 2026: Reggae in the Ruff: Johnnie Walker and The Disappointers

  Join us on 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟭𝟭, at 𝟲.𝟯𝟬𝗽𝗺, at 𝗗𝗶 𝗛𝗶𝗽 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗽 in 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗼 for the 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗮𝘆 of the 𝟭𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗺 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹! This evening, we first host a special screening of 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗴𝗮𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝘂𝗳𝗳 (2011), a documentary on 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀, a group of Rasta elders living in the hills of Portland’s Blue Mountains. In addition, we are screening the short film 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗮 (2025) and a 7-minute teaser of the forthcoming documentary series 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗺 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗝𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗰𝗮 (2027).

𝗔𝗱𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲, but please 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 by sending an email to [email protected] as space is limited. 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀 will be available on sale throughout the evening! 

𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗺 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲: 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗴𝗮𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝘂𝗳𝗳 (𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴)
Date: Saturday, July 11, 2026
Time: 6.30pm
Venue: Di Hip Strip
Address: 25A Folly Rd, Port Antonio
Port Antonio, Portland 
Program: 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗴𝗮𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝘂𝗳𝗳 (2011, 60′ dir. Don McConnell)
Extra: The short films 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗮 (2025, 4’, Jamaica, dir. Tony Fisher) and 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 (2024, 10′, dir. Nile Saulter)
Extra: The 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗺 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 is presented by 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝘂𝘁𝘀 & 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗯𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆
Tickets: 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, but please 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 by sending an email to [email protected] as space is limited

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗴𝗮𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝘂𝗳𝗳
𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗴𝗮𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝘂𝗳𝗳 is a 60-minute documentary about the lifestyle, philosophy and music of Johnnie Walker and the Disappointers, a group of Rasta elders living in the hills of Portland’s Blue Mountains. They survive by living close to nature, working the land organically and harvesting wild fruits and bush medicines from the jungle. For over 30 years in obscurity they have also been creating a unique yet familiar style of Roots Reggae music – and they are ready to bring their positive music ‘out of the hills to the world’. Photographed by independent filmmaker Don McConnell, 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗴𝗮𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝘂𝗳𝗳 captures the remarkable beauty of Jamaica and its fascinating culture and hypnotic music. The film blurs the lines between anthropology and music documentary, while staying true to the unique story of this intimate group of dreamers who have found true happiness through their natural way of life. Combining stunning imagery, deep reasoning and roots music, 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗴𝗮𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝘂𝗳𝗳 offers a rare and authentic glimpse into what it is to be a Rasta elder in the 21st century.

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗮
Hurricane Melissa was born over the warm waters of the Caribbean on October 21, 2025. What began as a tropical storm soon unleashed its full fury, growing into a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane. This short film by Tony Fisher, with music by Tony Roze & BRK, captures the aftermath, just days after the storm’s devastating landfall across western Jamaica.

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗺 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗝𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗰𝗮: 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗿
Film Location Jamaica (2026-2027) is a 14-part documentary series in developments exploring the island’s interwoven history of film, tourism and empire from the early twentieth century to the present day. The history of Jamaica as a film location started in the early twentieth century, during the island’s early tourism and late colonial period. From then onwards, Jamaica has served as a tropical backdrop in numerous international films, from A Daughter of the Gods (1916) to No Time to Die (2021). Following its independence in 1962, Jamaica has sought to develop its own film industry ever since the success of The Harder They Come (1972). How have Jamaica and Jamaicans been involved, portrayed, and represented throughout the history of over a 100 years of filmmaking on the island? And how is this connected to Jamaica’s tourism, colonial and post-independent history?

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝘂𝘁𝘀
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, visit www.greathuts.com.

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗯𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆
Caribbean Creativity is an Amsterdam- and Kingston-based non-profit organization that is, since 2008, committed to the production, programming and promotion of Caribbean and Caribbean-themed cinema. Over the years, Caribbean Creativity has hosted over 300 screenings in theatres and at festivals, including numerous premieres. In 2020, they launched YardVibes, a streaming platform featuring content from independent Caribbean 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 events, including this screening. For more information, visit www.caribbeancreativity.org.