Jamaican Film ‘Behind Closed Doors’ Featuring Tommy Lee Wins Best Caribbean Film Award

Behind Closed Doors, a Jamaican suspense drama produced by Kingston-based Yaad Boiiz Productions was named Best Caribbean Film of 2024 at the recently concluded Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (TINFF). The festival was held in Toronto Canada from September 8 through 15 and showcased nearly 100 films from across the globe including feature length movies, short films, long and short form documentaries and music videos.

Behind Closed Doors proved to be one of the major successes of this year’s festival, with an extra screening being added on Saturday September 14 following a strong audience response to its first screening earlier in the week. At the climax of the well attended Saturday event, an enthusiastic and appreciative audience gave the film a resounding ovation which lasted for several minutes.

CEO of Yaad Boiiz Productions and producer of the film Orville Matherson was on hand to accept the film’s award at the festival’s closing night awards gala the following evening, and paid tribute to those who contributed to its success including his fellow producers, production crew and cast.

“I’m accepting this award on behalf of my entire team from Jamaica who couldn’t be here tonight and who did such an amazing job on this film,” he said. “We had an additional screening here last night and the reaction that we received for this labor of love was incredible. As a Producer I can tell you right now- I am in heaven!”

In his speech, Matherson, whose producing credits also include the popular urban drama Jamaican Mafia, also alluded to the perseverance it took for he and his team to bring the film to the screen – a journey that took some six years from when production first began in 2018.

Shot entirely on location in Jamaica, Behind Closed Doors is directed by Marc Anthony Deacon from an original screenplay by Tachelle Ferron. It features Shevrado Oliver (From Yard-The Series), Rachel Seaton, Pepita Little, Darron Donaldson (From Yard- The Series), Kay- Ann Dennis and Leroy ‘Tommy Lee Sparta’ Russell in major roles. The film follows the story of a young college student (Seaton) who finds herself in desperate personal and financial straits and reluctantly agrees to accept help from a wealthy young Jamaican entrepreneur (Oliver) -only to discover that his assistance comes at a dangerous price.

Joining Matherson as producers are Oraine Gordon, Cheleta Buddo- Gayle, Elvis Griffiths and screenwriter Ferron herself.

Intrigued by the relatable storyline and looking for a follow up project to his successful prior effort Jamaican Mafia, Matherson signed on as a producer during 2018 when the film was already in pre production. The production team’s first major decision was to essentially recast the entire project with actors they felt could inhabit the complex roles they were being called on to play.

Once filming was completed in 2019, the team began post production and was preparing to do re-shoots when COVID arrived and shut the production down for over two years. By the time the pandemic was over, several individuals both before and behind the camera had either left the island, moved on to other projects or weren’t available to continue with the film. But Matherson kept going.

Recalling those days now, he says “It took every ounce of perseverance from myself and the team around me to stay the course, which is why I mentioned some of this during my acceptance speech in Toronto. Day in and day out for over six years we kept at it, without knowing for sure if this film would ever get done and see the light of day. I’m still in disbelief that we made it to where we are today. So to receive this acclaim in Toronto and to hear from so many attendees at our screenings how much they enjoyed the film and how proud they were to know it’s a completely Jamaican production, means a great deal.”

Since landing on the festival circuit earlier this year, Behind Closed Doors has picked up several awards including Best International Feature Film, Best Director and Best Editing at the Switzerland Film Fest and Screenplay Competition, Best Caribbean Drama from The International Black Diversity Film Festival and the Narrative Feature Silver Award from the International Independent Film Festival.

Matherson is now actively seeking distribution for the film. He recently returned from South Africa where he was part of the JAMPRO (Jamaica Promotions Corporation) Jamaican delegation to Fame Week Africa in Cape Town, a prestigious one week networking event that provides a platform for film, arts and media professionals from around the world to interact, collaborate and showcase their work.

His participation was facilitated by JAMPRO through their Export Max Mentorship Programme, of which he is part. Consequently, he is now in negotiations with several major distributors and streaming platforms regarding the film, and is also completing work on its soundtrack which will be ready in time to coincide with the movie’s official release.

Premieres for Behind Closed Doors are also being planned for Jamaica and several other countries in the future.

Check out the movie trailer below:

Press Release

SOURCE: Rachel Damarr Williams