Jamaican Independence 60th Anniversary Screening

Venue : The Watershed / 1 Canon's Rd, Bristol BS1 5TX

‘Jamaican Independence 60th Anniversary’ Screening was held at The Watershed in Bristol on August 9th, 2022. This event was a significant cultural celebration for Bristol's West Indian community, aiming to commemorate 60 years of Jamaican independence and highlight the global impact of Jamaican culture, especially on Black and Brown individuals of Caribbean heritage in the UK, including the Windrush generation.

Thompson's involvement primarily focused on film programming and community outreach. He contributed to the curatorial process by researching and proposing films that explored historical and contemporary narratives of the Jamaican diaspora. Thompson also developed and implemented targeted community engagement, working closely with Dropop and DET Entertainment, two community businesses, to ensure broad and diverse participation.

His responsibilities also included managing relationships with the Watershed and film distributors, coordinating logistics and contractual agreements, and securing vital local business partnerships with Lakota nightclub and BRB Supermarket.

Balancing historical accuracy with contemporary community relevance in the film selection the event successfully served as a platform for cultural affirmation and intergenerational dialogue, showcasing the power of film in heritage and community cohesion.