‘Raw Materials’ makes history as first Oscar-qualifying local film

For the first time in history, a Jamaican film has qualified for an Oscar nomination. The short film Raw Materials was screened at the Palace Cineplex last September and has been the winner of 10 international film competitions.

Directed by Sosiessia Nixon, head of Film and Television at Ikon Media, it still has not set in that their short film, which she says was done “to test the waters” is going down in Jamaica’s history of film and television.

“It is still very much surreal for me because we do the film and we say we are just testing the waters and, to see it holding up and doing so well, it is really surreal, especially when you are winning in countries like France that is like the mecca of film and to have your film winning in places like that it is a big deal. I wish I could say exactly how I feel but I in awe that this little film has been doing so well internationally. It is a Jamaican film, strictly in our Jamaican Patois and to see that people are appreciative, it is just beautiful,” she shared.

Nixon said the team was overseas after a competition when a producer had informed them that Raw Materials qualified for an Academy Award. She then made the announcement on Instagram and the Film Commission declared that it was a historic achievement. According to her, the cast is still in shock.

“They are more excited than I am. I think we set a precedence, not many films are shot and then have a screening on the big screen. So, a lot of them were appreciative that they got the opportunity to see themselves on a big screen. For them, it was almost like a dream come through. Then to know that we have gone so far and now have Oscars in the mix, they are just super elated,” she said.

Raw Materials is described as a coming-of-age drama about a fashion prodigy who really has to navigate his abusive community to embrace his talent and find himself and accept himself for who he is. So it is about love and self-acceptance.

Now, having some of the movers and shakers in the realm of film’s attention, Nixon believes that more productions can follow suit and help the development and recognition of the local industry. According to her, all it truly takes is the ability to do what she says comes naturally to most Jamaicans.

“Writing a great story, it starts there. I am always confused as to why we are not having better scripts because, from my estimation, Jamaicans are really good storytellers. If you listen to a Jamaican tell a story, either you are going to laugh or cry or you going to feel excited. Jamaicans are good storytellers but I think we are having a problem translating that to script and translating that script to screen,” Nixon explained.

As for the film being in the pool for consideration for an Oscar nomination, she says it is a big win for Jamaica.

“It means that our local film-makers have the potential to make local films that can compete on the international stage and also be in competitions where there are films from other large film-making countries. So it brings a lot of hope for our local film industry,” the director reasoned.

“Other local film-makers will look on and say ‘if she can do it, then so can we’. The more noise we make, the more Hollywood will hear and listen. We have to do it as a collective,” she continued.

Currently, she says she has some more work in the pipeline.

The Oscars, also referred to as the Academy Awards, is held in recognition of artistic and technical excellence in the American film industry.

aaliyah.cunningham@gleanerjm.com