Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands – Thirty students from the Cayman Islands Further Education Centre (CIFEC) and John Gray High School (JGHS) will attend the CayFilm International Film Festival taking place this weekend courtesy of The Security Centre which has sponsored their passes. The Security Centre has been the preferred security partner for the Festival since its inception, providing executive protection and transportation services for celebrity attendees. The students received General Passes which gives them complete access to all film screenings, panels and workshops on the three event days this holiday weekend.

“CayFilm is an exciting event for everyone on the island but it provides a really unique opportunity for students who are thinking about exploring a career in the film industry,” Keith Jernigan, Country Manager at The Security Centre. “There is so much talent among our local students and without exposure to events like CayFilm, we risk it going unnoticed. We’ve been the preferred security partner for the Festival since its inception, and it’s been a privilege to watch it grow to the event that it is today. We’ve always enjoyed being involved because it’s such a unique event for Cayman.”

CIFEC Art & Design and Creative Media Production teacher Claire Cox is both excited and hopeful about the opportunity for her students.

“It will be great for students to be exposed to a wide range of films. They are lucky to get the chance to learn from professional filmmakers and take part in some exciting workshops,” said Cox. “I hope they come away with a greater understanding and appreciation of film, and that they are inspired to get involved in some local productions. Maybe we will see their films at CayFilm in a few years!”

Industry professionals scheduled to appear include actor Wes Studi (Dances With Wolves, Last of the Mohicans, Avatar) who will be conducting an acting workshop; Vincent Versace, one of the top photographers in the world; Loren Carpenter, Oscar winner and co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios; Jim Hart, writer of Hook and Bram Stoker’s Dracula; Calia Brencsons-Van Dyk, Emmy-award winning producer of The Martha Stewart Show; and Adam Kane, director and producer of such shows as 24, Being Human and Pushing Daisies.

The CayFilm Cayman International Film Festival takes place from June 30^th to July 3^rd, and includes daily film screenings, question and answer sessions with filmmakers, panel discussions, workshops, a celebrity gala event and an awards ceremony. Both VIP and General Admission tickets are on sale and available at Cathy Church’s Photo Centre and online at cayfilm.com.

CayFilm 2017 is sponsored by Audi Cayman, Ministry of Tourism, Department of Tourism and is made possible with a grant from the Cayman National Cultural Foundation.

About CayFilm Cayman International Film Festival

CayFilm Cayman International Film Festival is an annual multi-day spectacular event designed to create new interest and excitement about the Cayman Islands as a world-class filming destination. Included in the festival will be daily film screenings, question and answer sessions with filmmakers, panel discussions, workshops, exclusive premiere screenings, and two celebrity gala events. It is our vision to open up the Cayman Islands to the film industry around the world whilst opening up the world to Cayman’s young and aspiring filmmakers.

The Festival team is also working to develop the Cayman Media Academy (CMA) under the CayFilm umbrella to educate Cayman’s youth by offering classes and qualifications relating to different career fields within the industry. This will be run throughout the year with the eventual goal of having a full-time degree programme available at our own purpose-built facility. Young children will have their own specially designed programmes to inspire and give confidence about their own unique abilities as filmmakers.