Programmed by Solomon Peck
This wide-ranging film series showcases Caribbean stories, music, history, landscapes, and creativity. By way of well-known classics, undervalued gems, and some impactful contemporary works from today’s most exciting storytellers, Classic Caribbean Cultures takes us on a journey through five decades of Caribbean cinematic excellence. This series features Franco Rosso’s incendiary 1980 classic, Babylon; Cess Silvera’s 2002 crime drama Shottas, a program of shorts, and more.
This wide-ranging film series showcases Caribbean stories, music, history, landscapes, and creativity. By way of well-known classics, undervalued gems, and some impactful contemporary works from today’s most exciting storytellers, Classic Caribbean Cultures takes us on a journey through five decades of Caribbean cinematic excellence. This series features Franco Rosso’s incendiary 1980 classic, Babylon; Cess Silvera’s 2002 crime drama Shottas, a program of shorts, and more.
Leadership support for
BAM’s strategic initiatives provided by:
Leadership support for
BAM Access Programs provided by
the Jerome L. Greene Foundation
Leadership support for
BAM programming provided by:
Leadership support for
BAM’s strategic initiatives provided by:
Leadership support for
BAM Film provided by
The Thompson Family Foundation
Major support for programs in
the Lepercq Cinema is provided by
The Lepercq Charitable Foundation
-
FilmBlack Mother
Sep 19—Sep 22, 2025
Black Mother
Sep 19—Sep 22, 2025Showcasing both the bustling metropolises and tranquil countrysides of Jamaica, Khalik Allah’s 2018 doc introduces us to a succession of vividly rendered souls who call the island home. -
FilmDancehall Queen
Sep 19—Sep 25, 2025
Dancehall Queen
Sep 19—Sep 25, 2025Rick Elgood and Don Letts’ Dancehall Queen follows a struggling Kingston street vendor who finds a clever means of surviving—and possibly escaping—her precarious situation. -
FilmShottas
Sep 19—Sep 25, 2025
Shottas
Sep 19—Sep 25, 2025Two childhood friends begin their ruthless climb to the top of a criminal enterprise in this undisputed fan-favorite, directed by Cess Silvera. -
FilmCountryman
Sep 20—Sep 21, 2025
Countryman
Sep 20—Sep 21, 2025A peaceful fisherman finds himself drawn into a political plot after rescuing two Americans from the wreckage of a crashed airplane in Dickie Jacobson’s action/adventure gem. -
FilmThe Harder They Come
Sep 20—Sep 21, 2025
The Harder They Come
Sep 20—Sep 21, 2025Perry Henzell’s epoch follows a country-boy in search of fame as he journeys through Jamaica under the guises of laborer, recording artist, convict, ganja dealer, and outlaw folk hero. -
FilmBabylon
Sep 20—Sep 23, 2025
Babylon
Sep 20—Sep 23, 2025Franco Rosso's incendiary film about a young dancehall DJ in South London pursuing his musical ambitions despite facing racism and xenophobia at every turn. -
FilmThe Lunatic
Sep 20—Sep 25, 2025
The Lunatic
Sep 20—Sep 25, 2025The life of a genial lunatic in a small Jamaican village takes a startling turn when he meets a German tourist, Inga. -
FilmClassic Caribbean Cultures Shorts Program
Sun, Sep 21, 2025
Classic Caribbean Cultures Shorts Program
Sun, Sep 21, 2025Four innovative Caribbean shorts from the last decade depict characters amid deep searches for meaning.
