Freeport, The Bahamas – The Bahamian feature-length family film, Wind Jammers was screened for the first time in Grand Bahama on February 12th at the new Canal House conference center of the Pelican Bay Hotel to a sold out audience.
Guests arrived to Optimists vessels on display in the entrance-way and a red carpet entrance to the Delphine’s room at the Canal House. Optis are small, single-handed sailing dinghy’s used at the Grand Bahama Sailing Club (GBSC).
Families enjoyed complimentary popcorn provided by Pelican Bay and had a chance to meet and get autographs from the star of Wind Jammers, Justice von Maur. Both co-directors, Kareem Mortimer and Ric von Maur were in attendance along with actors Moya Thompson and Claudette ‘Cookie’ Allens.
“I am so glad we were invited to show the movie in Grand Bahama, and everyone was so nice. I really enjoyed sailing with the kids at the Grand Bahama Sailing Club the day following the screening,” said fifteen-year-old Justice von Maur who learned to sail when she was ten years of age.
Methice Rigby sang the national anthem and guests were welcomed by Pelican Bay’s general manager, Magnus Alnebeck. “Pelican Bay is happy to have sponsored this event, and Grand Bahama Sailing Club in extension. We are looking forward to seeing more young Grand Bahamians being introduced to the sport of sailing,” said Alnebeck.
Donna Mackey spoke on behalf of the Ministry of Tourism’s Film Commission and shared her delight to have had the opportunity to work on films with director, Kareem Moritimer on various occasions over the years as he has made his way up the ladder to now being a director with a few films under his belt, in particular his multi-award winning film, Children of God which is set to be out on DVD later this year .
Mortimer shared his thoughts on the screening by saying, “It was great playing the movie to another Bahamian audience. We were very pleased to see how the community supported this event and it was wonderful to have such a great turnout!”
A brief Q and A with the cast took place after the film and then David Valentine of the GB Sailing Club invited everyone out for the following day’s Sunday Sailing while also providing information on the sailing programmes they have available to the island. Chris Paine, co-founder of the sailing club shared words of gratitude. “It was great to meet the cast and directors of ‘Wind Jammers’ which added much to the actual showing of the movie. The GBSC is enormously grateful to The Bahamas Weekly team who put together the entire event and have been extremely generous in donating most of the proceeds to the Club which in turn will support the Junior Sailing program, ” said Chris Paine.
Wind Jammers is an independent film about a girl’s coming of age while learning to sail in The Bahamas, and it was shot almost entirely in Nassau. It was written by Ric von Maur, Elliot Lowenstien and Michael Ray Brown; and produced by Nick Huston, Paul Jarrett and Kareem Mortimer.
“We all worked long and hard on this movie and it is all worth it when we hear the great responses. Many thanks to Pelican Bay for hosting the event at their conference center; the GB Ministry of Tourism for their support; and The Bahamas Weekly for organizing it all,” said co-director, Ric von Maur.
