Events

Open Call for Video Submissions for a US$250 Grant

– Deadline extended to August 15, 2025

Rules of entry:

  1. Submit a video of minimum 90 seconds but no more than three (3) minutes in duration with an interpretation of the theme “Preserving Indigenous Culture Through Media.”
  2. This competition is open to persons, aged 18-24, residing in the island of Jamaica.
  3. Entrant must be residing in Jamaica and content must originate from the island.
  4. The creator may interpret the theme using various creative methods. Content may include a mixture of images, video footage, narration, animation, and graphics, and may cover food, music, festivals, or traditions. Content recorded within the last twelve (12) months (since July 2024) is permissible.
  5. Prohibited: Videos may not contain copyrighted material. This includes but is not limited to music, images, video footage, and other material whereby ownership may be claimed by anyone other than the creator.
  6. All submissions will become the property of International Workforce Innovation Opportunity Center and the Intercultural Media Project. By submitting a video, the creator relinquishes in perpetuity all claims to ownership, copyright, or compensation for future use.
SUBMISSION CRITERIA
  • Chiefly produced by Jamaican born and current Jamaican resident(s)
  • Narrative shifting content focused on select indigenous cultural themes
  • 80% or more production in Jamaica, including principal imagery
  • Positive influence on social norms
  • Does not include copyrighted material
SELECTION
  • A panel of judges will select the top three (3) submissions. The winning submission will be announced on Friday, August 15th.
  • The grant funds will be disbursed within thirty (30) days of notification. The winner must present a valid government issued identification to collect.
  • Failure to produce valid government issued identification within thirty (30) days of notification will be deemed as a prize forfeiture.
  • In the event of first place forfeiture, the grant will be awarded to the creator of the second or third adjudged submissions respectively.
  • If all three (3) winners fail to validate their entry with valid identification, the grant money will be returned to the organization’s pool of funds.
Submit your video

LIVE ON TIKTOK FROM THE THUNDERBIRD AMERICAN INDIAN POWWOW!

Sunday, July 27, 2025

Join us at the Thunderbird American Indian Powwow! We are fundraising for the 2026 Intercultural Media Project Summer Workshops for Jamaican youth ages, 18-24. The Thunderbird American Indian Powwow takes place at the Queens Farm Museum in Queens, New York, and is a gathering of indigenous peoples from all over the Americas including the Tainos from Central America – Jamaica included!

Join the broadcast on TikTok/news2meja from 2PM EST.

THE PRESENTERS

Abdiwahid Abdikadir

Abdiwahid Abdikadir is an award-winning, freelance storyteller from Kenya. He is passionate about capturing memorable moments in time and is an accomplished documentary photographer with extensive experience in both local and international projects.
Abdiwahid’s work is focused on documenting humanitarian and development related projects and his photography has been showcased in exhibitions, including the Sema Youth Film Festival in 2013 and the “Stories from Our Cities” photo exhibitions in 2014 and 2015. In 2023, he organized his own exhibition themed “SMUND”.
Abdiwahid has received numerous awards and accolades for his work, including “Best Slum Creativity” at the African Slum Photo Festival in 2016, “Best Sports” at the African Slum Photo Festival in 2017, “Kenya Photographer
of the Year Nominee” in 2018, “Best Documentary” at the Eldoret Film Festival 4th edition in 2021, “Best SFX Film” at the Machakos Film Festival in 2021, and he was named one of the “100 Most Influential Muslims” in 2022. Additionally, his photos were exhibited at the Commonwealth Forum in Rwanda in 2022.

Guy Peterson

Guy Peterson is a British freelance photojournalist based in Dakar, Senegal covering West and Central Africa. Guy has been based in Dakar for three years with a focus on climate change, migration, humanitarian crisis and health related stories often in places where the story is critically undercovered. 

Moky Makura

Moky Makura was born in Nigeria, educated in England and has lived in London, Johannesburg and Lagos. She has been a TV presenter, producer, author, publisher and a successful entrepreneur in her own right. She is currently the Executive Director of Africa No Filter, a donor collaborative focused on shifting the African narrative.

Alexis Goffe

Alexis Goffe is an educator, therapist and child rights activist. He has worked with children in conflict with the law and their families and in various educational and correctional settings in Jamaica and the US for over 15 years. Alexis has been a part of the anti-criminalization of children campaign in Jamaica which calls for the end of keeping children in police lockups and the repeal of laws allowing children to be kept in adult prisons and being sentenced to life. 

2025 Intercultural Media Project

Rules of entry:

  1. Submit a video of minimum 90 seconds but no more than three (3) minutes in duration with an interpretation of the theme “Preserving Indigenous Culture.”
  2. This competition is open to persons, aged 18-24, residing in the island of Jamaica.
  3. Entrant must be residing in Jamaica and content must originate from the island.
  4. The creator may interpret the theme using various creative methods. Content may include a mixture of images, video footage, narration, animation, and graphics, and may cover food, music, festivals, or traditions. Content recorded within the last twelve (12) months (since July 2024) is permissible.
  5. Prohibited: Videos should not contain copyrighted material. This includes but is not limited to music, images, video footage, and other material that a third party may claim ownership of.
  6. All video submissions will become the property of International Workforce Innovation Opportunity Center and the Intercultural Media Project. By submitting their video, the creator relinquishes in perpetuity all claims to ownership, copyright, or compensation for future use.

SELECTION

  • A panel of judges will select the top three (3) videos. The winning video will be announced on Friday, August 15th.
  • Prize will be issued within thirty (30) days of notification. Creator must present valid government issued identification to collect.
  • Failure to produce valid government issued identification within thirty (30) days will be deemed as a prize forfeiture.
  • In the event of forfeiture, the prize will go to the creator in second position. If all three (3) winners fail to validate their entry with valid identification, the prize money will be forfeited.