New Documentaries Shine Light on Women and Child Survivors of Hurricane Melissa

KINGSTON, JUNE 10, 2026: The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in partnership with the Jamaica Film and Television Association (JAFTA) will host community screenings of new documentaries aimed at sparking dialogue and amplifying the voices of women and children who survived Hurricane Melissa.

The documentaries form part of the Behind Her Lens: Women and Children in the Wake of Hurricane Melissa initiative, an effort to bring visibility to the realities faced by vulnerable populations following the Category 5 hurricane that struck Jamaica on October 28, 2025, disrupting livelihoods, housing, education, and access to critical services.

Screening Schedule

Community members and stakeholders are invited to attend the free screenings and panel discussions at the following locations:

• Hanover – Saturday June 13 at 2:00 p.m.
  Venue: Walter Hall, Lucea
• Kingston – Thursday June 18 at 5:00 p.m.
  Venue: Cinema 1, Sovereign Centre, 106 Hope Road

• Westmoreland – Saturday June 20 at 2:00 p.m. 

  Venue: Sean Lavery Hall, Savanna-la-Mar

Each screening will feature the three short documentaries developed under the initiative:

• Sisters and the Storm – directed by Ina Sotirova
• The Forgotten Daughters – directed by Gabrielle Blackwood
• After Melissa: The Women and Girls of Petersfield – directed by Kaneal Gayle

More than a showcase of films, the screenings are designed to foster inclusive conversations that elevate the voices of those most affected and often least heard. The initiative uses film as a platform to advocate for the rights, protection, and recovery needs of women and children, ensuring that recovery efforts are informed by their experiences and responsive to the realities they face in the aftermath of disaster.

Novia Condell, UNICEF Health Specialist, and focal point for the initiative, emphasized the importance of centering vulnerable groups in post-disaster efforts. “Women, adolescent girls, and children are disproportionately affected during and after disasters, yet their stories are often the least documented. These screenings create a space not only to listen, but to facilitate discussion, understanding and action, supporting more inclusive and equitable recovery efforts.”

“JAFTA is proud to partner with UNICEF on an initiative that shows the true power of film: not only to document, but to listen, to advocate, and to create space for meaningful dialogue. By placing women and children at the centre of these stories, we are helping to ensure that recovery after Hurricane Melissa is informed by the voices and experiences of those most affected,” said Nadean Rawlins, President of JAFTA.

Amplifying Voices, Driving Change

Each documentary is produced using rights-based and trauma-informed approaches. They highlight themes of loss, caregiving, disrupted livelihoods, and resilience. Together, they provide an intimate, human perspective on recovery, one that underscores both the challenges and the leadership of women and children in rebuilding their lives, livelihoods and communities.