Cayman Airways and the Cayman Islands Film Commission have agreed to work together to help position the islands as a leading destination for film and media production.
The two entities signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening collaboration between the aviation and creative sectors.
In a press release from the Department of Tourism on 24 February, tourism director Rosa Harris described the MoU as a milestone moment for Cayman’s global ambitions in film.
“Flight access is a major consideration for international film productions, and Cayman Airways’ direct service from film hubs like Los Angeles and Miami gives us a genuine competitive edge and opportunity to create incremental visitation through investment in film,” she said.
Cayman Airways’ direct route to Los Angeles International Airport has been identified as a particularly strategic link, connecting the islands to the heart of the global entertainment industry.
Jahaira Goodwin, the airline’s director of sales for North America, said the carrier’s network – including its service to all three islands – provides a unique advantage.
“We are the only carrier providing service to all three islands and this exclusive connectivity is particularly valuable for productions like The Bluff,” she said.
Spotlight on The Bluff
The announcement comes as The Bluff, a high-profile action-adventure film starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Karl Urban is released on Amazon Prime Video on 25 February.
Set in Cayman Brac in the 1840s, the film tells the story of a former pirate whose violent past resurfaces to threaten her family.
While principal photography took place in Queensland, Australia, local crews captured establishing shots, aerial footage and visual effects templates on location in Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac.
Filming included well-known sites such as Barkers National Park, Skull Cave and the dramatic bluff formations of Cayman Brac.
The project is directed by Caymanian filmmaker Frank E Flowers, who also serves as chairman of the Cayman Islands Film Commission’s advisory board.
Flowers, whose past credits include the locally shot feature ‘Haven’ and the biopic ‘Bob Marley: One Love’, said sustained cross-sector collaboration is essential to building a viable industry.
“This partnership between Cayman Airways and the Cayman Islands Film Commission demonstrates our collective commitment to creating an ecosystem where international and local filmmakers can thrive,” Flowers said.
Support for local filmmakers
Beyond attracting overseas productions, the MoU also aims to reduce barriers for Caymanian filmmakers seeking international exposure.
Film commissioner Brittany Kelly said travel costs can prevent local creatives from attending festivals even after their films are accepted.
“For local filmmakers, getting into a festival is a huge milestone, but actually getting to the festival can be one of the biggest barriers,” she explained.
“By supporting outbound travel for Caymanian filmmakers whose work has been accepted into festivals within Cayman Airways’ gateway network, we’re helping ensure their stories don’t stop at acceptance.”
Under the agreement, the airline and film commission will work together to:
- Facilitate travel for production companies, cast and crew, including inter-island connectivity to Cayman Brac and Little Cayman
- Promote the Cayman Islands as a film destination at trade shows and industry events in key entertainment hubs
- Coordinate logistics support across all three islands
- Develop promotional packages highlighting both filming locations and air access
Cayman offers production cash rebates on qualifying expenditures, along with English-speaking crew, modern infrastructure and year-round favourable weather, the press release said.
