The Austin Film Society (AFS) welcomed Los Angeles’ famed Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) for its 4th annual Austin series, presenting a selection of the most acclaimed films from PAFF’s February festival. 

Play It Loud, winner of the PAFF 2026 juried award for “Best First Feature Documentary”, was selected, screening at famed Richard Linklater’s Austin Film Society Cinema, featuring a panel discussion with the filmmakers.

Play It Loud screening as part of the 27th Taste of the Caribbean culture and music festival – bringing the vibrant spirit of the Caribbean to Montreal, in the Old-Port of Montreal.

JAMAICAN PREMIERE, part of the 2026 National Canada Film Day, presented by the High Commission of Canada in Jamaica and Reel Canada!

A star-studded, red carpet premiere at the Palace Cineplex in Kingston, Jamaica, with opening remarks by His Excellency Mark Berman (High Commissioner of Canada) and Mr. Denzil Thorpe (Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport) – followed by a panel discussion moderated by Donisha Prendergast (granddaughter of Bob and Rita Marley), featuring singer Dr. Carlene Davis, Naomi Cowan (2026 Juno winner for Best Reggae album), Dr. Dennis Howard of the University of the West Indies, and our director Graeme Mathieson.

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The 3-day Palm Beach Reggae & Arts Festival from March 20-22, 2026 in Delray Beach, Florida, will close out the weekend festivities with a Movie Night featuring Play It Loud! – exploring soul and reggae influences.

Winner of the juried award:
Best First Feature Film

Play It Loud had it’s US West Coast premiere with 2 screenings at the 34th annual Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) at The Culver Theater in Los Angles, on the opening day of the festival with a Q&A featuring the star Jay Douglas and director Graeme Mathieson.

Established in 1992 by Hollywood veterans Danny Glover, the late Ja’Net DuBois, and Ayuko Babu, this year's festival line-up featured 100+ feature length & short films that reflect rhythm, identity and purpose from around the African Diaspora. 

Black Futures (Hart House), the Faculty of Music EDI Office, and the Centre for Caribbean Studies presented Play it Loud!, a documentary screening and talk, feat. Jay Douglas and director Graeme Mathieson. harthouse.ca/events/play-it-loud-film-screening/

Official selection of the 2025 Black Film of New Orleans, part of the Higher Learning Documentary Series.

REEL RELIEF: A NIGHT FOR JAMAICA
A Fundraising Film Showcase for Hurricane Melissa Relief

A powerful evening of storytelling and solidarity as four Jamaican and Caribbean filmmakers shared their films on the big screen — all to support families impacted by Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica.

Films
Play It Loud! - Graeme Mathieson
Remote Paradise - Troy Crossfield
On a Sunday at Eleven - Alicia Harris
Sugar Dumplin’ - Tristan Barrocks

A celebration of storytelling, culture, and cross-border connection. The 2025 Windsor International Film Festival (WIFF) brought two acclaimed films (Play It Loud! and The Barbarian Invasions!) to downtown Detroit for the very first time. In partnership with the Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP), this historic two-night screening at Campus Martius Park offered audiences a rare opportunity to engage with award-winning cinema, discover new voices in filmmaking, and celebrate the vibrant creative exchange between two dynamic border cities.

Screening as part of the CINÉ+ RETRO film series, in conjunction with the Retro – Popular Music in Canada From the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s exhibit.

An intimate screening presented by 915 Dupont, one of Toronto’s top-rated listening bars, as part of their Tuesday Film Night series.

Presented in celebration of Ontario Culture Days 2025, a Trinity Square Video presentation of Play It Loud! — How Toronto Got Soul.

Screening in conjunction with and fundraising for the Brain Injury Association of York Region (BIAYR), including a Q&A w/ special guest Jay Douglas.

Official selection for the 2025 Windrush Caribbean Film Festival (WCFF). Set in one of the world’s most iconic music cities, National Museums Liverpool hosted the Windrush Caribbean Film Festival screening celebrating the sounds of the diaspora through stories of resistance, rhythm, and cultural pride.

Official selection for the 2025 Caribbean Film Festival (CFF) in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Screening was followed by an in-person Q&A with director Graeme Mathieson and star Jay Douglas.

Media Launch Screening in Barbados.

Yorkton Film Festival

Official selection, 2025 Yorkton Film Festival, including:

•Golden Sheaf winner: Documentary Arts/Culture
•Best Of Festival nomination
•Director Non-Fiction nomination (Graeme Mathieson)
•Research nomination (Klive Walker, Nicholas Jennings, Jessica Joy Wise, Graeme Mathieson)

Cameron Bailey special TIFF presentation of Play it Loud! followed by a Q&A with special guest Jay Douglas, director Graeme Mathieson and producer Andrew Munger.

Play it Loud! will had it’s 3rd Hot Docs presented screening. Our director Graeme Mathieson and Jay Douglas himself were in attendance for a Q&A for this encore screening.

Kitchener/Waterloo’s premiere art house cinema screened the K/W premiere event of Play it Loud!, with Jay Douglas & director Graeme Mathieson in attendance. Presented in partnership with Vintage Black Canada.

COMMUNITY SCREENING at the Jamaican Canadian Association, in Toronto

Founded in 1962, the JCA will be hosted a packed house screening of Play it Loud! under the distinguished patronage of the Consul-General of Jamaica - Mr.Kurt Davis. With very special guest in attendance, Jay Douglas and the mayor of Toronto - Olivia Chow.

In Hamilton at Ontario’s historic Westdale theatre. Presented in partnership with the Hamilton’s Afro-Canadian Caribbean Association (ACCA).

The Drake Hotel - LIVE PERFORMANCE

A live performance by Jay Douglas & The All Stars, in support of the film’s TV premiere on Feb. 16th on TVO.

Sonic Boom - LIVE PERFORMANCE

In-store performance by Jay Douglas, in promtion of our TV/streaming premiere weeknd, and it was an opportunity to purchase the sought after re-release of the Jamaica To Toronto compilation, featured in the film – an 8.1 review from Pitchfork:

“As great as all these songs are, there’s one particular track that stands out: The Cougars’ cover of “I Wish It Would Rain”, a Whitfield/Strong/Penzabene composition originally recorded by the Temptations. Though it has some rhythmic echoes of reggae in places, this song is so oddly arranged that it feels completely out of time or genre. The verses are minimally arranged, with Jay Douglas and Jackie Richardson trading leads over heartbeat drums and a lone, regular guitar chord. Smears of organ color the front and back of each verse, and there are two bridges of instrumental soul that rip right into the starkness of the verses with towering horns and thick bass. It’s an improbable interpretation, but it’s utterly haunting.”

Available Light Film Festival - FESTIVAL

Play it Loud! was proud to be selected in the 2025 program of Yukon’s Available Light Film Festival. ALFF is Canada's largest film festival north of 60°. Both screenings included Q&A with Jay Douglas, Graeme Mathieson (director) and Andrew Munger (producer).

Play it Loud! is headed to the west coast! Vancouver International Film Festival hosted 4 screenings of the film, followed by a Q&A with Jay Douglas and producer Andrew Munger.

“Still going strong, Jay Douglas proves the perfect guide to this seriously grooving reclamation of Canadian soul and funk history.”

Play it Loud! was featured as part of The Black Nerds film club programming at Toronto’s legendary west-end Revue Cinema. Another packed house with Q&A from Jay Douglas and director Graeme Mathieson, hosted by Faduma Gure.

revuecinema.ca/films/the-black-nerds-play-it-loud-how-toronto-got-soul-qa-with-director-cast

Play it Loud! opened the 2025-25 Doc Soup Season to 2 sold out screenings at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema in Toronto! The screenings were followed by a Q&A with director Graeme Mathieson, musician Jay Douglas and producer Andrew Munger, moderated by Heather Haynes, Hot Docs' Director of Programming.

Cast & Crew screening at Toronto’s famous Royal Cinema.