Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade

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Veteran broadcaster and actress Leonie Forbes was recently honoured by the Jamaican community in New York for her five decades of professional excellence in broadcasting, theatre and film.

At a function held at the Consulate General in New York, Ms. Forbes was presented with a certificate of merit from the Consulate General and a citation from United States Congressman Ed Towns (Brooklyn), in acknowledgment of her outstanding body of work.

Acting Consul General, Lincoln Downer, who made the presentation, said that Ms. Forbes "has blazed a trail of excellence and has also paved the way for aspiring Jamaicans and Caribbean actors and actresses".

"It is only fitting that we applaud Ms. Forbes given her outstanding contribution to the dramatic arts and for promoting Brand Jamaica," he stated. He credited her leading roles in 12 national pantomimes and a number of films including 'Club Paradise', 'Smile Orange', 'Milk & Honey', and her latest role in 'A Winter Tale', a film by Trinidadian Frances Ann Solomon.

The Jamaican community award was presented by businessman Patrick Payne, who has been instrumental in bringing a number of Jamaican pantomimes to the New York area audience.

Ms. Forbes is in New York for the premiere of 'A Winter Tale,' which will have three showings at two New York City area theatres up to December 9, as part of the 15th Annual African Diaspora Film Festival (ADFF).

'A Winter Tale' tells the emotional story of a black men's support group, which is formed in a Caribbean takeout restaurant in Toronto, Canada after a young boy is killed by a stray bullet. A clip of the film was shown to the audience at the reception.

The ADFF presents an eclectic mix of foreign, independent, classical and urban films representing the global black experience through an extraordinary range of subjects and artistic approaches. It is the largest showcase of black cinema on the United States East Coast.

The reception at the Consulate General also paid tribute to actor Peter Williams, Jamaican-Canadian film and television star, who plays a lead role in 'A Winter Tale'. Williams' film credits include Catwoman, Chronicles of Riddick and Stargate SG-1.

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