Third Horizon staff & volunteers close-out the organization’s flagship Festival in Miami  / Photo by Vanessa Diaz

MIAMI, FL – December 22, 2025- Third Horizon, the South Florida-based nonprofit dedicated to the radical possibilities of cinema, announces today a significant leadership transition. After more than a decade of building a joyous & electric platform for Caribbean and Global South cinema, co-founders Jason Fitzroy Jeffers and Romola Lucas are stepping down from their respective roles as Board Chair and Executive Director.

To facilitate this shift and ensure the organization’s longevity, Third Horizon has designated 2026 as a recalibration year. During this period, the organization plans to undergo a deep strategic planning process to remodel its mission and offerings in response to the changing landscape of independent film and global politics.

A Strategic Pause
As part of this intention-setting phase, the flagship Third Horizon Film Festival (THFF) will pause for the 2026 season. The festival is slated to return with a revitalized vision in 2027 that continues to center the Caribbean as a lens through which to understand the world.

Co-founders Romola Lucas and Jason Fitzroy Jeffers / Photo by Vanessa Diaz

This decision grew out of an internal process that Third Horizon initiated after the eighth edition of its festival this summer by bringing on a series of consultants to help refine its mission. This research reinforced Lucas and Jeffers’ shared belief that the filmmakers and audiences that Third Horizon serves need to be supported and uplifted now more than ever.

"We have reached this inflection point because of the vast damage happening across our field and wider communities," says co-founder Jason Fitzroy Jeffers, "This internal work will strengthen Third Horizon so that it can weather these precarious times and position it for future successes.

New Leadership and Programs
Accompanied by various international consultants and experts, Third Horizon will enter 2026 with this strategic planning process and begin the search for its next Executive Director.

Stewarded by Interim Executive Director and co-founder, Justen Blaize, the organisation’s visioning process will be steered by its current board, comprising Chloe Walters-Wallace, Lauren Monzon, Romola Lucas, and Themba Bhebhe, who will also serve as a strategic planning consultant throughout the transition.

To ensure continuity during the transition, Romola Lucas will serve as Interim Board Chair. Despite departing from Third Horizon’s leadership, Jason will remain a vital creative collaborator within the organization’s ecosystem.

While the in-person festival takes a hiatus in 2026, Third Horizon will continue amplifying & showcasing cutting-edge Caribbean cinema through:

• Pop-up Film Screenings: Third Horizon will host film screenings in Miami, Brooklyn, Latin America, Europe, Africa, and across the Caribbean in collaboration with various partners.

• Online Curated Collection: Anansi TV, Third Horizon’s online curated collection and film distribution platform, will continue to premiere and showcase films year-round, along with offering licensing for educational spaces and institutions.

• Filmmaker Support: Third Horizon Forward will continue to support Miami-based filmmakers with Caribbean lineage by fostering the development and production of a series of short films. The cohort of 3 filmmakers - Edson Jean, Geovanna Gonzalez, and Nadia Wolff - will complete production of their films and launch them on the festival circuit in 2026.

This period marks a time of continued care and commitment to the communities and filmmakers Third Horizon has long served, laying a vital foundation to ensure and secure the future of radical Caribbean storytelling.