J6 Films is proud to announce the release of Mark Warmington’s feature film, Harder Than the
Rock: The Cimarons Story. It made its world premiere at the prestigious Sheffield Documentary
Festival on the 15th of June at the Crucible Theatre. The night was hosted by renowned film
maker and DJ, Don Letts and received a standing ovation from the crowd.
Harder Than the Rock chronicles the incredible journey of Britain’s first reggae band, the
Cimarons. Formed by teenage Jamaican immigrants in a London bus shelter in 1967, the
Cimarons were at the forefront of the reggae explosion in the 1970s. Thousands of miles from
Jamaica, they brought excitement, experimentation, and sheer anticipation to Black British
youth, connecting them to their roots and identity through powerful music.
The Cimarons collaborated with industry legends such as Bob Marley, Toots & the Maytals,
Jimmy Cliff, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, and even Paul McCartney. Despite their significant
contributions, the band has been largely under-recognised for their music, impact, and legacy.
The film poignantly captures their history and follows their final chapter as they dream of
performing live one last time even after losing their drummer, Maurice Ellis, to cancer.
Mark Warmington, the director of Harder Than the Rock, expressed his excitement about the
film’s premiere: “I can’t quite believe my first feature film is being picked up by Sheffield Doc
Fest. I want to say a huge thank you to all who have supported the film in many different ways.”
James Baxter, the producer, added: “It’s been an absolute pleasure working on this with Mark.
His passion and commitment to get this film over the line has been unwavering. It received an
incredible reception in Sheffield. We hope the film will now shine a spotlight on the band and
help them get the recognition they deserve .”
The post production was completed at The Church Post house based in Byker. Mark Lediard
was the main editor and Nathan Burns and Rich McCoull worked on the main mix.
The film will now be released to a global audience.
