The 6th Annual Haiti International Film Festival Returns August 13-15, 2021 on Xerb.TV

Hollywood, California Aug 13, 2021 (Issuewire.com)  - The 6th Annual Haiti International Virtual Film Festival opens on August 13, 2021, and features 21 films and 4 virtual panel discussions. The Haitian Diaspora Award 2021 is on Sunday, August 15 at 5 p.m. PST on xerb.tv, an online platform. The theme of the three-day film festival is "The Power of Haitian Collaboration." #HIFF2021 Tickets are available now.

"In spite of the pandemic, HIFF received an overwhelming number of submissions this year and continues to grow and expand," said HIFF Executive Director Jacquil Constant. "Earlier this year, the Annual Haiti International Film Festival went global to the Cannes Film Festival with Haitian films," said Constant. "Four of the 5 films have received distribution interest and this year's film festival's goal is to create a Haitian Cinema Ecosystem to grow a sustainable film industry."

The mission of HIFF is to display a positive image of Haiti through film and art. "We will screen 7 features and 14 shorts from around the world with Haitian roots," said Constant. "As a Haitian American, it is such an honor to award Arnold Antonin with the Haitian Diaspora Award on Sunday, August 15 because he is the father of Haitian Cinema."   

HIFF, a non-profit corporation with a 501(c)(3) status, has expanded its services to filmmakers with the digital and educational distribution. Constant says, 'There’s an African proverb, “If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together,' HIFF has been successful because of collaborations." 

The goal of the film festival is to have Haitian filmmakers collaborate and produce new projects. "In 2021, through our collaboration with Haiti Tech Summit Founder Christine Souffrant Ntim, 16 young people graduated from the Haitian Filmmakers Mentorship Program to inspire the next generation of filmmakers," said Constant. "We are proud to screen films by three of the mentorship program graduates, "The Pride of Ayiti" directed by Valaira Sa-Ra; "Radicle" directed by Dominique Lebreton; and "M.D." directed by Roy Hyglesias Petit-Frere.

"The three pillars of HIFF are family, education, and creativity," said Constant.  "HIFF seeks co-production with our talented filmmakers in foreign countries." 

PANELS

Writers Panel on Saturday, August 14 at 10 am PST will explore how to change the narrative of Haiti through innovative storytelling. Duration: 1 hour

Moderator: Richardson Chery,  Actor/Producer/Host of "An Nou Pale," a Moun Lakay Production

Panelists:

Mike Gauyo, Writer, Insecure| HBO Ginny & Georgia| Netflix

Dominque Morisseau, Writer/Producer, Macarthur Genius Fellow

Myriam J.A. Chancy. Writer, Guggenheim Fellow, HBA Chair Scripps College

Haitian Women In Art Panel on Saturday, August 14 at 11 am PST will explore how to create a stronger Haitian art ecosystem in film. Duration: 1 hour

Moderator: Magdalah Racine-Silva, Vice President, Haitian Art Society

Panelists:

Carine Fabius, Owner, Galerie Lakaye (Los Angeles)

Magalie Noel Dresse, Owner, Caribbean Craft (Craft)

Myriam Nader, Owner, Myriam Nader Art Gallery (New York)

Producers Panel on Sunday, August 15 at 10 am PST is about how to create a stronger Haitian cinema ecosystem. Duration: 1 hour

Moderator: Martine Jean. Production Executive/Filmmaker, Melange Media Inc

Panelists:

Ramfis Myrthil. Producer, Beast Of The East Production

Jacques Derosena, Producer, Triangle Road Entertainment

Chike Nwoffiah, Founding Director, Silicon Valley African Film Festival

Creatives Panel on Sunday, August 15 at 11 am PST will explore how to find inspiration to create art that leaves an impact on society. Duration: 1 hour

Moderator: Ella Turenne, Artist/Entrepreneur, BlackWomyn Beautiful Productions

Panelists:

Michele Weaver, Actress, Council Of Dads, NBC, Love Is, OWN

Francesca Andre, Award-Winning Filmmaker, Photographer, Writer

Jongnic Bontemps, Award-Winning Composer, Professor

Films (partial lineup)

Thus Spoke the Sea, a feature documentary directed by Arnold Antonin

The Haitian Sea, as you’ve never seen or heard it before. In this documentary, the sea tells its story with the Haitian people. Wave after wave, the sea showcases its riches, reveals its mysteries, and raises the alarm. From the excessive use of its resources to the consequences of climate change and pollution, the sea tells its own adventures through its different shades of blue. This film is an invitation to travel, discover, and also raise awareness. Haiti’s fate will be linked to the coasts, or not at all.

Trailer: 

Screening Time: 5:30 PM PST on Friday, August 13, 2021

Expedition Ayiti, a feature documentary directed by Richard Serrao

A group of hikers trek through the mountainous regions of Haiti and appreciate the truth of its land, people, and the meaning of the journey. Ayiti, the native Taino people's word for Haiti, translates to "land of high mountains." The dominant narrative portrays Haiti as a land of natural disasters, corruption, and poverty — in essence, a story that masks its truth. Enter Expedition Ayiti, an experience borne from a passion to hike, to journey, and seek an expanded understanding of our world. Perhaps a hike with a stranger is all it takes.

Trailer: 

Screening Time: 7:30 pm PST on Friday, August 13, 2021

Healing A Nation, a feature documentary directed by Jean-Rene Rinvil

The story behind Healing A Nation is about social worker Jean-Richard Saintal from the Cite Soleil region of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He suffered what appeared to be a traumatic psychotic break. Richard’s preventable death while in residential care at a psychiatric hospital in Haiti was an outrage. It underscores how many disadvantaged individuals with mental disorders who reach out to the Haitian Health system fail to receive help. In fact, these individuals may face neglect, poor care, and eventually life-threatening conditions.

Trailer: 

Screening Time: 3 PM PST on Saturday, August 14, 2021

Madan Sara, a feature documentary directed by Etant Dupain

 The women known as Madan Sara in Haiti work tirelessly to buy, distribute, and sell food and other essentials in markets throughout the country. Despite the obstacles faced by the women working in a sector that lacks investment, infrastructure, and state assistance, the Madan Sara continues to be one of the most critical parts of the Haitian economy and of who we are as a country.

Trailer: 

Screening Time: 5 pm PST on Saturday, August 14, 2021

Sejoe: Nou Chaje ak Pwoblèm, a comedy special directed by Ralph Celestin

Nou Chaje ak Pwoblèm (We Got A Lot of Problems) is a full-length stand-up comedy performance rooted in Haitian folklore. Comedy legend Sejoe takes his audience on an exhilarating ride of laughter with his high-octane stand-up comedy act involving quips and jibes relevant to Haitian culture and politics.

Trailer: 

Screening Time: 7 pm PST on Saturday, August 14, 2021

Stateless, a feature documentary directed by Michele Stephenson

In 1937, tens of thousands of Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent were exterminated by the Dominican army, on the basis of anti-black racism. Fast-forward to 2013, the Dominican Republic’s Supreme Court stripped the citizenship of anyone with Haitian parents, retroactive to 1929, rendering more than 200,000 people stateless. Director Michèle Stephenson’s new documentary follows the grassroots campaign of a young attorney named Rosa Iris, as she challenges electoral corruption and fights to protect the right to citizenship for all people.

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/412429182

Screening Time: 1:45 pm PST on Sunday, August 15, 2021

Kafou, a feature narrative directed by Bruno Mourral

Port-au-Prince by night. Doc and Zoe are just hired to deliver an unknown package. Their job comes with three essential rules: never stop the car, never roll down the windows, never open the trunk. At a crossroads, they stumble upon a dog. Each crossroad requires a sacrifice. Their decision will change their path irreversibly.

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/232199394

Screening Time: 5:30 pm PST on Sunday, August 15, 2021

Haitian Diaspora Award 2021 on Sunday, August 15 at 5 pm PST.

Duration: 30 mins

Through a multi-faceted career, Arnold Antonin is well known for his social and political commitment to Haiti, nationally and internationally. As the father of Haitian Cinema, he has more than 60 films to his credit and had directed Haitian actors like Jimmy Jean-Louis and Gessica Geneus. His films have also won awards at FESPACO and the Cannes Film Festival.

To interview Jacquil Constant, contact Marie Y. Lemelle for Platinum Star Public Relations at 213-276-7827 or info@platinumstarpr.com.

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About the HIFF
The Annual Haiti International Film Festival (HIFF) is a three-day film festival celebrating Haitian art and culture. Founded in 2015 by Haitian American Filmmaker Jacquil Constant, HIFF showcases art and films from the Haitian Diaspora to authentically reflect the Haitian community's diverse experiences and backgrounds. HIFF promotes cultural diversity through various art genres including documentaries, feature films, short films, narrative films, and art.

HIFF is considered the HBO for Haitian films displaying the humanity of Haitian culture. The goal of the HIFF is to inform diverse audiences about the rich culture of the Haitian diaspora through innovative cinema. Through outreach and collaboration with emerging and established filmmakers, we not only teach and conduct workshops but also build a stronger ecosystem for Haitian filmmakers through partnerships with non-profit organizations and educational institutions to make a bigger impact in Hollywood and Haiti.

The three pillars of HIFF are Family, Education, and Creativity.  HIFF has expanded its services to filmmakers with the digital and educational distribution. HIFF seeks co-production with our talented filmmakers in foreign countries. https://www.haitiinternationalfilmfestival.org/

Media Contact

Marie Lemelle MarieLemelle@platinumstarmediagroup.com 3238539035 http://www.platinumstarmediagroup.com