Festival season is here! The year kicks off with projects from Jimmy Jean-Louis, Garcelle Beauvais, Numa Perrier, Krystel Roche and Reginad Chevalier to name a few.
First up is the San Diego Black Film Festival where a couple of Haitian themed or Haitian authored projects will be screened. Writer/Director Lortir Pierre-Louis' beautifully shot film "Fast Track" is an official selection of the festival and will screen on January 31st. The short film follows performers on the 'fast track' to success.
So too is "Lakay", a documentary we've previously featured here. It first premiered at the Harlem International Film Festival to rave reviews. It has since screened in several other places, including Los Angeles. Now it is headed to the San Diego Black Film Festival. Directed by Tirf Alexius, the film follows two brothers as they head back to Haiti in search of loved ones after the devastating earthquake of 2010.
A week after the San Diego Film Festival, the Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) kicks off in Los Angeles.
Veteran actor Jimmy Jean-Louis' mocumentary 'Jimmy goes to Nollywood 2'
will have its world premiere on February 6th. Jimmy is one of those
actors who is genuinely enthusiastic about his work and shows up at
screenings to surprise the audience and answer fan questions post screening. So I wouldn't be surprised if he were present.
Also of note, Rachelle Salnave's documentary "La Belle Vie" will screen on February 11th. The film "takes a look into a filmmaker's journey to discover her
Haitian roots by examining the complexities of the Haitian society but
also chronicles her voyage to find hope in this nation on the brink of a
new Haiti." I have yet to see the film but look forward to screening it at PAFF.
Garcelle Beauvais' film "Girlfriends' Getaway" will screen on February
7th. 'Girlfriends' Getaway' aired on TVOne last year as a network original. It is a
comedy about three women at a crossroads who go on vacation in Trinida.
Naturally, hilarity ensues.
Also, be sure to catch a film titled "The Boy" starring the phenomenally talented Haitian-American actress Krystel Roche (Purgatorio). The film also stars veteran actor Hakeem Kae-Kazim.The short film has its first screening on February 15th 8th with several other screenings after that.
"In The Morning" a film with rising star Numa Perrier screens on February 6th. The film is described as "the emotional anatomy of the lives, loves,
infidelities, and enduring friendships of a group of inter-connected New
Yorkers is charted over the course of one day."
'San Zanset Yo' premieres on Feb. 11th. This short film's synopsis is as follows: "An immigrant Haitian grandmother in Boston
helps her granddaughter discover Haiti’s history against the will of a
religious reactionary in their family"
'Rasin Mwen', a feature film written and directed by Robinson Vil will screen on February 8th. Starring Reginald Chevalier and Daniel Charlier, 'Rasin Mwen' is about an up and coming "soccer star and ladies man deep
in debt to a local loan shark. When his American cousin arrives in Haiti
for a visit, both are kidnapped and held for ransom. But when their
American relative is slow to pay, they must use their wits and courage
to stay alive."
Last but most certainly not least, heartthrob actor Jean-Pierre Vertus stars in "Roubabo", the story of a teenager and his tense relationship with his mother's new beau.
Looks like PAFF will be all about Haiti and Haitians this year. I'm looking forward to screening these films at PAFF! Check out the links to the festivals for more information and screening dates/times.
Update: Sarodj Bertin's film "The Heartbreaker's Revenge" will also screen at the San Diego Black Film Festival.
SAN DIEGO BLACK FILM FESTIVAL: http://www.sdbff.com/films-descriptions/
PAN AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL: http://www.paff.org/films/?filter_letter=all
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