Haiti is no stranger to receiving negative headlines especially from the media in America, so it wasn’t surprising that disparaging remarks were made about Haiti from the president of the United States. There are plenty of people and organizations that understand how Haiti is portrayed is very one-sided and they are working to provide a more balanced view of the country. To reshape the perception of Haiti and Haitian people’s contribution to the world the narrative needs to be expanding to include Haitians. Experiencing the culture and seeing stories being told through varying lenses.
Films are one of the best ways to share stories universally. Caribbean Lens Film Festival by the Caribbean Heritage Organization provides that opportunity. The Caribbean Heritage Organization’s mission is to chronicle the experiences of Caribbean people, showcase different aspects of Caribbean arts and culture, conserve and celebrate the contributions of the Caribbean and its people to the international society, support and nurture creative talent in the Caribbean through academic scholarships, mentorship, and promotion of Caribbean films and filmmakers, theater and dance. CHO chose to combat the negative and unjust critique of Haiti by featuring Haitian talent and fundraising to help Connect and Elevate in the process.
Check out the Caribbean Heritage Organization http://caribbeanheritage.org and the Caribbean Lense Film festival http://caribbeanlens.com
Jimmy Jean-Louis one of the most recognized Haitian Actors in Hollywood chose to screen his latest movie The Empty Box. The audience was treated to a beautifully written story and shot film. After the showing, there was a panel discussion about film and Haiti. Overall attendees got to taste some Haitian food, listen to Haitian music and hear another perspective of what it means to be a Haitain.
We want to take the time to thank Marva Griffiths Herman and her team for the support we look forward to their success as the festival continues to grow and expand.
Thank you, until next time!