Haiti Movie Awards return to Boston for a second year
A year ago, an awards festival was launched in Boston to highlight Haitian filmmakers. The goal was to show the world the range of talent coming out of the country, even after its film industry was crippled by the devastating earthquake in 2010.
Organizers of the Haiti Movie Awards, now heading into its second year, expect the event to be better and bigger, highlighting Haitian and Haitian-American actors, directors, and producers, who are still making cinematic masterpieces, even though their homes and studios might have been destroyed.
“We really are trying to highlight the filmmakers who have contributed to the Haitian film industry,” said Hans Patrick Domercant, executive director of the festival. “After the earthquake [in 2010] no movies were coming out. We’re trying to boost the industry.”
That boost and recognition is just what some filmmakers need to get their studios and projects off the ground, explained Domercant, who works out of his studio in Roslindale.
“Haitians are making movies, but nobody is there to support or encourage them,” he said.
Exposing the world and the United States to Haitian filmmakers and actors is also an important component of the ceremony.
One goal is to highlight well-known Haitian-American actors like Jimmy Jean-Louis of NBC’s hit-show “Heroes” and Tami Roman of the VH1 reality show “Basketball Wives.” Domercant hopes to display the industry to a larger audience.
“Haiti is very rich in culture, but people don’t always know about that,” said Domercant. “With the movies, you can learn about our culture. We just want to show the world the best parts of Haiti.”
The Haiti Movie Awards will be held Sunday, Oct. 7 from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. at the John Hancock Hall on Berkeley Street. To find out more about the event and the nominees or to purchase tickets, click here.
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Email Patrick D. Rosso, patrick.d.rosso@gmail.com. Follow him @PDRosso, or friend him on Facebook.
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