Each year, the publication The Haitian Times stages Kreyolfest, a music festival to introduce and showcase Haitian music and bands to New York. This year’s Kreyolfest show is going to take place in Wingate Park in Brooklyn on June 28th. DJ Fabulous Fabby will be in charge of the turntables for the day.

Not sure whether you should go? Besides church, there’s no better place to be on that date. Here’s why…

1. You’re a domino master, or would like to see domino masters at work
Oh, yeah…that game with those little rectangles…you probably have seen some of your Brooklyn, Miami or Chicago uncles play it. And perhaps you know how to play? Well, you can show the whole world just how good you are by participating in the Kreyolfest Domino Tournament. Winners will be given cash prizes. What fabulous way to make pocket money!

2. You can take advantage of a free check-up
A health fair will be in motion during the festivities. Get a handle on your blood pressure, your vision, the health of your ears and nasal passages. Where else can you go, jam and take care of your well-being at the same time?

3. See Tonton Bicha

You know you and your grandma watched I Love You Anne until you could recite—parrot-like practically—the movie’s entire script. Come see Tonton Bicha, one of the sources of the laughter. As the host of the festival, he’s bound to crack a good joke or two.

Left: Singer-songwriter Wanito
4. Come support Haitian music and Haitian artists

Whether you can name-drop the names of a few Haitian bands, or whether you’re just now getting acquainted with Haitian music, Kreyolfest is the place to get your Haitian music on. Scheduled to perform are the bands System Band, Zin, Phantoms, Kreyol La, Djakout Mizik, Wanito, Kool Off, Tania Ligonde, and Lakou. If some or just a few of these names are familiar to you…all the more reasons to go!

5. Get A Taste of Culture

The Mabina Dancers, a dancing troupe directly from West Africa will be on hand to show off some traditional dance moves. According to anthropologists, a great many of the Haitians’ African ancestors came from the Congo, so get ready for some serious cultural connection. Paintings, and craft by Haitian artists are also part of the cultural experience.

So, kindly mark your calendars! In the meantime, you can keep up with Kreyolfest, by following The Haitian Times….

Kreyolfest Page| Haitian Times on Twitter| Haitian Times on Instagram| Haitian Times’ website

It’s that time again! Haiti Cultural Exchange, which has made it its business to spread awareness about Haitian culture, is having its annual film festival. You should go and you should also invite your friends. Hosted by radio and TV host Carel Pedre, the festival will last for an entire week, and will feature a total of sixteen films. Why should you go? Well, why not? Here are some reasons why I think you should head on to the Third Annual Haiti Cultural Exchange Haiti Film Fest!

1. You never go anywhere.

You haven’t been to New York and would very much would like to. Or you’re in New York, but you stay home, locked up in your room all day, you might as well be in the boondocks somewhere in Kentucky. But what to do? Get out for once! And what better way to enjoy life and enjoy yourself than at the Haiti Cultural Exchange’s Haiti Film Fest!

2. It ain’t just about the music, maaan!

Yep, there’s some hip music involved. Music? Yes, music—music as in opening night headliner Ioan Delice and roots artist Sanba Zao, and DJ Hard Hittin’ Harry.

3. Films galore!

Freedom by Matthew Brown will have its New York Premiere at the festival. Written by Ella Turenne, the docupoem centers on the Haitian Revolution. Wood-Jerry Gabriel, a graduate of Cine Institute—a film school based in Jacmel, Haiti—will debut his short La Veuve (The Widow). Most of the screenings following opening night will not cost you a cent, although a donation is welcomed.

“But,” you say, “I can always catch a movie at the movie theater this weekend!”…Yeah? Could you? Yeah, you probably could, but will they be in the same caliber as the 16 aforementioned films that will be screened at the Haiti Cultural Xchange Film Fest? And if they are, will you also get the opportunity to mingle and network with other folks in the community? Speaking of which…

4. New Haitian friends!

Now kreyolicious boys and girls, you know the last time you were in a room full of Haitians was at your Miami cousin Montoya Bonquisha Jean’s communion back when you were nine. This is the perfect time to reconnect. The three F’s…films, friends, and…what’s the third F? I can’t think of it now, but saying The Three F’s sounded so catchy.

5. You will be contributing to a good cause.

Since its launch in the early 2010s, Haiti Cultural Exchange has been offering one huge cultural lesson after another with its events and poetry readings. Your admission fee will go towards its mission of promoting Haitian art, music, culture—and will assure that there’s a fourth edition of the Haiti Film Fest next year!

The Haiti Film Fest will launch on May 7th at this location:

DROM NYC
85 Avenue A
New York, New York 10009

Be there! Ooh, and also, do catch a preview of Forever Yours—scheduled to be screened on the evening of May 10th—below.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FILM FEST’S SCHEDULE

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS TO THE FESTIVAL | CLICK HERE TO READ AN INTERVIEW WITH HAITI CULTURAL XCHANGE’S FOUNDER REGINE M. ROUMAIN | CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE WEBSITE

The Haitian movie industry! I remember how my grandmother used to sit there and watch her little Haitian movies. Boy, do I remember. She would sit there and watch them over and over. And every time we had someone visit, she would put one on, and they would start reminiscing and soon she would have this look on her face, and I would figure that she was probably scheming in her mind about buying her ticket to go to Haiti. But what of the Haitian movies these days? Looking around on Facebook, and reading up on Haitian movies these days, it doesn’t seem to be as prolific as a few years ago. But, goshdurn it, there’s still reason to remain hopeful about Haiti’s movie industry. Firstly, there were photos floating on social media of Haiti’s renovated Cine Triomphe, and then there has been reports of a second movie theater also awaiting renovations.

Above: Inside Cine Triomphe, Haiti’s movie theater. Photo Credit: Hector Retamal.

1. So many stories yet untold.
Unlike the movie industry out here where everything has been told, retold, and overly-sequalized, Haiti’s movie industry is still budding. There’s probably not a thousand teen movies in Haiti’s national catalog treating adolescent angst, or hundred-plus features with coming-of-age storylines. I read somewhere that the Lumiere Brothers screened a film in Haiti back in 1899. So, Haiti was an early recipient of this innovation, but hasn’t been a major world leader when it comes to producing them. The fact that Haiti’s movie industry has not explored certain themes actually makes it virgin territory for a screenwriter or filmmaker wishing to tackle such topics in a script or eventual film.

2. Unexplored platforms.
Ever go on Netflix and type the word Haiti and Haitian movies? I haven’t personally, but I bet the results would probably not be too numerous. And what about Amazon? Have you typed in Haitian movies? The results? Mostly documentaries. So, what does that mean? Well, those two platforms are two of the biggest and fastest growing platforms in the film industry. The fact that there aren’t any films from Haiti on these platforms, or there are few says one word: opportunity!

Above: A still from Kamelo, a film by Haiti-based film director Jean-Claude Bourjolly.

3. A hungry, ready-to-see and spend audience.
Websites like MovieLakay stay thriving, and that’s in part due to this audience out there who cannot get enough of Haiti’s movie stars and their films. I think that because of social media, us folks in the lower-end generation (18-44) are open to seeing and exploring Haitian films too.

4. Talent bustle and hustling hard, waiting for a breakthrough.
Take a look at Facebook Haiti and Twitter Haiti, and Haiti seems to be a nest for theatre groups and aspiring actors. Talent, talent everywhere. Haiti is not short on thespians. They only need an outlet to show off their talent on the big screen. And over here in good ole USA, folks are mentally and physically writing scripts with Haiti in mind. Filmmakers and screenwriters of Haitian descent such as Stefani St. Onge, Myrlande Charelus, Perri Pierre, and Dominique Morisseau have all voiced the desire to contribute to Haiti’s film industry, while veterans of Haiti’s home-grown industry are privately busy planning their next moves.

Above: People lining up at a movie theatre in Haiti’s second largest city Cap Haitien. [Photo Credit: Bye Bye Papa Facebook]

5. New outlets for Haitian film.
More than 100 years after Haiti has its first film screening, technology has provided other ways than the standard theater showing to show and market films, and if filmmakers involved with Haiti’s film industry take advantage of all the avenues available to them, they can increase their revenues. We Love You Anne, the sequel to a film entitled I Love You Anne is available for streaming on YouTube, and unlike several Haitian films that are available in their entirety on Youtube, this one is on sale at $2.99. Outlets such as YouTube, Amazon Instant Video not only make it possible for Haitian filmmakers to reach younger audiences, but it also makes it more within-the-reach of secondary markets, and other audience tiers that perhaps they had not intended to target, but who may have an interest in watching Haitian movies.

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