BOAT PEOPLE - A Short film on the story of Haitian refugees in Guantanamo Bay wins BlackStar Jury Award qualifying it for the Oscars

Annie
Aug 15, 2024
4 min read

Updated: Sep 27, 2024

While writing this article, I was reminded of some important Haitian History. And it all started with watching a 10-minute, 4-second black-and-white, Indie short film. That's the strength of media and storytelling: to stir enough emotions and curiosity for one to react. That reaction can be for one's own edification or to cause Disruption.

A girl with piercing eyes looking in the distance with a scarf on her head and determination in her eyes

JUMP TO SECTION

A bit about the film: BOAT PEOPLE 🍿
Umm... Why were Haitians even in Guantanamo Bay? 😵‍💫
Why is Boat People an Oscar qualified short film? ℹ️
Where can I watch BOAT PEOPLE ? 📺

BOAT PEOPLE - is a Haitian-made short film reviving the untold story of the Haitian refugee crisis in the Guantanamo Bay detention camp (GTMO). Shot gracefully in Black and white, this film follows Marie, our heroin, as she wakes up, perplexed and disoriented, in a small room filled with medical equipment. Throughout the film, she figures out that she was captured during her journey and is now detained in a tent with a strange doctor probing her with pills.

Written and Directed by Haitian filmmaker Al'Ikens Plancher, Executive Produced by the White Elephant Group (WEG films), Third Horizon Film Festival, and Société Productions. BOAT PEOPLE "promises to illuminate a dark chapter in America's history and promote significant social impact," says director Al'Ikens.

Click to watch lead Actress Odlenika on the backstory of Boat People

Since its first announcement in May, the Short has made its rounds down the Film Festival circuit. It has been received fondly by the community. So much so that it won the Jury Award for Best Short Film Narrative at the notable BlackStar Film Festival earlier this August.

With this award at BlackStar, BOAT PEOPLE is now an Oscar-qualifying film. There are roughly 200+ Film Festivals (national & international) that provide eligibility to the Oscars - if a short film is awarded. After the fact, it goes through the Academy's selection process before making it to that final nominations list. Although it's wrapping up the summer with prestige, BOAT PEOPLE has had other fantastic summer screenings, from Third Horizon Film Festival to LA Shorts, and even hit the mainstream stage at Essence Film Festival. There's also a screening coming up at the HollyShorts Film Festival this August 17th.

The team at BlackStar, Essence Film Festival, LA shorts & Third Horizon - courtesy of AL'Ikens Plancher

The Story of BOAT PEOPLE, although retelling that of Haitians in the 90s at the same time, reminded me that this is still the current reality: seeking refuge in other countries due to the instability in our own. An unhealthy pattern of Disruption> Destruction > Intervention > Migration > Cry for Freedom.

On a brighter note, it reminded me that Haitians are artists and storytellers - we are changemakers. I mean, we have one of the most incredible stories ever told. The Fight for Independence: How Haiti Became the First Black Republic. Our ancestors showed us we can do what our hearts desire. It starts with community, resilience, and fight.

I'm looking forward to seeing how Al'Ikens & Crew translates that fight into the (hopefully 🤞🏾) full-length feature film.

Blakawout - had the opportunity to join the marketing campaign in May. So it's even more exciting to see the success of this film throughout the summer and to see Haitians reemerge in the filmmaking space on bigger screens with more extensive support. Congratulations to Société Productions, WEG Films, Third Horizon THFF, Odlenika, and the entire cast and crew who contributed to this film. You are putting Haiti on the map and doing it so gracefully and authentically.

Now, where else can you watch it? You can watch the film through the festival circuit, community/private screenings, or when it's available to the public online. To know where and when all the films are available, follow the production page on IG: @societeproductions

You can also subscribe to our newsletter here and follow us on IG here. We share weekly cultural events and activities, including Société Productions screenings. We also share experiences in Food, community gatherings, design and art workshops, and museum visits organized by our Black and Caribbean communities.

Now, why were we talented, beautiful, independent, 1st Black republic Haitians in a US-sanctioned detention camp? Well, this is the gist of it.

It started after Duvalier died in 1971; his son Jean-Claude Duvalier, known as "Baby Doc," took over as Haiti's president, establishing a dictatorship that lasted until he was overthrown in 1986 by a popular uprising. In 1990, Haiti held its first democratic election, monitored by the United Nations (UN) and the Organization of American States (OAS). This resulted in Jean-Bertrand Aristide winning with a majority vote. However, Aristide was overthrown in a military coup within eight months of taking office in 1991 (classic). His survival was, as sources say, due to international intervention by U.S., French, and Venezuelan diplomats. (also classic). Now, the coup meant Disruption and chaos, so many Haitians fled the country seeking safety.

Reaching that safety means using any means necessary. So they took to the water in makeshift boats to find refuge. But unfortunately, intercepted by the Coast Guard, they were sent to overcrowded, barbed-wire camps at - you guessed it - Guantanamo Bay (GTMO). The Guantanamo Bay detention camp is a United States military prison on the coast of Guantánamo Bay in Cuba.

To read more about these events - follow these links The Overthrow of Haiti’s Aristide -

Haitians and GTMO

CREDITS & SOURCES

BOAT PEOPLE CREW

Writer & Director: @al_plancher

Executive Producer: romiiluke, @laurenmonz, @yaphetjackman, @ronald_baez1, @wegfilms, @societeproductions

Producer: @timothymarkdavis

Associate Producer: Faren Humes

DP: @jcbarriga

Production Designer: @saccattack

Editor: @efeportieri

Composer: @dmuzik25