South Florida is home to the largest Haitian population outside of Haiti, yet their stories are very rarely told in both local or mainstream media. Outside of 2010’s devastating earthquake, many wouldn’t be able to tell you much about the first independent black republic. With Miami finally coming into its own with regional filmmaking, Haitian stories are still severely under told.
Ayiti Images, a traveling narrative and documentary film series showcasing the Haitian diaspora, has provided a platform for the under told culture and history of Haiti. “Since I started with [the screening of] Deported back in September, people really enjoy the series,” said filmmaker and Ayiti Images creator Rachelle Salnave. “The state of Florida has the largest population of Haitians living here. Ayiti Images fills a void to help communities engage and learn.”
The series returns from a holiday break with the third film in their procession of Haitian stories, Storming Papa Doc. Part documentary, part animation, Storming Papa Doc is the story of what could have been one of the most successful military operations in Haitian history – the 1958 plan to overthrow Haitian President Dr. Francois Duvalier, one of most notorious dictator’s of the 20th century.
Screenings begin Monday, February 2nd in Coral Gables and will travel north throughout South Florida until Saturday, February 7th. Storming Papa Doc filmmaker, Mario L. Delatour, will be present at each screening for a Q&A with a special moderated conversation by artist Eduard Duval-Carré at O Cinema, Latin American and Caribbean Center director and professor Frank Mora at FIU, and historian Anthony Georges-Pierre with Haitian-American poet Mecca aka Grimo at the Little Haiti Cultural Center.
“The Miami’s indie film scene is booming, as local filmmakers are starting to tell stories that resonate both locally and nationally,” said Dennis Scholl, Vice President of Arts for Knight Foundation. “We’re excited by the voice that Ayiti Images brings to this conversation.”
Ayti