The fourth Nou Akoma Nou Sinèji Haitian Dominican Transnational Film Festival took place in Harlem, addressing issues such as deportation, colorism, and racial prejudice that affect lives on the island of Hispaniola and in New York. The event featured screenings and discussions aimed at reflecting on personal experiences and exploring ways to combat discrimination across generations.
One of the films showcased was “Testigo,” which depicts a Dominican mother’s harrowing journey across the Dominican mountains to Haiti in search of her deported child. The film, lasting 17 minutes, draws on testimonies from a report by the Dominican non-profit organization HaitianosRD, highlighting the impact of mass deportations in the Dominican Republic. It was screened on October 12 at the Maysles Documentary Center in Harlem, as part of the festival’s programming.
This year’s festival, in its fourth edition, focuses on the shared history of the Dominican and Haitian communities while encouraging dialogue about the challenges surrounding migration and deportation between the two nations. “We saw the festival as an opportunity to embed ourselves in history, share stories, build relationships, and foster cultural pride,” said Clarivel Ruiz, founder and executive director of the Dominicans Love Haitians Movement, which organizes the festival.
The program featured films from a range of genres, including narratives by emerging and established artists from the Haitian and Dominican diasporas. Another film, “Melodrama,” follows Sonia, a widowed Dominican woman who must sell her home and confront her prejudices after meeting Aimé, a Haitian construction worker. This film is significant, as it has been selected as the Dominican Republic’s official submission for the upcoming Academy Awards, blending themes of love and discrimination amidst the backdrop of cultural tensions.
Ruiz emphasized the importance of fostering a space where audiences can examine their history and share their experiences. The festival aims to illuminate the legacy of discrimination against Haitians in the Dominican Republic, with the hope of preventing similar issues from arising elsewhere. “Thinking about what happened in the Dominican Republic with the stripping of citizenship from those of Haitian descent, we knew that was coming to the U.S.,” said Ruiz.
Discussions following the film screenings encouraged attendees to share their thoughts, with participants reflecting on personal connections to the themes presented. Wallace Jean, who has a Haitian mother and a Dominican father, spoke about how his family history shaped his understanding of colorism and identity. He noted parallels between immigration enforcement in the Dominican Republic and similar tactics used by ICE in the United States.
Panelists and audience members engaged in dialogue about the transmission of racial prejudices across borders, asserting that these patterns can persist in immigrant communities. Suggestions emerged on how to challenge these generational issues, including education about each other’s histories and supporting groups that aid migrants.
As the festival concluded, Ruiz and others emphasized the need to extend conversations about prejudice and solidarity beyond the event itself, fostering relationships that can lead to lasting change in both New York and beyond.
