Who I am

Qui je suis

The Story

Santiago, Dominican Republic, 2011. Thousands of young people from the neighboring republic of Haiti cross the border to continue their university studies. A new parameter in the maze of migration between both countries. It is far from the clich of Haitians working in bateys or construction. These young Haitians are mostly from middle-class Port-au-Prince and Cap Haitian, they have an education level at least equal to that of their fellow Dominicans and they pay higher studies in medicine, engineering, architecture...

This new migration has originated from the serious political and social crisis that has rocked Haiti for many years. It is also a consequence of the near bankruptcy of the Haitian education system. The earthquake of January 2010 which destroyed the Haitian capital has also increased the migration flow.

Through this film we begin to follow these young people in their quest for better training, a better future. We discuss their economic problems, integration, reception and perception by their fellow Dominicans.

Beyond the simple issue of students we also raise the question of a redefinition of the relations between both states, interdependence in a global world. A documentary to show that living together across differences, prejudice and the weight of history is perhaps still possible.

L'histoire

Santiago, Rpublique Dominicaine, 2011. Des milliers de jeunes en provenance de la rpublique voisine Haiti traversent la frontire pour poursuivre leurs tudes universitaires. Un nouveau paramtre dans le labyrinthe migratoire entre les deux pays. On est loin du clich de lHaitien travaillant dans les bateys ou le secteur de la construction. Ces jeunes sont issus en majorit des classes moyennes de Port-au-Prince et du Cap Haitien, ils ont un niveau dducation au moins gal a celui de leurs collgues dominicains et ils paient des tudes suprieures en mdecine, gnie, architecture...

Cette nouvelle migration a pour origine la grave crise politique et sociale qui secoue Haiti depuis de nombreuses annes. Elle est aussi la consquence de le quasi faillite du systme ducatif haitien. Le tremblement de terre de janvier 2010 qui dtruisit la capitale haitienne a aussi augment le flux migratoire.

A travers ce film nous entreprenons de suivre ces jeunes dans leur qute pour une meilleure formation, un avenir meilleur. Nous voquons leurs problmes conomiques, dintgration, laccueil et la perception de leurs condisciples dominicains.

Au-dela de la simple problmatique des tudiants, cest aussi la question dune redfinition des relations entre les deux tats qui se pose, de linterdpendance en pleine globalisation. Un documentaire pour montrer que le vivre ensemble, par del les diffrences, les prjugs et le poids de lhistoire est peut-tre encore possible.

The Goal

We will emphasize the human side. We will follow in their daily lives Haitian students and their Dominican peers. In practice, we will shoot for about 9 months on both sides of the border and in cities as diverse as Santo Domingo, Port-au-Prince, Santiago, Cap Haitian... We also plan to establish the context with interviews with key players in the education sector also on both sides of the border, with sociologists, historians, etc. Then we will have three months of post production for a total project duration of 12 months.

The film in 4 versions of Creole, French, English and Spanish will be widely distributed both in Haiti and the Dominican Republic and screened at various international events and festivals.

What We Need 

With the crisis situation facing the Haitian cinema, it became difficult to finance film projects. The traditional sponsors are lacking and investors do not get involved because of piracy and lack of distribution channels. In addition, the documentary film has never been really a commercial product. We must therefore innovate.

The project has actually started. After a year of research and prospection, shooting started in May and is ongoing. We also found most of our financing through many sources including a grant from Fokal which is a member of the Soros Open Society Foundations.

What we need now is some additional funding to complete our $25000 total budget. Money goes to pay for equipment and the crew, travel expenses in 2 countries and about 4 different cities for a 9-month period plus a 3-month postproduction session. The project is ambitious and resource is tight. These additional $10000 are for us the last mile that will make all the difference.

Ce qu'il nous faut

Avec la situation de crise que traverse le cinma haitien, il est devenu difficile de financer des projets de films. Les sponsors traditionnels font dfaut et les investissseurs ont peur de s'engager cause du piratage et de l'absence de circuits de distribution. De plus le film documentaire n'a jamais vraiment t un produit commercial. Il faut donc innover.

Le projet a dj dmarr. Aprs une anne de recherche et de prparation, le tournage a commenc en mai et est en cours. Nous avons trouv une bonne partie de notre financement auprs de plusieurs sources y compris une subvention de Fokal qui est membre des Soros Open Society Foundations.

Ce qu'il nous faut maintenant c'est des fonds additionnels pour complter notre budget total de $25000. L'argent sert payer l'quipement et l'quipe, les frais de voyage dans 2 pays et environ 4 villes diffrentes pendant 9 mois plus 3 mois de postproduction. Le projet est ambitieux et les ressources limites. Ces $10000 supplmentaires seront la dernire ligne droite qui fera toute la diffrence.

Our last word

Overall we appreciate your support wether you can personally contribute or not. Please take some time to let your special others know about us by forwarding and sharing this page. Your support will help us bring our dream on screen.

Notre dernier mot

Par-dessus tout nous valorisons votre support, que vous contribuiez personellement ou non. S'il vous plat faites circuler l'information en envoyant et partageant cette page. Votre soutien nous aidera amener notre rve sur l'cran.

Thank you. / Merci.