Image from Xavier Serrano’s ‘En la Pequeña Haití’
On Dec. 13, a group of 13 filmmakers will present a series of new short films that highlight Little Haiti and the pressing justice issues Miamians face daily, in a free screening presented by Oolite Arts at 7 p.m. at the Little Haiti Cultural Complex. The “Pass the Mic + Local Love Letters: Little Haiti Screening” will feature a wide-range of narrative and documentary short films that reflect the soul of Miami.
“In just a few minutes, these filmmakers are capturing not just a moment, but the essence of a neighborhood and the issues Miamians face daily,” said Hansel Porras, Oolite Arts’ Cinematic Arts Manager in a press release. “We’re proud to screen these short films for our community to see.”
Oolite Arts commissioned the filmmakers through two programs, “Local Love Letters: Little Haiti” and “Pass the Mic: We Will Tell Our Stories,” designed to provide opportunities for local creatives. In the past, short films from these programs have won awards from film festivals across the country.
‘Local Love Letters: Little Haiti Films’ are largely a tribute to everyday life in the neighborhood. Joshua Jean-Baptiste’s film “Down to Zero” features a man confronting his aging through an honest conversation with his lifelong barber. “Hooky,” directed by Princess Usanga, humorously captures two teenagers’ attempts to outwit their perceptive grandmother and skip school. And in Angelica Bourland’s “Kaila,” a young girl who is forced to leave Haiti struggles to adapt to life with her aunt in Miami, in a story that speaks to the neighborhood as a place for new beginnings.
The “Pass the Mic: We Will Tell Our Stories” series showcases documentaries produced in collaboration with the Community Justice Project. These films are crafted through participatory storytelling, meaning the subjects involved are also the storytellers, providing a direct perspective on the issues they face. This year, these films address significant issues such as healthcare, immigration, and criminal justice reform.
To learn more about the films and to RSVP for the free Dec. 13 screening, visit Oolite Arts’ website.
This is a Hy-Lo News Staff Report.
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