Stateless
2020 Official Selection: Features
Feature | United States, Canada, Dominican Republic, Haiti | 95 MINUTES | Creole, English | English subtitlesExperimental, Women, Documentary, Politics
In 1937, tens of thousands of Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent were exterminated by the Dominican army, based on anti-black hatred fomented by the Dominican government. Fast-forward to 2013, the Dominican Republic’s Supreme Court stripped the citizenship of anyone with Haitian parents retroactive to 1929, rendering over 200,000 people stateless, without nationality, identity or homeland. In this climate, a young attorney named Rosa Iris launches a grassroots campaign, taking on electoral corruption and advocating social justice. In Stateless, director Michele Stephenson explores the complex history and present-day politics of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Utilizing elements of magical realism and vivid cinematography, combined with gritty hidden camera footage and the legend of a young woman fleeing brutal violence, the film navigates through offices, living room meetings, and into street protests, revealing the depths and personal impact of institutionalized oppression. In this light, the reality of Rosa’s fight becomes clear, as she must keep a balance between her congressional run, and dedication to her family and community. —Deborah Rudolph
Co-hosted by the Haitian Cultural Exchange, the Dominicans Love Haitians Movement, and Border of Lights.
Cast & Credits
Directed by
Michele Stephenson
Michèle Stephenson pulls from her Panamanian and Haitian roots and experience as a human rights attorney to tell provocative stories about personal and systemic liberation. She was recently awarded the Creative Capital Fellowship, the Chicken & Egg Pictures Breakthrough Filmmaker Award, and the Guggenheim Fellowship.
Director
Michèle Stephenson
Producer
Michèle Stephenson, Jennifer Holness, Lea Marin
Screenwriter
Michèle Stephenson
Cinematographer
Alfredo Alcántara, Tito Rodriguez, Naiti Gámez, Nadia Hallgren, Pedro Arnau Bros Santana, Jaime Guerra
Editor
Sophie Farkas-Bolla
Executive Producer
Joe Brewster, Anita Lee, Sudz Sutherland
Contacts
Press Contact
Press Contact
* Rush Tickets available at venue except for
Beacon Theatre
Beacon Theatre
Rush will be offered when advanced tickets for a screening or event are no longer available at venues
other than Beacon Theatre.
The Rush system functions as a standby line that will form at the venue approximately one hour prior to scheduled start time. Admittance is based on availability and will begin roughly 10 minutes prior to program start time. Rush Tickets are the same price as advance tickets and are payable upon entry.
The Rush system functions as a standby line that will form at the venue approximately one hour prior to scheduled start time. Admittance is based on availability and will begin roughly 10 minutes prior to program start time. Rush Tickets are the same price as advance tickets and are payable upon entry.
Part of the Juneteenth programming. Sponsored by:
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