Haiti International Film Festival unveils 2026 selections for 11th edition in Hollywood
The 'Konnesans'-themed festival will honor Marlene Daut, Tessa Munro and Rodney Charles at the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre.
The Haiti International Film Festival (HIFF) has announced 16 official selections for its 11th annual edition, set for Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, at the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre in Hollywood, California, according to The Haitian Times. Founded in 2015 by filmmaker and cinema professor Jacquil Constant, HIFF aims to elevate Haitian and African diasporic storytelling. This year's theme, 'Konnesans: The Art of Knowledge in Haitian Cinema,' centers on film as a vehicle for history, memory and cultural inheritance, organizers said. Actor and HIFF ambassador Béchir Sylvain, known for 'Jurassic Park: Rebirth' and Marvel's 'Wonder Man,' will host the event. The lineup spans documentaries, narrative features and shorts, including 'Where the Leaves Grow Green,' directed by Don-Dimitri Joseph; 'The Creole Pig: Haiti's Great Loss,' directed by Dudley Alexis; 'Montmartre,' directed by Leon Hendrix and starring Jesse Williams; and 'The Heroes of the Massacre River,' a documentary on the Canal of Ouanaminthe. HIFF will present its Haitian Diaspora Award to Yale professor Marlene Daut, its Haitian Community Award to actress and producer Tessa Munro, and its Haitian Ally Award to actor and filmmaker Rodney Charles. The festival also plans a creative retreat in Cap-Haïtien in early 2027, per The Haitian Times.