AFI Latin American Film Festival

Special Presentation: (2020) STATELESS [APÁTRIDA] plus Q&A

Expired October 8, 2020 3:45 AM
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Followed by a recorded Q&A with filmmaker Michèle Stephenson and activist, human rights attorney and subject Rosa Iris Diendomi Álvarez.


Haitian-Panamanian filmmaker, artist and author Michèle Stephenson (AMERICAN PROMISE) explores the complex history and present-day manifestations of institutionalized racism in the Dominican Republic in this powerful and personal documentary. In 1937, under Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo, tens of thousands of Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent were executed by the Dominican army, fueled by anti-black hatred fomented by the government. In 2013, the Dominican Republic's Supreme Court stripped the citizenship of anyone with Haitian parents retroactive to 1929, rendering more than 200,000 people stateless, without nationality, identity or homeland. In this dangerous climate, a young attorney named Rosa Iris, herself a Dominican of Haitian descent, launches a grassroots campaign, taking on electoral corruption, advocating for social justice and reuniting families split apart by the abrupt and merciless ruling. Combining elements of magical realism and vivid cinematography with hidden-camera footage and the local legend of a young woman fleeing brutal violence, STATELESS documents the aftermath of a pivotal turning point in the history of two nations with a complex and tumultuous history, navigating through offices, living room meetings and street protests to reveal the depths of institutionalized oppression. As the reality of Rosa's fight becomes clear, she must balance her congressional run with her dedication to her family and community. Winner, Special Jury Prize, Canadian Feature Documentary, 2020 Hot Docs Festival. Official Selection, 2020 Tribeca Film Festival. DIR/SCR/PROD Michèle Stephenson; PROD Jennifer Holness, Lea Marin. U.S./Canada/Dominican Republic/Haiti, 2020, color, 97 min. In Spanish and Haitian Creole with English subtitles. NOT RATED


Please note: this title is available to viewers located anywhere in Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia.

  • Year
    2020
  • Runtime
    97 minutes
  • Language
    Spanish and Haitian Creole
  • Country
    U.S., Canada, Dominican Republic and Haiti
  • Rating
    NOT RATED
  • Note
    With English subtitles
  • Director
    Michèle Stephenson
  • Screenwriter
    Michèle Stephenson
  • Producer
    Michèle Stephenson, Jennifer Holness, Lea Marin
  • Cast
    Rosa Iris Diendomi-Álvarez, Teofilo Murat, Gladys Feliz