NEW YORK, NY — This October, Harlem becomes the epicenter of Caribbean cinema as the Nou Akoma Nou Sinèji Haitian Dominican Transnational Film Festival returns for its third annual celebration. Running from October 9 to 12, 2025, this vital cultural event amplifies voices that mainstream media often overlooks, presenting authentic stories from the communities that live them.
Breaking Barriers Through Authentic Storytelling
"Nou Akoma Nou Sinèji" translates to "our hearts, our synergy"—a fitting motto for a festival that refuses to let political borders divide shared Caribbean experiences. While Haiti and the Dominican Republic occupy the same island, their stories rarely intersect in contemporary cinema. This festival changes that narrative.
"We're creating space for films that emerge directly from our communities," says Founding Director Clarivel Ruiz. "These aren't stories told about us—they're stories told by us, for us, and for anyone ready to listen with an open heart."
Four Days of Transformative Cinema
The festival launches on Thursday, October 9, at 5 PM at CCCADI's Ilé Oyin with "Looking Within," an evening of short films that explore identity and legacy. Opening night features "Making of A Matriarch," celebrating Dominican-American strength; "Victorine," a film following a dancer's journey through grief; and "Papi Chulo," a sharp take on masculinity in Washington Heights.
Friday's workshops transform CCCADI into a creative laboratory. "The River Within" employs the body as a metaphor for the divided yet connected island, while "Love Letters to the Future" invites participants to envision the future through collaborative writing. The day concludes with "Cinema for Liberation," a panel featuring award-winning filmmaker Anjanette Levert.
The weekend marathon at Maysles Documentary Center delivers the festival's most powerful programming. Audiences will witness Haiti's artistic resistance in "At All Kosts," where theater becomes survival during political chaos in Haiti. "La 42" captures Dominican street life with infectious vitality, while "The Strong Man of Bureng" follows one person's universal quest for belonging.
Sunday's climax confronts history head-on. "1964: simitye Kamoken" presents Haitian peasants breaking decades of silence about Duvalier's terror campaign. The festival closes with "Twice into Oblivion," where Haitian and Dominican actors collaborate to examine the 1937 massacre of over 20,000 Haitian immigrants—an unprecedented artistic reckoning with shared trauma.
More Than Films: A Movement
This isn't just a film festival—it's cultural activism. In an entertainment landscape where Caribbean stories fight for visibility, Nou Akoma Nou Sinèji creates essential space for authentic representation. Each screening becomes an act of resistance against marginalization, each workshop a step toward healing historical wounds. The festival's accessibility commitment ensures "all bodies, all stories" find welcome, while networking events foster collaboration within the filmmaking community. Local partnerships with CCCADI and Maysles Documentary Center root the event firmly in Harlem's cultural soil.
Essential Information
When: October 9-12, 2025
Where: CCCADI's Ilé Oyin (208 E 126th St #3) and Maysles Documentary Center
(343 Lenox Ave), Harlem, NY
