Award-winning Haitian filmmaker to deliver Bunting Peace and Justice Speaker Series keynote talk

Loyola University Maryland's Bunting Peace and Justice Speaker Series will host Alexandrine Benjamin, an award-winning Haitian filmmaker, on Thursday, April 3, at 6 p.m. The event, which will be held in McGuire Hall West on Loyola’s Evergreen campus at 4501 N. Charles St. in Baltimore, is free and open to the public. Registration on The Bridge is encouraged.

Benjamin’s talk, titled “Haiti: Haitian’s Responsibility,” will contextualize current gang violence in Haiti.

“We are honored to have Alexandrine Benjamin come to campus. We often hear about Haiti in the news, but not always with the history and context needed to interpret current events,” said Heidi Shaker, Ph.D., director of the Office of Peace and Justice and associate professor of French. “The Office of Peace and Justice aims to promote Haitian voices telling Haitian stories. We are also committed to sustained dialogues around key world issues. We hope that this event will allow our community to continue to reflect, engage, and co-create a more peaceful and just world—both locally and globally.”

The talk will also feature a screening of Benjamin’s latest short film, N’ap Boule. Also known as Through the Barricades, the film tells the story of a pregnant Haitian couple looking for a safe place to give birth amid violent social protests. The film examines the current political, economic, and social crisis in Haiti which has led to widespread demonstrations known as peyilòk, or “closed country,” as well as aspects of maternal health. N’ap Boule won Best Short Film at the 2023 Socially Relevant Film Festival New York, Best Short Film at the 2023 Worldwide Women’s Film Festival, and was an Honorable Mention for Social Justice Film at the 2022 Charlotte Film Festival.

Benjamin holds a master’s degree in film production from the University of Greenwich. Her work explores social justice issues such as human rights, gender violence, and insecurity. She is currently producing her first feature film, O Negatif, which “promotes the full emancipation and inclusion of people living with HIV.”

About the Bunting Peace and Justice Speaker Series
The Bunting Peace and Justice Speaker Series, made possible with a generous gift from Mary Catherine Bunting, hosts speakers and events that contribute to raising awareness about peace and justice issues. The series is sponsored by Loyola’s Office of Peace and Justice.