Zo Reken Explained

Zo Reken
Director:Emanuel Licha
Producer:Emanuel Licha
Music:David Drury
Cinematography:Étienne Roussy
Editing:Ariane Pétel-Despots
Studio:Les Films de L'Autre
Distributor:Les Films du 3 mars
Runtime:86 minutes
Country:Canada
Language:French
Haitian Creole

Zo Reken is a Canadian documentary film, directed by Emanuel Licha and released in 2021.[1] Taking its name from a Haitian Creole slang term for the Toyota Land Cruiser, the film is an exploration of the impact of the international humanitarian aid apparatus on Haiti, centering on the ways in which it can be both a necessary lifeline and an instrument of economic inequality and repression.[2]

The film premiered at the 2021 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival,[2] where it won the juried award for Best Canadian Feature Documentary.[3] It won the award for Best Documentary Film at the 2021 Festival international du cinéma francophone en Acadie.[4] At the 2021 Montreal International Documentary Festival, it won the Grand Prize, National Feature and the Student Jury Award, and received an honorable mention from the Magnus Isacsson Award jury.[5]

It received two Canadian Screen Award nominations at the 11th Canadian Screen Awards in 2023, for Best Feature Length Documentary and Best Cinematography in a Documentary (Étienne Roussy).[6]

Notes and References

  1. Jennie Punter, "The Streets of Port-au-Prince Speak Out in ‘Zo Reken,’ Winner of Hot Docs’ Best Canadian Feature Award". Variety, May 8, 2021.
  2. Courtney Small, "zo reken Review: A Brilliant Ride". Point of View, May 5, 2021.
  3. Kevin Ritchie, "Hot Docs 2021: Zo Reken, One Of Ours claim top prizes". Now, May 7, 2021.
  4. https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1841033/prix-ficfa-2021-festival-films-acadie-wandel-grbovic-gould "Le jury du 35e FICFA récompense les meilleurs films"
  5. Web site: Pat Mullen . November 21, 2021 . zo reken, Looking for Horses Lead RIDM 2021 Winners . . en-US.
  6. Pat Mullen, "2023 Canadian Screen Award Nominations for Documentary". Point of View, February 22, 2023.