After its world-premiere screening received a standing ovation from a sold-out house at the 2019 edition of the Montreal International Documentary Festival (RIDM), the feature-length documentary Kenbe la, jusqu'à la victoire (Kenbe la, Until We Win), directed by Will Prosper and produced by the NFB, is opening on Friday, January 31, at the Cinémathèque québécoise in Montreal, in its original French and Creole version (French subtitles). A tour of Eastern Quebec will follow starting Monday, February 3. Ranging from the lush Haitian countryside, rarely seen onscreen, to the icy landscapes of Quebec, this sensitive film chronicles the journey of Alain Philoctète, an inspiring figure whose dreams have universal appeal and resonate across generations.
Kenbe la, Until We Win comes to theatres in January amid commemorations of Haitian Independence Day (1804) and a solemn anniversary: it has been 10 years since the devastating earthquake of 2010. The film has also been included on a list of top picks for Black History Month in February. In this up-close-and-personal portrait of a committed artist, philosopher and activist as seen through his hopes and struggles, Prosper builds bridges between two countries and between people, in the process creating a contemporary, made-in-Quebec work with deep roots in the Haitian experience.
Quick facts
Kenbe la, Until We Win (dir. Will Prosper, 83 min)
Produced for the NFB by Nathalie Cloutier
Original music: Jenny Salgado and André Courcy
Screenings in Montreal
- Cinémathèque québécoise
Opens Friday, January 31
Will Prosper will attend selected screenings (details to come).
- Top picks series, Black History Month
- Will Prosper will also take part in a roundtable entitled Les arts comme arme de revendication on February 22 at MAI (Montréal, arts interculturels).
Tour of Eastern Quebec
The director will attend all screenings.
- Rivière-du Loup
Organized by Cinédit at Cinéma Princesse
Monday, February 3, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, February 4, 10 a.m. (master class)
- Rimouski
Tuesday, February 4, 7:30 p.m.
- Saint-Jean-Port-Joli
Centre socioculturel Gérard-Ouellet
Wednesday, February 5, 7:30 p.m.
- La Pocatièr
Cégep de La Pocatière, Thursday, February 6, noon (discussion with students)
Cinéma Le Scénario, Thursday, February 6, 7:30 p.m.
About the film
Press kit: Synopses, bios, director's statement, images, clips
Shot in Haiti and Montreal, Kenbe la: Until We Win is a portrait of an inspiring artist and activist who dreams of developing a permaculture project in his native country even as he fights an ongoing battle with cancer.
About the filmmaker
Will Prosper is a documentary filmmaker, human rights activist and community organizer whose work offers new perspectives on under-represented communities and African-descendant cultures in Quebec.
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Contacts
Marie-Claude Lamoureux
NFB Publicist
C.: 514-297-7192
