Gessica Généus (born 1985) is an award-winning Haitian actor, singer, documentary maker, film director, screen writer and author.[1]

Early life

Généus was born on 23 December 1985 in Port au Prince, the capital of Haiti, in a precarious neighbourhood.[2] Although she knew who her father was, he was not involved with her upbringing. She grew up with her mother and cousins. Her mother, an activist, was diagnosed as bi-polar and schizophrenic when Généus was fourteen. Généus is listed among the famous alumni of the College Saint-Louis de Bourdon.[3][4][5][6]

Acting career and awards

In 2002, at the age of 17, Généus financially supported her final years at school by acting in Barikad (Barricade) a popular film directed by Richard Sénécal.[3][6] For her role, she received the Ticket d'Or (Golden Ticket) for best actress at the Haitian Entertainment Awards.[7] In 2006, she won the best female actress award at the Brooklyn International Film Festival in New York for her role in Cousine. (Cousin). In 2007, she won the Grand Prix de la Diaspora at FESPACO (Pan-African Cinema Festival of Ouagadougou).[7]

After the earthquake in 2010, Généus worked for the United Nations before moving to Paris in 2011, on a scholarship to study acting from Acting International in Paris.[8] In 2012, she played Vertueuse in a historical, French TV mini-series broadcast in two parts and titled Toussaint Louverture 6. It was produced by France 2.[7]

Writing and music

In 2014, Généus published her first book: Yon ti koze ak se m (Conversations with my sister).[9]

In March 2018, she released her first music album ASE.[10]

Directing career and awards

After moving back to Haiti from Paris, Généus set up her own production company called Azizian Productions.[11] From 2014-2016, she directed Vizaj Nou (Our faces), a series of fifteen-minute films, made in collaboration with Caribbean Television. They focused on leading figures in Haiti such as Viviane Gauthier, Frankétienne, Konpè Filo, and Odette Roy Fombrun.[8]

In 2019, Généus made Douvan Jou Ka Leve (The Sun will Rise) in collaboration with France TV. The film, about religion and mental health issues, won several awards.[8][11][12][13]

In 2021, Freda, directed by Généus, was released. The film is about a single mother and her three offspring. It is set and was made in Port au Prince, Haiti, in extremely difficult conditions after the 2010 earthquake, the pandemic lockdowns, and amidst violent anti-corruption demonstrations, kidnapping and insecurity in the capital.[5] Francis Ford Coppola supported the film project by acting as executive director.[4]  It was the first Haitian film to be screened at the Cannes Film Festival since 1993. It won second prize at the Pan-African Film and Television Festival.[14] It is also the second Haitian film in history to be entered for the Academy Awards within the category for Best International Feature Film.[14]

Filmography

As actor

  • 2002: Barikad (Barricade)
  • 2006: Cousine (Cousin)
  • 2006: Le Président a-t-il le Sida ? (Does the President have AIDS?) (Director Arnold Antonin)
  • 2009: Les amours d’un zombi (The Loves of a Zombie) (Director Arnold Antonin)
  • 2012: Toussaint Louverture
  • 2016: The empty box
  • 2016: Everything but a man
  • 2017: Cargo

As director

  • 2012: Vizaj Nou (Our Faces)
  • 2017: Douvan Jou Ka Leve (The Sun will Rise)
  • 2021: Freda

References

  1. ↑ "Gessica Geneus - Unifrance". en.unifrance.org. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  2. ↑ "Freda: a vivid portrait of Haiti". BFI. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  3. 1 2 MacDougall, Clair (2021-11-03). "On Film, a Window Into Haiti". ISSN 0027-8378. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  4. 1 2 Nocenti, Annie (2022-01-07). "Gessica Généus's Freda: A Female Gaze on Life in Haiti | Filmmaker Magazine". Filmmaker Magazine | Publication with a focus on independent film, offering articles, links, and resources. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  5. 1 2 Beaumont, Peter; @petersbeaumont1 (2023-10-17). "'There's an urge to kill that I can't explain': director Gessica Généus on the dangers of film-making in Haiti". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-12-28.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. 1 2 Haitian Director, Gessica Geneus, talks about her groundbreaking film, FREDA., retrieved 2023-12-28
  7. 1 2 3 "Gessica Geneus en toute confidence". archive.wikiwix.com. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  8. 1 2 3 "Gessica Généus (EN)". Sanosi Productions. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  9. ↑ Geneus, Gessica (2016). Yon Ti Koze AK Se M: Conversations with My Sister / Conversation Avec Ma Soeur (Edition Dilence ed.). ISBN 978-1944556303.
  10. ↑ "Gessica Généus, entre cinéma, écriture et musique - [MosaikHub Magazine]". mosaikhub.com (in French). Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  11. 1 2 "Gessica Généus". www.purchase.edu. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  12. ↑ "Généus, Gessica | African Film Festival, Inc". Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  13. ↑ "FIFAC : Gessica Geneus remporte le grand prix du festival pour son documentaire en Haïti". Outre-mer la 1ère (in French). 2019-10-19. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  14. 1 2 Mérancourt, Widlore; Coletta, Amanda (2023-03-31). "Homegrown film on Haiti's challenges stirs national pride". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
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