Stateless

Stateless

Beginning with the 1937 racist anti-black extermination of tens of thousands of Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent by the Dominican army supported by the Dominican government. Then fast-forward to 2013, when the Dominican Republic’s Supreme Court stripped the citizenship of anyone with Haitian parents, retroactive to 1929 – rendering more than 200,000 people stateless, without nationality, identity or a homeland.

In this dangerous climate, a young attorney named Rosa Iris mounts a grassroots campaign, challenging electoral corruption and advocating for social justice. 

Stateless traces the complex tributaries of history and present-day politics, as state-sanctioned racism seeps into mundane offices, living room meetings, and street protests.

“…primarily about Rosa Iris—a profile in courage as she stands up for the discriminated, while the target of protest and violence for her work. It’s also a disheartening tale of activism as well. … The result is a compelling and beautifully shot story.” Film Threat, Movie Score 8/10

Awards and Nominations

BlackStar Film Festival, Philadelphia, USA (2020), Best Feature Documentary Award
Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, Toronto, Canada (2020), Special Jury Prize – Canadian Feature
Boston Latino International Film Festival, USA (2020), Best Feature Film Audience Award
Canadian Screen Awards, (2021), Nominee – Ted Rogers Best Feature Length Documentary
Directors Guild of Canada, (2021), NomineeAllan King Award for Excellence in Documentary
Montreal International Documentary Festival (RIDM), 2020, Nominee, National Feature Competition

Director

Michèle Stephenson

Languages

Spanish and Haitian Creole
(English subtitles)

Film Details

2020, 96 Min
Canada