Writer-Director Yves Beneche’s Haitian Revolution Film ‘Bwa Kayiman’ to screen at 2023 Chelsea Film Festival
Making its New York City premiere on October 14th as part of the 2023 Chelsea Film Festival in Manhattan is Bwa Kayiman, a short film about the Haitian Revolution. Written and directed by Yves Beneche, the film stars Vicky Jeudy of Orange is the New Black, who also served as a producer. The film was also Executive Produced by Ibet Inyang, a producer on CBS’ Bob Hearts Abishola.
Set in 1791 at the start of the Haitian Revolution, Bwa Kayiman tells the story of a young woman who goes against societal norms to fight in the war against Napoleon’s French Army.
The film also stars Tiffany Tenille, Xanxan Beneche, Bryan Dromerhauser, Jean-Pierre Vertus, and Frantz G. Saint Louis Jr..
Bwa Kayiman was written and directed by Haitian-American filmmaker Yves Beneche, who is a New York native now based in Los Angeles. Yves’ career began as a child actor with featured roles in National Treasure and Law and Order, but made the transition to behind the camera during his teens. After receiving his MFA from the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, Yves has worked in Hollywood on hit series such as Ava Duvernay’s Queen Sugar (OWN), Queen Latifah led The Equalizer (CBS), and Kerry Washington’s UnPrisoned (HULU). Yves recently started his own independent production company, “Why Be Creative”, with a slate of upcoming projects in various stages of production. Bwa Kayiman was produced under his banner.
Bwa Kayiman has screened at 8 film festivals across America, including the “Martha’s Vineyard African American Virtual Experience” and the “Michaeux Film Festival” prior to its New York premiere at Chelsea. As a filmmaker, a native New Yorker, and the son of Haitian-American immigrants, the film tells the story of the Haitian Revolution from the perspective of a woman, which has historically been excluded from the Haitian Revolution narrative.”