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]

Zo Reken
Directed byEmanuel Licha
Written byEmanuel Licha
Produced byEmanuel Licha
CinematographyÉtienne Roussy
Edited byAriane Pétel-Despots
Music byDavid Drury
Production
company
Les Films de L'Autre
Distributed byLes Films du 3 mars
Release date
  • April 29, 2021 (2021-04-29) (Hot Docs)
Running time
86 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguagesFrench
Haitian Creole

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]

References

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  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. ^ a b 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. ^ "Le jury du 35e FICFA récompense les meilleurs films". Ici Radio-Canada Nouveau-Brunswick, November 18, 2021.
  5. ^ Pat Mullen (November 21, 2021). "zo reken, Looking for Horses Lead RIDM 2021 Winners". Point of View.
  6. ^ Pat Mullen, "2023 Canadian Screen Award Nominations for Documentary". Point of View, February 22, 2023.
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