Port-au-Prince / Los Angeles – November 25, 2025 – In a moment of pure pride for Haiti and the global Haitian diaspora, the dark comedy-thriller Kidnapping Inc. has been officially chosen to represent Haiti at the 98th Academy Awards in the highly competitive Best International Feature Film category.
The announcement, made by the Comité Ayiti Oscars, instantly lit up social media with celebrations under the hashtags #HaitiToTheOscars and #KidnappingInc, as Haitians around the world hailed it as a powerful symbol of resilience, creativity, and unyielding spirit in the face of adversity.
Directed by French-Haitian filmmaker Bruno Mourral in his electrifying feature debut, Kidnapping Inc. follows two bumbling, soccer-obsessed petty criminals known as Doc (Jasmuel Andri) and Zoe (Rolapthon Mercure). Tasked with kidnapping the son of a wealthy politician, the pair accidentally kill their hostage and spiral into a frantic cover-up that involves abducting a lookalike (Patrick Joseph) and his pregnant wife (played by the acclaimed Gessica Généus).
What ensues is a wild, satirical road trip through the chaotic streets of Port-au-Prince – filled with slapstick chases, corrupt officials, desperate migrants, and laugh-out-loud moments that somehow never lose sight of the grim realities of contemporary Haiti.
The film doesn’t just entertain; it holds a mirror to society, tackling corruption, the kidnapping epidemic, and the dream of escape with razor-sharp wit and unflinching honesty.
Kidnapping Inc. made history in January 2024 as the first Haitian feature film ever to premiere at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival, where it earned rave reviews and the Special Jury Prize in the World Dramatic Competition.
Behind the scenes, the production itself became a testament to perseverance:
- Filming was halted in 2019 by nationwide anti-government protests
- Shut down again in 2020 by the global pandemic
- In 2021, several crew members were actually kidnapped and held for ransom – an eerie echo of the film’s plot
Yet director Bruno Mourral and his multinational team – Haiti’s Muska Films, Canada’s Peripheria, and France’s Promenades Films – refused to give up. The result is a film that feels urgently alive, turning real-life peril into cinematic triumph.
This marks only the fourth time Haiti has submitted a film for Oscar consideration, following entries in 2017, 2023, and an earlier 2025 submission that did not advance. Kidnapping Inc. now carries the hopes of an entire nation on the world stage.
The road to the Dolby Theatre is still long: on December 16, 2025, the Academy will reveal the 15-film shortlist. If selected, Kidnapping Inc. will then compete for one of the five final nominations announced in January 2026, with the 98th Oscars taking place on March 8, 2026.
Beyond the glitz of Hollywood, this selection is a watershed moment for Haitian storytelling. In a country where resources are scarce and challenges are relentless, Kidnapping Inc. proves that Haitian voices – raw, funny, fearless, and profoundly human – belong on the global stage.
As one excited fan posted online: “They tried to silence us with guns, roadblocks, and fear. We answered with laughter, art, and now… the Oscars. Ayiti cherie, nou la! ”
Stay tuned. The journey of Kidnapping Inc. is just getting started.


















![Grammy-winning producer and Haitian cultural ambassador Michaël Brun is bringing BAYO back to Miami’s Little Haiti on November 22, for a free block party celebrating the movement’s 10th anniversary, made possible through a major partnership with Rockstar Games.
Presented with support from Rockstar Games, the company behind the #GrandTheftAuto (https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/grandtheftauto/) franchise, the event will welcome up to 7,500 attendees, the largest Little Haiti edition to date. Admission is free, with tickets distributed through a raffle and more than half reserved specifically for Florida residents and Haitian communities. Fans can sign up now at [bayotour.com]
In announcing the return, Brun said: “10 years ago, BAYO made its US debut as a free block party in Little Haiti celebrating Haitian and Caribbean culture. That show was the beginning of a beautiful journey across 12 cities, over 50,000 tickets sold, multiple arena and park shows and over 140 artist guests from around the world. I’m so proud to be bringing BAYO back to Little Haiti for our biggest show ever on November 22nd. New venue, huge surprises, our most iconic lineup of all time and FREE tickets courtesy of Rockstar Games.”
The timing adds another layer of visibility. Rockstar Games’ highly anticipated GTA VI is set for release on November 19, 2026, just three days before the BAYO celebration. The game’s fictional Vice City is famously inspired by Miami, placing the partnership and the Little Haiti event in the same cultural spotlight.
The Little Haiti return closes an anniversary run that already included Boston’s Agganis Arena and a sold-out three-night residency at Brooklyn Paramount. With Rockstar Games’ support making the celebration free and accessible, the 10th anniversary returns full circle to the neighborhood where BAYO began, bringing music, culture, and community together on a bigger stage.
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican](https://www.lunionsuite.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/857202981_18645558742023307_1930732005552624620_n-512x640.jpg)















![Grammy-winning producer and Haitian cultural ambassador Michaël Brun is bringing BAYO back to Miami’s Little Haiti on November 22, for a free block party celebrating the movement’s 10th anniversary, made possible through a major partnership with Rockstar Games.
Presented with support from Rockstar Games, the company behind the #GrandTheftAuto (https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/grandtheftauto/) franchise, the event will welcome up to 7,500 attendees, the largest Little Haiti edition to date. Admission is free, with tickets distributed through a raffle and more than half reserved specifically for Florida residents and Haitian communities. Fans can sign up now at [bayotour.com]
In announcing the return, Brun said: “10 years ago, BAYO made its US debut as a free block party in Little Haiti celebrating Haitian and Caribbean culture. That show was the beginning of a beautiful journey across 12 cities, over 50,000 tickets sold, multiple arena and park shows and over 140 artist guests from around the world. I’m so proud to be bringing BAYO back to Little Haiti for our biggest show ever on November 22nd. New venue, huge surprises, our most iconic lineup of all time and FREE tickets courtesy of Rockstar Games.”
The timing adds another layer of visibility. Rockstar Games’ highly anticipated GTA VI is set for release on November 19, 2026, just three days before the BAYO celebration. The game’s fictional Vice City is famously inspired by Miami, placing the partnership and the Little Haiti event in the same cultural spotlight.
The Little Haiti return closes an anniversary run that already included Boston’s Agganis Arena and a sold-out three-night residency at Brooklyn Paramount. With Rockstar Games’ support making the celebration free and accessible, the 10th anniversary returns full circle to the neighborhood where BAYO began, bringing music, culture, and community together on a bigger stage.
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican](https://scontent-yyz1-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/858197944_18645558700023307_686072295350904763_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=100&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0FST1VTRUxfSVRFTS5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=bOQ5XMx_Z1YQ7kNvwGG7S4C&_nc_oc=AdpRGLfZNHddto393TLgTmmy4hfWc5JLTXDdw5hgJXVgYUpW7ZDy46ppArbX5fDarcg&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-yyz1-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=W1zCNmNwJuk5msuNjfLbTQ&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQKgO0WVvqMTObMW6SJgN5QkraXbIW4tJ2PcO67RxKUH3tW8gNvrwtL7s1if9he47JT8Sqf76zzB&oh=00_AQNgoarcKGynH8kpzxP3faI1ZyeSM1-_zR4Od_Kvg_kA6g&oe=6ADD8873)













