The Agronomist: Screening and Q&A

After a screening of The Agronomist at the Durham Arts Council at 120 Morris Street in downtown Durham, director Jonathan Demme, along with two key participants — Michele Montas and Gigi Dominique — answered questions about the film and about Radio Haiti. The discussion was moderated by the Faculty Director of the Forum for Scholars and Publics, Laurent Dubois. The documentary film The Agronomist tells the story of Jean Leopold Dominique, a broadcast journalist who transformed a music station into Haiti’s first independent news media and a powerful voice for democracy and the rights of the poor. Oscar-winning director Jonathan Demme follows Dominique, a personal friend, through 40 years of Haiti’s recent and tumultuous history. After Dominique’s murder in 2000, Radio Haiti continued until an attempted assassination against his wife, journalist Michèle Montas, and increasing threats against its reporters forced the station to close in 2003. Listen to selections from the Radio Haiti Archives.

This screening is part of the 2015 Haitian Film Festival.