Haiti documentary made by two UF students to be screened Jan. 11

December 20, 2010

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A celebrated 30-minute documentary film about Haiti by two former University of Florida students will be screened at 7 p.m. Jan. 11 in the Reitz Student Union Auditorium at the University of Florida.

The screening is free and will be followed by a question-and-answer session with filmmakers Jon Bougher and Roman Saufiullin.

“Bound by Haiti” is the story of Aaron Jackson and John Dieubon, two young international activists working with the nonprofit organization Planting Peace to run orphanages and schools in Haiti. The filmmakers follow these unlikely friends on a journey for change before and after one of the most catastrophic international events of our time.

As one of the only film crews in Port-au-Prince on the day of the earthquake, Bougher and Saufiullin captured rare video and photos. The documentary went on to become subject of much media coverage, including interviews with The Today Show, MSNBC, National Public Radio and the Chronicle of Higher Education. It premiered at the Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival. The filmmakers are available for further interviews in concert with the UF screening.

This screening is organized by Gators United for Haiti and the Center for the Humanities and the Public Sphere, and is part of a semester of activities at UF to mark the anniversary of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Gators United for Haiti is organizing events the week of Jan. 10-15, including a candlelight vigil at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12 in the Reitz Student Union amphitheater; a panel of UF faculty working in Haiti to discuss the challenges of Rebuilding Haiti at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 13 in Reitz Student Union Room 286; a silent auction Jan. 14 in the Reitz Student Union Rion Ballroom; and a 5K run at 8 a.m. Jan. 15 in the commuter lot to raise money to aid Haiti. For more information, see: www.gatorsunitedforhaiti.org.

In addition, the Caleb and Michele Grimes Conference on Liberal Arts and Public Affairs will feature a four-part public speaker series on rebuilding Haiti at UF’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “Haiti’s Challenges: Rebuilding Lives and Nation in the Earthquake’s Aftermath” will draw attention to Haiti’s unique features, and explore how its complex historical legacy contributes to recovery efforts and Haiti’s future. For more information, visit http://www.humanities.ufl.edu/.

The documentary screening is co-sponsored by the Caleb and Michele Grimes Fund (CLAS Dean’s Office), Gators United for Haiti, the Reitz Union Board Entertainment, the Greek American Students Association, and The Documentary Institute.