Samuel Frantz Suffren
Directing
Biography
Samuel Suffren is a Haitian director and producer. He is making a trilogy of short films inspired by the story of his father. The first film, “Agwe” (2022), was selected at Locarno and won the Best Diaspora Film at FESPACO. “Dreams Like Paper Boats” (2024) is the second film, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. “Blue Heart” (2025), the final part, is presented at Cannes (Quinzaine des réalisateurs). Samuel is currently working on his first feature documentary, Lòtbò, and is also developing a feature fiction film, “Je m’appelle Nina Shakira”.
Known For
Marianne and Pétion live in Haiti and wait impatiently for a call from their son in the USA. The promise of the American dream now seems to elude them, as the line between hope and reality becomes increasingly blurred.
Blue Heart
Francois leaves Haiti by sailboat to the USA, leaving behind his wife, Mirlande, who is six months pregnant. She has to wait ten days to hear from her husband. And now ten years later, without any news, the woman who still hopes and waits offers a sacrifice to Agwe, the divinity of the oceans.
Agwe
Edouard has been living in Port-au-Prince with just his daughter Zara for five years. Since his wife left, his daughter and him have only received a cassette from her, and that was a long time ago. After years of absence, what can we expect from a distant love?
Dreams Like Paper Boats
The film follows a group of former female inmates who stage a play condemning the country’s prison system. At its center is Nathalie, who fights for the release of her sister Aline, held in prolonged pretrial detention – a widespread practice in Haiti.