MASISI WOUJ, documentary video, 21 min 42 sec, 2021
A short documentary made during the 2019 Ghetto Biennale follows Haitian artist and activist Sanba Yonel as he brings together Vodou, drag, sexuality, and community work.
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In Haiti, masisi is a term used for men perceived as feminine—often deployed as a slur against gay, transvestite, and gender-nonconforming people. The term resists direct translation and does not map cleanly onto Western identity categories.
In Masisi Wouj, Haitian artist and activist Sanba Yonel reflects on the conditions faced by masisi, who, in the context of widespread prejudice, often find forms of protection and belonging within Vodou. Through a series of performances that combine elements of Vodou ritual and drag, the work constructs a queer tribute to the spirits, staging devotion as both refuge and transformation.
“Masisi Wouj is the heartfelt personal story of a gay Haitian artist and activist who explores faith, sexuality, identity and culture through his song, dance poetry and drag. He uses performance to educate and entertain both other LGBT+ people and the wider community. He also distributes condoms to promote safer sex, and helps young homeless LGBT+ youth. Gay Haitians suffer great persecution, rejection, discrimination, especially from the mainstream religions, like the Catholic Church. But this gay artist finds understanding and acceptance in the ancient, traditional religion of Vodou. This film is incredibly powerful and it breaks new boundaries in our understanding of LGBT+ life in non-western cultures. It really is an insight into a world that most of us do not know even exists." - Peter Tatchell, activist and juror for the 2021 edition of Film Pride.
Awards
Awards
Honorary Mention, Seminário Internacional Fazendo Gênero. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil.
Best Documentary Short, The Artist’s Forum - Festival of the Moving Image, NYC.
Best Documentary Award, Brighton & Hove Pride Film Festival 2021. “This film is incredibly powerful and it breaks new boundaries in our understanding of LGBT+ life in non-western cultures. It really is an insight into a world that most of us do not know even exists.” Peter Tatchell, guest judge and human rights activist.
Mejor Cortometraje Documental Extranjero, International Queer Film Festival Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.
Screenings
Screenings
2024
Mostra Audiovisual do 13o Seminário Internacional Fazendo Gênero. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil.
Transfire II: Scorching Summer. Curated screening of “Masisi Wouj” at La Sala Rossa, Montreal, Canada.
ANTIVIRUS Queer Movie Nights. Curated screening, “Masisi Wouj”. Trianon Filmcentre, Athens, Greece.
MASSIMADI Brussels' LGBTQ + Afro Film Festival. Curated screening, “Masisi Wouj”. Cinematek, Brussels, Belgium.
2023
San Francisco Transgender Film Festival. Curated screening. Roxie Theater, San Francisco, USA.
MIX Copenhagen LGBTQIA+ Film Festival. Curated screening. Cinemateket Copenhagen, Denmark.
Carnival of the Ancestors. Curated screening (excerpt). Ghetto Biennale, Haiti; Rozentraat, Neatherlands; and East China Normal University, China.
Trumpametražių filmų programa: queer (ne)tikėjimai. Curated screening. Kauno menininkų namai / Kaunas Artists' House. Kaunas, Lithuania.
16º Festival Visões Periféricas. Official selection. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
2022
30° Festival MixBrasil de Cultura da Diversidade / 30th MixBrasil Festival of Diversity. Official selection. São Paulo, Brazil.
San Antonio LGBT International Film Festival, Public Theater of San Antonio. Official selection, “Masisi Wouj”. Texas, USA.
37th MIX COPENHAGEN Film Festival. Official selection, “Masisi Wouj”. Copenhagen, Denmark.
Pembe Hayat KuirFest – online event in Turkey. Official selection, “Masisi Wouj”.
Tampa Bay International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. Official Selection. USA.
Zinentiendo – XVII Muestra Internacional de Cine Lésbico, Gai, Trans, Bisexual, Queer e Intersex. Official selection. Zaragoza, Spain.
16th XPOSED Queer Film Festival Berlin. Official selection. Berlin, Germany.
19th OUTFEST FUSION – QTBIPOC FILM FESTIVAL. Official selection. Japanese American Cultural & Community Center, Los Angeles, USA.
2021
DocLisboa. Official selection. Lisbon, Portugal.
The Artists Forum - Festival of the Moving Image. Official selection. NYC.
ART200 International Film Festival. Official selection. Cinemateca Eforie, Bucharest, Romania.
San Antonio QFest - LGBT International Film Festival. Official selection. San Antonio, USA.
Tel Aviv International LGBT Film Festival. Official selection. Tel Aviv, Israel.
LesGaiCineMad, Madrid LGBTI+ Film Festival. Official selection. Madrid, Spain.
Giornate di Cinema e Cultura Queer. Official selection. Rome, Italy.
Chéries Chéris - 27e Festival du film LGBTQI&+++ de Paris. Official selection, “Masisi Wouj”. Paris, France.
Fringe! Queer Film & Arts Fest. Official selection. London, UK.
Seattle Queer Film Festival 2021. Official selection. Three Dollar Bill Cinema, Seattle, USA.
Everybody’s Perfect - Geneva International Queer Film Festival. Official selection. Geneva, Switzerland.
Massimadi - Montreal's LGBTQ + Afro Film Festival. Official selection. Montreal, Canada.
Fabulous Independent Film Festival. Official selection. Sarasota, Florida, USA.
Tampa Bay Int'l Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, Official selection. Tampa, Florida, USA.
DOBRA - Festival Internacional de Cinema Experimental, Official selection. Museu de Arte Moderna do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Thessaloniki Queer Arts Festival. Official selection. Athens and Tessaloniki, Greece.
Film Pride - Brighton & Hove Pride's Official Queer Film Festival. Official selection. Brighton, UK.
Out On Screen - Vancouver Queer Film Festival. Official selection. Vancouver, Canada.
23rd Fairy Tales Queer Film Festival. Official selection. Calgary, Canada.
International Queer Film Festival Playa del Carmen 2021. Official selection. Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
Sphere Digital - World Cinema Carnival 2021. Official selection. Kolkata, India.
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