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.
