Overview:
July 7: Who Killed the President?, a political drama inspired by the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, premieres in AMC theaters nationwide. Starring Raquel Pelissier and Jimmy Jean-Louis, the film marks a milestone in Haitian-American storytelling and introduces a demand-based model for reaching more cities.
“July 7: Who Killed the President?,” a political thriller based on the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, premieres in AMC theaters across the United States today, May 16.
The film follows a college student whose research into Moïse’s life for a memoir launches her into a dangerous web of power, secrecy, and violence. As she investigates further, she confronts the central question that continues to haunt Haiti: Who killed the president?
Starring Raquel Pelissier and Jimmy Jean-Louis, the film was directed by Robenson Lauvince and written by Paul Henry Athis, Gary Victor, and Hollandy Desrosiers.
Filmed in both Haiti and the United States, “July 7” blends dramatized storytelling with real political context. It is one of the first Haitian political dramas to receive nationwide theatrical release in the U.S.
Screenings are confirmed in major cities with large Haitian American populations, including New York, Miami, Boston, Atlanta, and Los Angeles.
“It’s more than a film; it’s a moment of truth for Haiti,” Lauvince said in a statement.
“This is the first time our story is being told from our own perspective, through the lens of a Haitian, with the depth, dignity, and complexity it deserves.”
Despite a nationwide release, access to the film in some cities depends on viewer demand. Organizers have launched a campaign allowing audiences to request screenings in their local theaters. The more requests a city receives, the more likely “July 7” will be added to showtimes there.
Participating AMC theaters include the AMC Empire 25 in New York City, AMC Aventura Mall 24 in Aventura, Florida, and AMC Indianapolis 17 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
This model, where a film’s expansion relies on community input, reflects both a creative approach to audience engagement and the broader inequities that independent Black and Haitian filmmakers often face in distribution.
Despite growing interest in Diaspora stories, films by and about underrepresented communities frequently encounter hurdles reaching wide audiences without major studio backing.
“For the Haitian community, it’s a mirror and a megaphone—a reflection of our pain, our resilience, and our right to demand justice. My hope is that this film not only reaches hearts but also opens eyes around the world,” Lauvince said.
“Commercial success is important, not just to break barriers, but to prove that our stories have global value and power. This is a defining moment for Haitian cinema, and I believe the world is ready to listen. July 7 is the reality of my nation.”
“July 7: Who Killed the President?,” is now playing in select AMC theaters. Audiences can request additional showings by visiting the film’s official website.