Private Project

Fou

A hyper-religious Haitian grandmother cooking for her prayer night gets stuck watching a spunky preteen with an identity disorder.

  • Gabriyèl Barlatier
    Director
    Tokyo in NYC
  • Gabriyèl Barlatier
    Writer
    Not Enough
  • Cameron Kit
    Producer
    Chlorine
  • Al'ikens Plancher
    Producer
    Konpa
  • Kerline Alce
    Key Cast
    "Foufoune"
    Ludi, Mountains
  • Tarah Nerette
    Key Cast
    "Fani"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Fou
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Family, Comedy
  • Runtime:
    13 minutes 29 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 8, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    13,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States, United States
  • Language:
    English, Haitian
  • Shooting Format:
    SONY FX9
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • New Faces New Voices Film Festival
    New York
    United States
    October 12, 2022
    Best Original Screenplay 2022
Director Biography - Gabriyèl Barlatier

Gabriyèl Barlatier is a Haitian-American director and producer deeply drawn to honest, resonant stories. Determined to rid the world (or at least her inner circle) of the recycled narratives often overplayed, she began making films in order to reflect the images she grew up seeing in life, but rarely on screen. Inspired by André Bazin’s belief that “cinema has not yet been invented,” due to the lack of representation, Gabriyèl is committed to creating space for stories historically sidelined. For her, filmmaking is a call to disrupt the norm, uplift voices, and nurture narratives yet to be fully celebrated.

Her work includes producing Konpa (Tribeca 2023, Miami Film Festival Winner 2024, New Orleans Film Festival Audience Award Winner 2023) . As of late, she's honored to have associate-produced Luther: Never Too Much (Sundance 2024, Tribeca 2024, NAACP Image Award Nominee 2025), which is currently in theaters nationwide.

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Director Statement

"Fou" is deeply personal to me—a love letter to my grandmother and the connection we might have had if stigma hadn’t stood in the way. My grandmother lived with high-functioning schizophrenia, but fear and misunderstanding kept her isolated, even from those who loved her most. She was in my life, but always at a distance. When she passed in 2019, I was left wondering about the relationship we could have shared if her disorder hadn’t been so misunderstood and feared.

I started writing "Fou" in 2020, initially as a thriller. But as I reflected on her life, it transformed into something unexpected—a lighthearted comedy that still holds space for the gravity of her experience. The film became a celebration of the tender chaos, resilience, and humor that coexist in the most unexpected bonds, especially within immigrant families like mine.

Through the story of a hyper-religious Haitian grandmother and her spunky companion with dissociative identity disorder, "Fou" explores the intersections of mental health and familial love. At its heart, the film is about finding connection and understanding where it’s least expected, and it’s a reflection of the relationship I wish I could have had with my grandmother.

As a Haitian-American filmmaker, I’m committed to telling stories that challenge the dominant narratives of mental health and family in Black immigrant communities. My hope is that "Fou" inspires audiences to see humor and humanity in the spaces where stigma has long taken root.