Upstairs Artspace, TFAC, TRIFF jointly sponsor free screening of Haitian carnival documentary

Upstairs Artspace, TFAC, TRIFF jointly sponsor free screening of Haitian carnival documentary

Published 12:00 pm Friday, July 31, 2026

Award-winning film explores Haiti’s history through Jacmel’s carnival traditions

TRYON—Upstairs Artspace, in partnership with the Tryon Fine Arts Center and the Tryon International Film Festival, will present a free screening of the award-winning documentary KANAVAL on Saturday, August 22, at 3 p.m. at the Tryon Fine Arts Center.

The feature-length documentary, KANAVAL: A People’s History of Haiti in Six Chapters, complements Upstairs Artspace’s current exhibition, “Land of High Mountains,” which showcases Haitian art. The film explores Haiti’s history through the annual Jacmel Carnival, following performers as they prepare for Mardi Gras while sharing the stories and traditions behind their elaborate costumes, masks, and performances.

Co-directed by photographer and filmmaker Leah Gordon, who documented Jacmel’s carnival for nearly 30 years, the film traces Haiti’s history from the Indigenous Taíno people through the Haitian Revolution and the founding of the world’s first Black republic in 1804 to the present day. Through interviews, archival footage and striking cinematography, KANAVAL highlights the role of carnival as a tradition of remembrance, resistance and storytelling.

The screening is free, but registration is required, and seating is limited. Reservations can be made through the events page at UpstairsArtspace.org. “Land of High Mountains” remains on view at Upstairs Artspace, located at 49 S. Trade St., through August 28. The gallery is open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.