Talent agency WME has signed Haitian filmmaker Bruno Mourral, whose first feature, “Kidnapping Inc.,” will debut at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
Mourral wrote, directed and produced “Kidnapping Inc.,” which will have its world premiere on Jan. 22 in the Midnight section. Set in Port-au-Prince, the darkly comedic thriller follows two hapless kidnappers who are tasked with a simple abduction-for-hire but wind up in the middle of a political conspiracy. XYZ will handle the sale of “Kidnapping Inc,” and Erik Bright at Prodigy PR will lead press efforts.
In a harrowingly ironic twist, three members of the crew were abducted by gunmen during the production of the film in Haiti. Kidnappers were demanding a ransom of $1 million per hostage before the Haitian prime minister intervened to free the men.
Mourral told PvNew that “Kidnapping Inc.” is a tribute to ordinary Haitians, many of whose lives have been upended by abductions, gang violence and corruption. “It’s a process of resilience,” he said. “When you have so much darkness, it’s a way of seeing a little bit of light.”
Born in 1983, Mourall was raised in Haiti and studied film in Paris before returning to his home country in 2005. He launched a commercial production company in 2007, working with Haiti, France and countries in Africa and the Caribbean on advertisements.
He co-founded Muska Films in 2015 to “change the narrative through cinema and develop the Haitian film industry.” In 2017, Bruno wrote, directed, and produced “Kafou,” a mid-length film about two men who are hired to deliver an unknown package and get stuck at a crossroads.
Mourral continues to be represented by Anne-Sophie Berthelin at Agence Adequat.
