Sweet Micky for President

The former Fugees rapper Pras travels back to Haiti after the earthquake in 2010. The community is literally in ruins and paralyzed by government corruption. Without money or any experience, Pras mobilizes a presidential campaign for Haiti's most controversial musician, the bizarre rapper Michele Martelly a.k.a Sweet Micky.

Also screened in The Critical Room – the festival’s forum for film and debate.

The idealistic and politically inexperienced rap duo embarks on a mission to change Haiti's direction and steer the country towards more stabile waters. They allied with Hollywood's elite represented Sean Penn, Ben Stiller and Bill Clinton. Thereby, it is set for a historical and quite absurd campaign. Their path towards the presidency is variegated as they fight against a corrupt political system, civil disobedience and electoral fraud. Nor do their chances improve when Pras' ex-Fugees colleague and Haiti's superstar Wyclef Jean sets against Martelly in the election campaign. Old band conflicts arise and the world witness a celebrity drama out of the ordinary of a political campaign. Through this documentary, Pras appear as a powerful storyteller, he guides us through political and personal narrative, helped by director Ben Patterson getting real close to the candidates and their supporters. Sweet Micky for President catches an important part of
Haiti´s democratization in a masterful and great entertaining show!

Dok:South – Artist talk: Ben Patterson & Karyn Rachtman
Film: Sweet Micky for President
Time: October 9, 19 o'clock.
Location: Victoria 3
In connection with the screening there will be a conversation with the director Ben Patterson and producer Karyn Rachtman.
Time: October 11, 18:30 o'clock.
Location:Victoria 3
In connection with the screening there will be a conversation with the director Ben Patterson.

The Critical Room – 10th October 5.30 PM, Kino Victoria

With the next presidential election only weeks away, we return to focus on Haiti in The Critical Room. Ben Patterson and Karyn Rachtman will join Martha Kristine Syvertsen from The Norwegian Church Aid to discuss the upcoming election and the political situation on Haiti. The discussion is led by Jan Speed, web editor of Bistandsaktuelt.

Ben Patterson has a background in music documentaries, but Sweet Micky for President (2015) is his full length debut. It received the price for best documentary and audience award at this years Slamdance, and has gone from strength to strength on i.a. Hot Docs, Miami Film Festival and LA Film Festival, as well as being a part of the Øya festival at Øyakino!

Karyn Rachtman (b. 1964) is an American film music advisor and consultant from California, USA. She is known for her work with Pulp Fiction (1994), Reservoir Dogs (1992) and Boogie Nights (1997). She is the producer of the documentary Sweet Micky for President, which appears in this year's program.