Writer’s Statement Video
Film Synopsis
François, a sensitive and very talented slave, is confronted with a choice that he has to make: continue his personal journey or join the rebellion alongside his brother, Samuel, who is one of its leaders.
However, after the murder of his brother, anger sets in, and François wants revenge… He wants his slave master, John Dewitt, to pay with his life, and with the help of some friends he elaborates a plan to taste justice. While executing his plan, François gets closer to John Dewitt’s fiancée, and they unexpectedly fall for each other.
François and John Dewitt are ultimately bound to face each other, and François has another choice to make…. Country or love?
Historical Facts
The story takes place within the cities of Cap-François and Port-au-Prince at the beginning of the Revolution in Saint-Domingue and at the height of the French Revolution. On a colony where the motherland declared that all men are created equal, the plantation owners openly reject the new principles, and they want their slaves to remain in bondage.
Creative Team
FRANÇOIS FFRENCH Actor / Screenwriter
For as long as he can remember, Mr. Ffrench has always wanted to be an actor. To do so, not only has he pursued the proper training, but he also began writing his own projects.
The path to attain success as a writer began when he took lessons from the late Mr. Syd Field who is widely known as a reference in the discipline and who also had students such as Mr. John Singleton, Ms. Anna Hamilton Phelan, and Mr. Judd Apatow. Mr. Ffrench also considers Mr. Carl Dubé, a well-established screenwriter in Canada, as his mentor and an inspiration.
Since embarking on this writing journey, Mr. Ffrench has been humbly accepting praises for his first script, Liberty or Death: 1804, which is a multi- award winner, a finalist, a semi-finalist, and quarter-finalist in numerous film festivals. It also has been awarded honorable mentions. Liberty or Death: 1804 is largely inspired by Mr. Ffrench's ancestors who fought on both sides of the spectrum during this revolution.
Mr. Ffrench began performing on stage in Canada at a young age. He actually began his training at the Montreal School of Performing Arts under the tutelage of great artists such as Ms. Dale Hayes, Ms. Josa Maule, Mr. Constantine Kourtidis, Ms. Shea Wood, and Ira Sokolov. His education and preparation led him to a lead role on Waiting on Trains. He ultimately went on to feature in movies like White House Down, Crisis Point, and Art of More.
All these accomplishments wouldn't have been possible without the education that Mr. Ffrench earned in law school and during his practice of law, which kept him goal driven and focused on his dreams.
Indeed, he is a founding member of Czar Media Inc., a Canadian media company that has enjoyed success since 2005. Mr. Ffrench's role within Czar Media Inc. was Chief Legal Officer, and during his tenure as CLO, Czar Media Inc. created content production for customers such as Ubisoft, Air France, LG, and Sony. The company has also been very successful in the field of experimental marketing.
Today, Mr. Ffrench continues his acting training with dramatic arts master trainer and former casting director, Mr. Robert Russell who has worked in the past with Ms. Jennifer Connelly, Ms. Natalie Portman, and Ms. Nicole Kidman. Mr. Ffrench is currently actively working on his next screenplay.
MAURICE JOSHUA Producer
Maurice brings over two decades of entertainment industry expertise spanning music and film production.
Maurice spent seven years at Sony Music Entertainment as publicist and product manager, executing marketing campaigns for major artists including Fiona Apple, Jennifer Lopez, Bob Dylan, Luther Vandross, Michael Jackson, and Simon and Garfunkel.
As Senior Executive Vice President/GM at Paramito Pictures, LLC, Maurice established the company’s operational infrastructure, supervised film development, and negotiated production agreements.
Since founding First Pitch Global Media, LLC in 2010, Maurice has developed a diverse slate of film properties spanning multiple genres. The company maintains a strategic production schedule of 2-3 films annually with planned expansion into television and theater. Maurice currently partners with James Garbus, Esq. of Neat Little Package Productions to produce low to mid-budget genre films.
Since 2017, Maurice has served as a Syndicate Operations Specialist at Bank of Montreal, bringing his operational expertise to the financial services sector.
In 2023, Maurice expanded his entrepreneurial portfolio by founding Good Wick of the North, a fragrant candle company, demonstrating his versatility across multiple business sectors.
PR. BAYYINAH BELLO Consultant
Professor Bayyinah Bello is a Vodouvi, Afrodescendant Ourstorian, Educator, Writer and Humanitarian. With over 50 years of wisdom and extensive research, Professor Bello specializes in Ayitian Ourstory and linguistics. She has taught in many parts of Africa, Ayiti, and America from the primary to the university level, including the State University of Haiti.
She is the founder of Fondation Marie-Claire Heureuse Félicité Bonheur Dessalines, popularly known as FONDASYON FELICITEE (FF), named after the Empress consort of Ayiti and wife of the revolutionary leader and founder of Ayiti (Hayti, Empire of Freedom), Jean-Jacques Dessalines, Emperor 1st of Hayti.
As an author Professor Bello publishes in Ayitian, English and French. Her latest work, Sheroes of the Haitian Revolution, highlights the lives of ten women in the Ayitian Ourstory who played a significant role in the nation's journey to freedom.
Professor Bello is based in Ayiti and serves as advisor to key eldership councils. Today, she concentrates her energy on the advancement of the FONDASYON FELICITEE (FF) while presenting and teaching in various s of the world on Ourstory.
Located in Tabar, Ayiti, FONDASYON FELICITEE aims to rebuild identity via historical research and in-depth analysis of cultural principles, pillars, and traditions. FF has been in operation since 2000, working with all those afected by the Maafa.
The foundation provides a number of community initiatives that empower its student volunteers, centennials (elders of 100 years plus) as well as young leaders and families. The ultimate goal of this foundation is to provide the People of Ayiti with tools with which to build their inner self and their country.
Professor Bayyinah Bello is a mother of four, a grandmother of nine, and a great grandmother of three divine great-grandchildren: two powerful girls and a marvelous boy.
DAVID RUBENSTEIN
David Rubenstein is a Business and Entertainment Lawyer who has been voted a "Super Lawyer Rising Star" for 7 years in a row, an award given to less than 5% of all attorneys. David has extensive entertainment law, corporate and worldwide entertainment industry experience and regularly speaks on the business and legal aspects of feature film development and tax incentives in connection with the entertainment industry. David has extensive experience in the application of Federal Film Tax Incentives under IRC Section 181 and 168(k), which greatly support the production of film and television projects in the United States.
David counsels film clients on all aspects of their productions to help them achieve their goals. Most recently, David helped secure funding for the film, 1917, which was nominated for ten (10) Oscars at the 92nd Academy Awards and three (3) wins. The film also won Best Picture at the 77th Golden Globe Awards, including a Golden Globe for Best Director for Sam Mendes.
In addition, in 2019, David was a Producer's Consultant on the acclaimed film, Human Capital, starring Marisa Tomei, Liev Schreiber, Peter Skarsgaard, and Maya Hawke, which premiered on the red carpet at the Toronto Film Festival. The film was produced by acclaimed Producer Celine Rattray, who produced The Kids Are All Right, which was one of the first independent films to be nominated for an Academy Award.
In 2019, David founded Independent Filmmaker Day (“IFD"). IFD helps independent creators from around the world develop new projects, connect within the industry, and champion collaborative and impactful storytelling at all stages.
It is noteworthy to mention that IFD's Facebook page boasts over 600,000 followers, which is larger than 99% of film festivals world-wide. IFD uses this large platform to champion independent filmmakers and their projects.
Pitch Deck Summary
Liberty or Death: 1804 is a powerful historical drama set during the Haitian Revolution. It follows François, an enslaved yet gifted man torn between love, revenge, and the fight for freedom after his brother's murder. With rich visuals and emotional depth, the film explores sacrifice, identity, and the personal cost of revolution.
