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HBO Best Short Film Award Winning Writer and Director Al’Ikens Plancher talks about his short film ‘Konpa’ to play at this year’s TriBeCa Film Festival

Native to the Caribbean nation of Haiti, Konpa or Kompas is a modern méringue dance music genre popularised in the late 50s. Formed during and post the US occupation of Haiti from 1915 to 1934, the US music genre of jazz would take on an interpretation all of its own by the 60s – a reduced méringue compas (Konpa) band performing rhythms consisting of paired electric guitars, electric bass, drum set – conga – timbales, and cowbells, giving the form its distinct sound. Honouring the musical genre and bringing it to the masses at this year’s TriBeCa Film Festival, HBO Best Short Film award winning writer and director Al’Ikens Plancher presents his latest short Konpa, a film following protagonist Jean into a small family owned restaurant as he navigates dealing with a language barrier – unable to speak the native Haitian Creole language. His crush Minouche teaching him the beauty of Konpa. A tale placing Al’Ikens’ Haitian heritage at the centre, he tells us more about what to expect!

Hi Al’Ikens, your short film Konpawill premier at this year’s TriBeCa Film Festival on 11th, 14th and 17th June. How are you feeling ahead of the screenings?

I feel very grateful, and excited. I get to share our Haitian culture at one of the biggest film festivals in the world.

Konpa is a love letter to your Haitian heritage, the film following protagonist Jean into a small family owned restaurant as he navigates dealing with a language barrier – unable to speak the native Haitian Creole language. His crush Minouche teaching him the beauty of Konpa. What inspired you to explore this narrative further?
Language connects us in more ways than one. So, the idea that a lot of proudful Haitian-Americans in my day-to-day life do not know how to speak or understand Haitian Creole is very interesting to me. Are you truly connected to your culture? I don’t know. But it’s worth using it as a plot device to make a short though.
Konpa is written and directed by yourself, stars Edson Jean (Jean), Nagela Noël Lukacs (Minouche), Makisha Noël (The Nurse), Lesly Chery (The Father) and Marie Lafalaise Noël (The Manmi) with cinematography from Juan Camilo Barriga. How have you all worked together to realise the film?
Well, it starts with all of us being Haitian, except for Barriga (the cinematographer) who’s Colombian, but who’s very familiar with Haitian culture. And most of us worked together prior or knew each other prior to some capacity. So, we just got together and trusted each other and made a film that Haiti would be proud of.

You’ve worked a varied career within entertainment, having interned at BET which led to an office PA role, a writer’s PA position on the critically acclaimed Showtime series ‘The CHI’ created by celebrated director Lena Waithe – where you also became show runner assistant and a show runner role on Paramount Network smash hit series Yellowstone created by Oscar nominated writer and director Taylor Sheridan. How have you found this journey so far? What are your hopes for the future?

Everything is a learning experience. Everything. You sponge it all, then do your best, then rinse and repeat.

I just want to keep creating and create more.

In between projects, you’ve written, directed and funded your own work which has resulted in you winning the HBO Best Short Film Award. What has this process of creating your own work involved? How does it feel to have been acknowledged by HBO in this way?

It’s all about betting on yourself. Trusting instinct and going for it.
Honored and grateful.
What have you learned/taken away from creating the film?
Not to overthink anything on set. Trusting that you had a solid pre-production and went with the flow.

What can viewers expect from the film?

The film is fun, and touching. So, I expect audiences to smile and be entertained throughout, and maybe a tear or two by the end.
Questions by Lucy Basaba.
Konpa will screen on the 11th, 14th and 17th June 2023 at this year’s TriBeCa Film Festival. To find out more about the production, visit here…
10th May 2023by Theatrefullstop
Written by Theatrefullstop