A Revolution on Screen: Robenson Lauvince’s “July 7” Becomes the First Haitian Film to Break into the Global Box Office

In a cinematic world often saturated with repetition, where dominant narratives eclipse the voices of the marginalized, Robenson Lauvince’s July 7: Who Killed the President of Haiti? erupts like a cultural earthquake. Shattering norms, flipping scripts, and announcing the arrival of a new era in global storytelling, this isn’t just a film, it’s a declaration. A pulse from the heart of Haiti that thunders across continents with conviction, pain, pride, and purpose.

And now, July 7 has made history, becoming the first Haitian film to be released globally at the box office.

“This moment isn’t just for me. It’s for every Haitian child who’s ever dreamed in color while living in a black and white world,” said Lauvince. “We’ve waited too long to see ourselves on the big screen, and not through the lens of pity, but power.”

Crafted with an astounding 98% Haitian crew and actors, July 7 is more than a movie, it’s a movement. Shot entirely in Haiti and drenched in authenticity, the film dares to ask the question that has haunted a nation: Who killed President? But Lauvince, a bold visionary rooted in his homeland’s soil and soul, refuses to stop at surface-level intrigue. Instead, he delivers a multidimensional tapestry of history, identity, and trauma, giving voice to the silenced and clarity to the misunderstood.

“Haiti has too often been misrepresented in cinema, reduced to stereotypes and shadows of its truth. That’s why it was vital for this film to be told through the lens of a Haitian. We owed it to our people to keep the story authentic, raw, and rooted in reality,” Lauvince shared.

From making grassroots films on the vibrant streets of Haiti with childhood friends to commanding international attention at festivals like Sundance, Lauvince’s journey is cinematic in itself. With no roadmap but relentless determination, he’s carved a path through adversity, driven by a singular mission: to tell Haiti’s story from within.

“We’re not just breaking box office barriers, we’re breaking stereotypes,” Lauvince declared. “For decades, Haitian cinema was invisible on the global stage. Now, the world is watching.”

The July 7 premiere in Miami was nothing short of historic. Over 2,000 people filled the Olympia Theater, not for a typical red carpet event, but for a reckoning. The screening became a collective exhale, a night where the Haitian people didn’t just watch a story, they lived it. No longer background characters in someone else’s narrative, they emerged as the authors of their own.

JULY 7: Who Killed the President of Haiti? | Official Trailer | In Theaters May 16th

What sets July 7 apart isn’t just its gripping plot or searing performances, it’s the groundbreaking distribution deal with GVN Releasing, marking the first time in history a Haitian film has received global theatrical distribution.

“This film is a bridge,” said Lauvince. “It connects Haiti to the world, and more importantly, it opens the gate for the next generation of Haitian filmmakers to step through with pride.”

This milestone represents more than visibility, it’s validation. Long overdue, and deeply deserved.

Robenson Lauvince isn’t merely telling stories, he’s dismantling decades of misrepresentation and reclaiming the cinematic lens. His work doesn’t beg for recognition, it commands it. With July 7, he hasn’t just made history. He’s changed its trajectory.

And now, the world is listening.

Watch the audience experience from the Miami premiere:
This a footage of a packed theater of a July 7 showing in theaters.

On its opening weekend, May 16, 2025, July 7: Who Killed the President of Haiti? debuted at #17 nationwide, climbed to #2 in Florida, and secured the #1 spot in New York, earning an impressive 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film’s success is a clear sign that audiences are hungry for authentic stories that break the mold and bring fresh perspectives to the big screen.