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Film exposes how armed groups control the country’s economy, borders, and daily life
France 24’s documentary Haiti: The Iron Grip of the Gangs, directed by Catherine Norris-Trent and Roméo Langlois, has received the 2025 DIG Award for Long Reportage. The 52-minute investigation reveals how armed groups have entrenched themselves across Haiti, taking over ports, borders, and vital trade routes. By monopolizing commerce and using violence as leverage, gangs have stripped ordinary Haitians of basic freedoms and agency.
The DIG Award, presented each year at the investigative journalism festival in Modena, Italy, recognizes reporting that shines a light on systemic abuses and corruption. France 24’s entry was singled out for its courage, clarity, and on-the-ground storytelling.
In their remarks after receiving the prize, the filmmakers stressed the importance of continuing to report from places marked by instability and danger. Through testimonies, rare footage from gang-dominated areas, and analysis of Haiti’s institutional breakdown, the documentary reframes the crisis as more than political turmoil—it is a violent system designed to hold a nation hostage.
The recognition highlights both the risks journalists face in such contexts and the public service they provide by amplifying silenced voices. It also reflects the growing demand for journalism that connects local struggles to global patterns of exploitation and neglect.
To read the full story: https://tjcproject.org/france-24-wins-dig-award-for-exposing-haitis-gang-crisis/