SUGAR ISLAND by Johanné Gómez Terrero

Trailer   Pressbook

An unwanted pregnancy, triggers the journey into adulthood for Makenya, a Dominican-Haitian teenager who lives in the Batey, a community surrounded by sugarcane fields.
A strong drama commenting on colonialism and social injustice, depicting liberation that arises from political awakening and acceptance of ancestral spirituality.

Venice - Giornate degli Autori (awarded the Edipo Re Award and the Premio Fondazione Fai Persona, Lavoro, Ambiente ), BFI London, Sao Paulo IFF (comp.), Thessaloniki IFF (WIFF GR award), Stockholm IFF, Mannheim/Heidelberg IFF (comp.), Exground IFF,  La Habana IFF (Coral Award Best Artistic Contribution) a.o.

"An important and very promising debut" - Marc van de Klashorst ICS

"A precise and sincere look" - Ivano Orlandi CLOSE-UP

"Extraordinary and powerful, Makenya's story is written to support the cause of women, sugar cane workers and Haitian immigrants" - Rita Andreetti TAXIDRIVERS

"Tradition and history, past and present are grafted into a fresco that is a hymn, or rather, a cry to the desire for liberation and freedom" - Davide Brambilla CINEMATOGRAFO

“Powerful visuals and intuitive insight create a captivating prism of personality” – Lida Bach MOVIEBREAK

“Johanné Gómez Terrero blends tradition and spirituality, the literal and the allegorical, in a beautifully made and deeply touching fiction feature debut” – Savina Petkova CINEUROPA

“a great rarity - a film from the Dominican Republic, which perfectly combines naive art and a menacing anti-colonialist message” - Stas Tyrkin STYLE RBC


Cast
Yelidá Díaz - Makenya / Ruth Emeterio - Filomena / Juan María Almonte - Grandfather / Génesis Piñeyro - Yelidá / Diógenes Medina - Leroi

Crew
Director, Writer: Johanné Gómez Terrero / Cinematorgrapher: Alván Prado / Editor:Raúl Barreras / Sound: Homer Mora / Music:Jonay Armas, Gagá de la 30 / Production Design: Oliver Rivas / Costumes: Palma Ruiz / Producer: Fernando Santos Díaz (Guasábara Cine)  / Co-Producer: David Baute (Tinglado Film) / Production Company: Guasábara Cine

Technical information
Original Title: SUGAR ISLAND / shot in Arri Raw/ available for screenings in DCP (24fps) / color / 1.33:1 / 91 min / Dolby 5.1 / original language: Spanish with English, German, Italian, Portuguese subtitles / Dominican Republic, Spain 2024