On March 14, NYWIFT sponsored a night of short films made by Cuban women filmmakers at the Tribeca Film Center, part of a weeklong showcase held at locations across NYC.
The films:
Blanco Es Mi Pelo, Negra Mi Piel (White Is My Hair, Black Is My Skin) by Marina Ochoa
Derecho de Ser (The Right to Be) by Claudia Rojas
El Pez De La Torre Nada En El Asfalto (The Fish of the Tower Swims on the Asphalt) by Adriana Fernandez Castellanos
Pasajes Del Corazón Y La Memoria (Cherished Island Memories) by Gloria Rolando
Uno Al Otro (One Another) by Milena Almira
A Q&A moderated by Naomi Foner (Director, Very Good Girls) followed. Foner pointed out that while the films provided insight into the lives of Cubans, the most interesting aspect was that they showed how much of life is universal and not tied to culture.
During the Q&A, director Milena Almira shared that while it’s more difficult to make films as a woman in Cuba, that being a woman is a unique biological experience that cannot help but inform her art in a different way than for a man.
A few more highlights:
Uno Al Otro, a beautiful film reminiscent of video artist Vito Acconci, follows the romantic relationship of a young woman and a hearing impaired man. The film interviews the couple while showing the challenges in their relationship due to his disability, but also the inevitable conflicts between men and women.
A riveting documentary, Blanco Es Mi Pelo, Negra Mi Piel explores the life of 95-year-old María de los Reyes Castillo (Reyita), a family matriarch and a symbol of the changes that Cuba has gone through in the past 100 years.
In the black and white short film El Pez De La Torre Nada En El Asfalto, a man wrestles with his writer’s block as his wife complains about the heat in their cramped apartment and their son watches TV.
The Cuban directors showcased are all up-and-coming talents to watch. You can watch one of the short above; if you can catch the rest online or at a screening or festival, you won’t be disappointed. — MICHELE ST JOHN
nywift
Related Posts
Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Jennia Iordanou
Welcome to NYWIFT, Jennia Iordanou! Jennia is a New York-based entertainment attorney with a passion for storytelling and the film/TV business. Over the past several years, she’s represented actors, writers, and other creative professionals, helping them navigate talent agreements, development deals and intellectual property matters. While she’s loved advocating for creatives, her experiences have inspired her to pursue a more hands-on role in the filmmaking process. She is currently transitioning into producing, where she hopes to help develop meaningful stories and bring them to the screen. As a new member of NYWIFT, she’s excited to connect with fellow members and continue learning from this incredible community. In our interview, Jennia discusses her fascination with the film world, her love for collaborating, and her transition into becoming a producer.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Sher Bautista
Welcome to NYWIFT, Sher Bautista! Sher Bautista grew up as a third culture kid in the Middle East and the Philippines. Her work centers on themes of identity, memory, and migration. She co-produced the award-winning feature Delia and Sammy which went on to screen at international festivals including Austin, All Lights, Ortigia, and Hanoi. She co-wrote the series The Boston: A Kitchen Musical and later directed Commune, which became a finalist at Tropfest 2015. Aside from her film projects, she is also a published author, having co-written the children’s book Tasha and Pierre. She has just completed her MFA in Film and her thesis, Tales My Father Told. In our interview, Sher discusses her leap to the film world, recent collaborations, and how her international upbringing impacted her creative work.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Eleanore Pienta
Welcome to NYWIFT, Eleanore Pienta! Eleanore is an award-winning screen and stage actor, comedian, dancer, and filmmaker. Pienta has carved out a niche for herself by portraying uncompromising and complex characters in films such as Sundance Award Winner Josephine, A Different Man, Soft & Quiet, and many more. Filmmaker Magazine called her role in See You Next Tuesday: “…one of the most original, indelible, infuriating and truly felt movie characters in some time, a sister to Loden’s Wanda and Rowlands’ A Woman Under The Influence.” Pienta’s directorial debut, Ada, premiered at the New York Film Festival 2018. Her second short, Master of the House, premiered at The New/Next Film Festival 2024. In our interview, Eleanore discusses her motivations for the performing arts, her inspirations, and how her collaborations with others elevate her creative work.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Julie Pham
Welcome to NYWIFT, Julie Pham! Julie Theresin-Pham is a Vietnamese American actor, storyteller, host, writer, producer, and business strategist based in New York City. A first-generation immigrant and mother, she creates experiences that bring people together through storytelling, hospitality, and community. Her work explores identity, family, belonging, and human connection across film, performance, and documentary storytelling. She trained at the William Esper Studio, graduated from the Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) improv training program, serves on the Junior Board of TADA! Youth Theater, and is developing her first documentary, American Daughter: Stories We Carry. She is also an active NYWIFT member who values collaboration, mentorship, and connection.
READ MORE
