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
NYWIFT Member Susan Margolin Brings “Time Warp” to Tribeca’s 25th Anniversary Documentary Competition
For more than three decades, NYWIFT member Susan Margolin has championed independent storytelling that sparks conversation, challenges perspectives, and amplifies voices that deserve to be heard. As an award-winning producer and trailblazer in documentary distribution, she has helped bring hundreds of impactful films to audiences worldwide. Now, she returns to the festival circuit as one of the producers of Time Warp, a powerful new documentary making its world premiere in the Documentary Competition at the 25th anniversary of the Tribeca Festival. Directed by Allison Berg and produced alongside an accomplished creative team, Time Warp follows a drag theater company in Rock Springs, Wyoming, as they stage a shadow cast of The Rocky Horror Picture Show 50 years after the cult classic first captivated audiences. For Susan, whose career has been defined by elevating meaningful stories and underrepresented voices, the film arrives at a pivotal cultural moment.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Seohee Lee
Welcome to NYWIFT, Seohee Lee! Seohee is a filmmaker, content curator, and marketer working at the intersection of storytelling, cultural exchange, and audience engagement. Based in New York, she works at the Korea Creative Content Agency New York Center, where she leads international marketing strategies and content-driven programs connecting Korean creative industries with global audiences. Her work spans promotional video direction, film program curation, and large-scale cultural collaborations with institutions such as the Korean Cultural Center New York and the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea. Seohee holds an M.F.A. in Film Directing and an M.A. in Arts Management from Carnegie Mellon University. Drawing on both creative and strategic experience, she focuses on enhancing the global reach of cultural storytelling and fostering cross-border dialogue through media and programming. In our interview, Seohee Lee discusses her journey as a filmmaker and content curator, her work in international cultural programming, and the projects she hopes to explore next.
READ MORENYWIFT Member Violet Du Feng Brings Two Powerful Projects to the 25th Anniversary of the Tribeca Festival
As the 25th anniversary of the Tribeca Festival shines a spotlight on bold storytelling and groundbreaking filmmakers, Violet Du Feng is arriving with not one, but two standout projects that are already generating conversation. The Emmy® Award-winning filmmaker and NYWIFT member serves as producer on TikTok Never Dies, featured in the festival’s Spotlight Documentary category, while Only the Lonely has been selected for the prestigious New York Times Op-Docs Showcase. For Violet, whose work consistently explores the intersection of personal identity and larger societal shifts, the moment represents both creative growth and artistic alignment. Known for acclaimed projects including The Dating Game and the Oscar®-shortlisted Hidden Letters, Violet has built a reputation for crafting emotionally layered documentaries that connect intimate human experiences to broader cultural conversations.
READ MORENYWIFT Member Juleyka Lantigua Brings The Lorraine to Tribeca Festival’s 25th Anniversary Celebration
For filmmaker, writer, and producer Juleyka Lantigua, storytelling has always been rooted in truth, history, and the voices too often left out of the conversation. Now, the award-winning creative and proud member of New York Women in Film & Television is bringing one of those powerful stories to the forefront as an Executive Producer and Co-Writer of The Lorraine, which will have its World Premiere during the 25th anniversary of the Tribeca Festival. Through the lens of The Lorraine, Juleyka helps illuminate the legacy of the Lorraine Motel and the Bailey family, whose impact stretched far beyond the historic events forever tied to the Memphis landmark. The documentary explores Black excellence, resilience, entrepreneurship, music history, and the enduring fight for justice during one of America’s most turbulent eras.
READ MORE
