Rio de Janeiro-based Habanero Film Sales Acquires Worldwide Rights to “This Island”
Habanero Film Sales, based in Rio de Janeiro, has recently secured the worldwide rights to the feature debut film “This Island” (“Esta isla”) by Lorraine Jones Molina and Cristian Carretero. The film is set to premiere in the U.S. Narrative Competition of the upcoming Tribeca Film Festival, scheduled to run from June 4 to June 15. The festival, founded by Robert de Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff, is a highly anticipated event in the film industry.
Alfredo Calviño, CEO of Habanero Film Sales, finalized the agreement with the filmmakers, who are also the producers of the film. Calviño expressed his excitement about the project, stating that “This Island” has the potential to make a significant impact in the world of Caribbean cinema, which has been gaining recognition in top-tier international film festivals and art house circuits. He described Caribbean films as having a unique energy, color palette, rawness, and humanity that sets them apart from others.
“This Island” is a deeply personal and poignant portrayal of the Puerto Rican experience, delving into themes of identity, resilience, and colonial legacy. The story unfolds in a coastal Puerto Rican town where teenage Bebo, portrayed by Zion Ortíz, and his brother resort to a life of crime to survive. When a deal goes wrong, Bebo finds himself on the run with Lola, a wealthy runaway, as they navigate the island’s interior while facing escalating violence. Bebo is forced to confront his past and make a choice between redemption or the unknown.
Joining Ortíz in the cast are Xavier Morales, Teófilo Torres, Audicio Robles, Georgina Borri, Omar Iloy, Sean Ortiz, Jeniffe Fret, and Bryan Minaya.
The filmmakers expressed their appreciation for Habanero Film Sales’ understanding of Caribbean cinema and their enthusiasm for representing bold and socially conscious films from the Latin American region. Other projects in Habanero’s lineup include “Chronicles of the Absurd” by Cuban director Miguel Coyula, “Isla Familia” by Cuba’s Abraham Jiménez Enoa and Claudia Calviño, and “On the Invention of Species” by Ecuador’s Tania Hermida.
In addition to “This Island,” Habanero Film Sales recently acquired world sales rights to “The Panama Canal Treaties – Son of Tiger & Mule” (“Hijo de Tigre y Mula”), a documentary by Panamanian filmmaker Annie Canavaggio. The film was showcased at the Panama International Film Festival (IFF Panama) to critical acclaim.
Stay tuned for the premiere of “This Island” at the Tribeca Film Festival and the future endeavors of Habanero Film Sales in promoting diverse and impactful cinema from the Caribbean and Latin America.
