NEGRO
About the project
Negro is a creative documentary that reflects on our environmental issue through a decolonial lens. Connecting the journey and work of the fisherman known as Negro, with the colonial history of our island. Putting in evidence that the struggles from the past still remain, and the resistance continues. The land and ecosystems that Negro protect, are the same that our natives and other resistance leaders fought for. And how the extractivist systems and worldviews of today have historical roots. Our vision is clear: Negro´s resistance is held through the nurture of life.
Our environmental issue is a political one. It is expected that in the next 20 years, 70% of the world’s coral reefs will disappear. Their extinction would become an economical disaster for developing countries and a loss of marine biodiversity for the world. If something has become clear through our climate change crisis is that a shift in paradigm is urgent. Our solution is not individual but collective.This film will have the intention of creating an Impact Campaign to bring awareness on the urgency of these matters and initiate a dialogue with the rest of the world from the Caribbean.
MOOD VIDEO
Project in Development - Short Synopsis
Tourists swarm the idyllic beaches of Saona Island, their skin tinted red, oblivious to the life underneath the water’s surface and ignorant to the island's story of resistance, where Taino chief Cotubanamá led the last cry of rebellion against the colonial powers.
Negro, a rugged but tender fisherman, inherits this struggle opposing the extractivism of our modern society through the nurture of life. Twenty years ago, he transitioned from fishing turtles to now protecting them, making space in his home to incubate fragile nests. His success rekindles hope against the threats of modern development. This creative and poetic documentary will seek to reflect on the structural causes of our environmental crisis from a decolonial lens.
Frames from the teaser
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Dominican director and DP with degree in Cinematography, with a mention in Lighting and Camera from the FUC, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
His directorial debut, which he co-directs with Victoria Apolinario, the non-fiction feature Morena(s) has participated in the Documentary WIP MAFIZ Industry Zone of Malaga Film Festival. It premiered in the FIDBA 2022 and won best Documentary Feature in the NYLFF 2022. After it´s festival circuit Morena(s) had it´s national theatrical release this year.
Morena(s) 2022
-
FIDBA 9 - Buenos Aires, Argentina. 2022 - Official Selection
-
Santo Domingo Global Film Festival - Dominican Republic. 2022 - Official Competition -Documentary Opera Prima
-
Best Film and Best Director awards - IV Dominican Film Festival 2022
-
Best Documentary Feature New York Latino Film Festival 2022
-
Official Selection San Francisco Latino Film Festival 2022
-
Best Documentary Nominee National Film Industry Awards (Premios La Silla 2022)
-
Nominee Candidate Platino Awards 2022
ABOUT THE PRODUCER
Belle Guzmán, actress, screenwriter and producer. Bachelor of Business Administration at PUCMM. Master in Microfinance and Social Development at Alcalá de Henares University. Master’s Degree in Film Production at the Madrid Film Institute.
She is working on the final stage of the development of Beyond the Mist, a project that won the FONPROCINE, Public Fund 2021 and IBERMEDIA co-development category 2023. She is also working on the development of the documentary Negro.
Since 2023 she has taken documentary film workshops with Carles Bosch at the Cultural Center of Spain and Accounting Production with Martin Cook and NFTS. She was a participant in the EURODOC 2023 Creative Production Workshop in the Caribbean and is part of this
year´s EURODOC24.
