Esta Isla (This Island) - Co-directors Cristian Carretero & Lorraine Jones Molina
Winner of Best New Narrative Directors and Best Cinematography in a Narrative Film at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival, Esta Isla (This Island) follows Bebo, a teenager from a coastal Puerto Rican town, living with his brother in a public housing complex. They fish for a living, but their growing desperation drives them to illegal dealings that promise easy money. When a job goes wrong and blood is spilled, Bebo flees with Lola, a wealthy girl seeking to escape her troubled reality. As they navigate the labyrinthine mountains, they encounter remnants of a fading way of life, contrasting with the violence that follows them. As hitmen close in, Bebo must confront his choices and decide if redemption is possible, or if the sea will be their final escape.
About the filmmaker - Raising awareness about issues pertaining to women, sexuality, and spirituality within the Caribbean, Lorraine Jones Molina is a Puerto Rican filmmaker who strives to use the medium as a tool for activism and healing. Winner of two Suncoast EMMY awards for a documentary feature film and a science television show, she has also produced several award winning short films throughout the Caribbean and New York. Lorraine is the Co- Founder of the art film production company Experimento Lúdico.
About the filmmaker - Cristian Carretero, an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker from Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, earned his B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and studied film at FAMU before obtaining an MFA from New York University in 2015. His films, primarily social dramas, explore contemporary issues in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, focusing on social and environmental challenges. His works have been featured and awarded internationally at venues such as BAM Cinematek, Anthology Film Archives, and the Montreal Film Festival. Co-founder of Experimento Lúdico, Carretero collaborates with clients like National Geographic and The Intercept, and teaches workshops at the University of Puerto Rico.
