Film Screening: Sugar Island

Followed by a Q&A with director Johanné Gómez Terrero and VIP Reception

Sugar Island immerses us in the Dominican Republic’s sugarcane fields, where Makenya, a Dominican-Haitian teenager, navigates an unwanted pregnancy and the harsh labor that defines her world.

Director Johanné Gómez Terrero masterfully blends social realism, spirituality, and Afro-futurism to expose the enduring legacy of colonial exploitation. As Makenya confronts family burdens and the specter of displacement, the arrival of a mysterious theater troupe illuminates haunting connections between past and present struggles.

As Makenya fights for her future and her grandfather battles for justice, Sugar Island unfolds as a lyrical, visually rich meditation on identity, survival, and the enduring power of cultural memory.

Shown with Candombe

Screening followed by Q&A

Candombe reflects the lifestyle of an Afro-Uruguayan culture residing in Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. This culture, originating from African slaves brought to the shores of the Río de la Plata, lives in an environment of constant music and dance. Its music is based on drum-beat percussion, and its dance is performed by a series of traditional characters: "La Mama Vieja," "El Escobero," "El Gramillero," and "Las Bailarinas."

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Host or Publisher African Diaspora International Film Festival