Dateline Caribbean: Documentary Shorts

In an ever-changing land and seascape, these short documentary dispatches examine contemporary issues across the Caribbean.

Unpacking
Dir. Annabelle Mullen Pacheco  |  22 mins  |  2019  |  Puerto Rico
Dominican women embark on “the crossing”—a trip that begins in a “yola” and ends in Puerto Rico, where they go in search of a dream and that, for most, ends up becoming a nightmare.

Hidden World
Dir. Kenrich Cairo  |  32 mins  |  2018  |  Suriname
Father Amoksi has the gift of coming into contact with the spirit world in the remote Maroon village “Akuyutu Kondre”. The spiritual rituals must be strictly adhered to in order not to get into conflict with the ancestors. But Amoksi is old, and it is time to transfer his knowledge onto his son, but he is only interested in his iPhone.

Nearest Neighbours
Dir. Rhonda Chan Soo  |  22 mins  |  2019  |  Trinidad & Tobago
Since 2015, at least 16,000 Venezuelans are confirmed to have fled to Trinidad and Tobago. The twin island republic is of one of the most economically viable options for asylum seekers, yet many are unaware of the reality that is to welcome them. Nearest Neighbours interweaves the stories of four main sets of characters: a journalist, a couple with three young children and their abuela, a woman who is living in a horse stable among other refugees, and a computer engineer turned construction worker and his family. The film explores how these refugees and asylum-seekers navigate their environments daily and work to move their lives forward amidst many unexpected challenges, including rampant xenophobia and a lack of legal rights due to the absence of local refugee legislation.

Batay La
Dir. Malia Bruker  |  25 mins  |  2019  |  Haiti
In Haiti “Batay La” has been ongoing since the slave revolution that founded the Caribbean nation. Led by anti-imperialist movement Batay Ouvriye, Haitian workers continue the revolutionary struggle.

Directors Rhonda Chan Soo and Malia Bruker will be in attendance for a Q&A.

Following Dateline Caribbean, the conversation around Batay La continues at the Caribbean Marketplace with Batay Ouvriye organizer Daniel; Director, Malia Bruker from Florida State University; and Producer/Organizer, Sarah Cruz from One Struggle Miami. The discussion centers on social/political organization, independence and movement.