Esta Isla (This Island) is the debut narrative feature from Puerto Rican filmmakers Lorraine Jones Molina and Cristian Carretero and had its World Premiere in the U.S. Narrative Competition at the 2025 Tribeca Festival, taking place through June 15 in New York City. Based on Carretero’s own 2014 short film of the same name, Esta Isla expands its original premise into a richly layered, feature-length narrative. The film draws on the directors’ personal and collective memories, deepening its emotional and political resonance.
The drama is set in a small seaside town in Puerto Rico. Bebo (Zion Ortiz), a teenager living with Charlie (Xavier Morales), his older brother’s family, and his grandmother figure, Aida (Georgina Borri), in a modest home, both fish to make ends meet. The economy is not in the best shape, leading the younger brother to resort to illicit sales to make ends meet for the growing family. Charlie does not want him to follow his path, and Moreno (Audicio Robles), the local gang leader, knows his thugs take matters into their own hands. Things escalate, and Bebo decides to flee with Lola (Fabiola Brown), his girlfriend from a wealthy but troubled family.
Their escape into Puerto Rico’s mountainous interior becomes a journey into the island’s living past. Taken in by Cora (Teófilo Torres) in a rural community, Bebo and Lola uncover buried family histories intertwined with the pro-independence movement and Taino traditions. Danger lurks when hitmen are pursuing Bebo. The sea can become their possible grave, and the young couple’s escape is not just another camping trip. All of the cast members’ performances are good and very authentic for this story.
Principal Cast: Omar Iloy (Cheo), Sean Ortiz (Picu), Jeniffe Fret (Anguie), Bryan Minaya (Pito). Cinematographer Cedric Cheung-Lau (director of The Mountains Are a Dream That Call to Me) captures both the beauty and the treacherousness of the island. Sound Supervisor, Johannes Peters; Editors: Cristian Carretero and Andrei Nemcik; Production Designer: Gerardo Vega; Original Music: Alain Emile.
Puerto Rico, 2023, 114 min. In Spanish with English subtitles. Tribeca Festival Screenings: Saturday, June 14, 12 pm at Village East by Angelika
Producers: Lorraine Jones Molina and Cristian Carretero; Executive Producers: Rafael Carretero, Annabelle Mullen, and Frankie Cueto; Associate Producers: Orlando “Kangri” Pérez; Writers: Cristian Carretero, Lorraine Jones Molina, and Kisha Tikina Burgos; Sound:
About the Co-Writers and Co-Directors:
Raising awareness about issues affecting women, sexuality, and spirituality within the Caribbean, Lorraine Jones Molina, a Puerto Rican filmmaker, strives to utilize 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.
Cristian Carretero is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker from Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, who earned his B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and studied film at FAMU before obtaining an MFA from New York University in 2015. His movies, primarily social dramas, explore contemporary issues in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, with a focus on social and environmental challenges. His works have been featured and awarded internationally at venues such as BAMcinématek, Anthology Film Archives, and the Montreal Film Festival. Co-founder of Experimento Lúdico, Carretero collaborates with clients such as National Geographic and The Intercept, and teaches workshops at the University of Puerto Rico.
Source: Experimento Lúdico