World Premiere of ESTA ISLA in the U.S. Competition at the Tribeca

World Premiere of ESTA ISLA,

the Powerful Debut Feature by Lorraine Jones Molina

and Cristian Carretero, in the U.S. Narrative Competition

at the Tribeca Festival, June 4—14, 2025

A Fast-Paced Searing Drama Exploring Identity and Resilience in Puerto Rico Through the Lens of Tropical Realism

Esta Isla (This Island), the powerful debut narrative feature from Puerto Rican filmmakers Lorraine Jones Molina and Cristian Carretero, will have its world premiere in the U.S. Narrative Competition at the 2025 Tribeca Festival, taking place June 4–14 in New York City.

Starring Zion Ortiz, Fabiola Brown, Xavier Morales, Teófilo Torres, and Audicio Robles, the gripping yet tender drama unfolds in a small seaside town in Puerto Rico. Bebo, a teenager living with his older brother in a public housing complex, fishes to survive. As economic pressures mount, the brothers turn to illicit means for quick money. When a deal goes awry, Bebo is forced to flee with Lola, 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 in a rural community, Bebo and Lola uncover buried family histories intertwined with the pro-independence movement and Taino traditions. But even in the mountains, danger lurks. With hitmen in pursuit and the sea—their former lifeline—looming as a possible grave, the young couple must face their inner demons and decide whether redemption is possible.

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.

Shot primarily with natural light and a minimal crew to capture an immersive atmosphere of Tropical Realism, cinematographer Cedric Cheung-Lau, director of The Mountains Are a Dream That Call to Me, lends a poetic visual style that blends realism with surreal elements—reflecting both the precarity of contemporary life and the uncertain future of the island.

A deeply personal exploration of the Puerto Rican condition, the film delves into themes of colonialism, survival, mutual care, and the reverberations of historical trauma. Jones Molina and Carretero bring a fresh voice to Caribbean cinema, centering characters too often erased and telling a story rooted in place, memory, and resistance. A love letter to Puerto Rico and its people, Esta Isla is a testament to the universal experience of survival on the margins.

Tribeca Festival Screenings:

Saturday, June 7, 5:45pm at Village East by Angelika — World Premiere

Sunday, June 8, 9:15am at AMC AMC 19th St. East 6 — P&I Screening

Sunday, June 8, 9:15pm at AMC 19th St. East 6

Saturday, June 14, 12pm at at Village East by Angelika

ESTA ISLA (This Island), Puerto Rico, 2025, 114 min. In Spanish with English subtitles. Directed by Lorraine Jones Molina and Cristian Carretero; 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; Cinematographer: Cedric Cheung-Lau; Sound: Johannes Peters; Editors: Cristian Carretero and Andrei Nemcik; Production Designer: Gerardo Vega; Original Music: Alain Emile; Principal Cast: Zion Ortiz (Bebo), Fabiola Brown (Lola), Xavier Morales (Charlie), Teófilo Torres (Cora), Audicio Robles (Moreno), Georgina Borri (Aida), Omar Iloy (Cheo), Sean Ortiz (Picu), Jeniffe Fret (Anguie), Bryan Minaya (Pito). World sales agent: Habanero Film Sales.

About the Co-Writers and Co-Directors:

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. 

Cristian Carretero is 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 BAMcinématek, 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.