MAIN CHARACTERS
Maria Aubect
Maria came to the plantation two decades ago. A widow, mother of 5, she is one of the few women working in the cultivation and harvesting of sugarcane in the plantation.
Martina Henrríquez
Maria’s oldest daughter. She was born in Dominican Republic and moved with Maria to the plantation when she was 7. In spite having finished high school 3 years ago, she hasn’t been able to enter university and realize her dream of becoming a doctor.
Yudelka Oguis
Yudelka is nurse and works for an NGO in the bateyes. She is in charge of the social care and health projects, assisting families and disabled children.
Juan Telemín
Comunity worker, civil rights activist.
Born in Batey Nigua.
Jenny Torres
Civil rights activist.
Ciudad Alternativa
Jesús Núñez
Lawyer
Coordinator :
Unión de trabajadores cañeros de los Bateyes.
ALSO APPEARING
Moisés, Lenord, Marcelo Masselis Polo, Roberto “El Dominante”, Jr Music JayRicky, Miguel Ángel Grullón, María Magdalena Álvarez, Leidi, Pili.
TEAM
JUAN ALFONSO ZAPATA
Director https://particulado.net/
Dominican Republic 1974. Director of the documentary Kathy Colon y la Campaña por la Diputación de Europa (selection Eduardo León Jimenes Awards, 2012) and the shorts Prima Vita (Les Rencontres Internationales Nouveau Cinema et Art Contemporaine, Gayte Lyrique / Haus der Kulturen derWelt / L’Alternativa-Pantalla lliure, 2015), En quin moment es va fotre el projecte europeu? (PiiGS Playwrights Festival on the Crisis, 2016), L’arquitectura gòtica a Barcelona: Les solucions d’una ciutat en transformació (MUHBA , 2018).
Director´s note
I arrived at the Plantation hoping to document the work of a group of young people who between juggling and good actions gave moments of joy and relief to hundreds of people immersed in terrible poverty.
The landscape is a living catalogue of mechanisms of territorial exploitation and how people become one more of its gears. Some-thing that can be read in the isolation and design of settlements more similar to concentration camps than to places where people come chasing dreams of a better life and work.
A place where nothing has been left to chance, where negligence does not exist: there is no possible negligence when managing an operation of 1,000 square kilometers of sugar cane and 30,000 people for the most important sugar market in the world.
The plantation system goes far beyond its physical barriers, with strong roots in colonialism, corruption and expansionist ambitions that have shaped many other aspects of Dominican society. We want to rebuild its journey and current state through testimonies and images that help us to compose an evocative and immersive narrative of this place and the consequences of planning practices that continue to put efficiency above people’s wellbeing.
Jan Matheu – Screenwriter
Writer and producer of the documentary feature The Brave Class (Compacto / Fractal 7.) and producer for the film She Moves The Night (Nanouk Films), the television series Follo Ergo Sum (BTV), the theater play Wohnwagen (La Brutal), the short film Bathed in Light (EEFF, Mayo Films) and the 2017 music video clips for Dora Black (Realité). He works as a cinema teacher.
Sergio Grobas – MAYO FILMS Executive Producer
CEO and executive producer from Mayo films. He has participated in many international co-productions, especially between spain and latin-america, like “Neruda” by Pablo Larraín or “A Fantastic woman” by Sebastián Lelio, oscar-winner for best foreign picture in 2018. He has also been part of the European producers team from the prestigious agency McCann.
Ico Abreu – iFilm Executive Producer
Architect and filmmaker. University professor o Architecture, Cinema, Planning and Environment. He has more than two decades of experience producing content for cinema, television and radio, while also participating in several other projects as actor and production designer. He is currently working in his first feature film under his production company iFilm.
Oriol Cortacans – BATABAT Executive Producer
Oriol Cortacans is a producer, journalist and director of Batabat Films, a production company based in Barcelona and working all around the world, specially in Spain and Latin America. He specializes in documentary features and series.
BATABAT is a production company working from Barcelona since 2006. We produce feature films, fiction and nonfiction documentaries and tv shows.
Sofia Nicolini Llosa – Cinematographer
Camerawoman and editor, she traveled over 30 countries filming the documentary Pequeños Grandes Mundos and Cadena de Regalos (Palermo Films/100 Bares). Director of Mujeres Rurales, Motores de desarrollo (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), and Hacer Visible lo Invisible (Dora Morgen). She is currently working behind the cameras for the documentary Campeonas about female boxing (Pro Video Grip).
Guiu Vallve – Editor
Editor of the documentary Sasha (Gaudí Awards Nomenee), El Andar del borracho (short film for which he was nominated for best editor at the Fugaz Awards), El Escarabajo al final de la calle (short film awarded at FICG festival, and Fugaz Awards nomenee) or the mockumentary El cerro de los Dioses. Guiu has also worked for IgluuStudio, Loto Films, BeAgency and Nespresso. He has also worked at the Ymagis laboratory.
Directed by
Juan Alfonso Zapata
Written by
Jan Matheu
Direction of Photography
Sofia Nicolini Llosa
Edited by:
Guiu Vallvé
Sound recording:
Ginebra Abril
Color Grading
Martí Somoza
Sound Design & Mix
Alberto Pérez / Sol de Sants Studios
Original Score
José Julio Bello «Mítiko»
Marcos Arias
A production by
Mayo Films
SomBatabat
iFilm
In collaboration with
Televisió de Catalunya
With the support of:
Graham Foundation
Festival Distribution
Movies for Festivals
U.S. and English speaking Caribbean distribution
Artmattan Films
Executive production Mayo Films
Sergio Grobas
Ibai Abad
Jan Matheu
Laura Egidos
Executive production SomBatabat
Oriol Cortacans
Marc Roma
Executive production iFilm
Ico Abréu
Executive production TVC
Jordi Ambròs
SomBatabat Team: Toni Balboa
Aerial Photography: Sofia Nicolini Llosa / Julián Roa
Additional Photography:
Juan A. Zapata / Julián Roa
Assistant Editors: Camila Musteikis / Ana Benzal
Graphics and Poster: Júlia Latorre
Trailer Editing: Alba Cid
Teaser 2018
Editor: Guiu Vallvé
Sound Editor: Martí Albert
Colour Grading: Adrià Cillero
Teaser 2017 Edited by Alba Cid
Original Music
Arrangements and composition: José Julio Bello “Mítiko”
Musical Direction and arrangements: Marcos Arias
Sound engineer: Tato Vargas
Editing and Mix: Joel Berrido
Studio Assistant: JV Oliver
Musicians:
Maestro José Duluc: tambú, maracas, fotuto, bambú, palo mayor, balsié
Eduardo Yan “Pirulo”: tambú, bambú, katá, conga
Gean Alberto: cello, saxophone
Alberto Pérez: cello, keyboards
Marcos Arias: Palo, maracas, balsié
Ico Abreu: Maracas
Additional music
“Phoenix”
By Yatao
© Copyright by Yatao
Authorised by Yatao
“Se Pa Saw Te Di”
By RAM Haiti
© Copyright by Willibelle Publishing & Sales
Authorised by Willibelle Publishing & Sales
“Heaven On Earth”
By Jason Stephenson
© Copyright by Relax Me Online Australia
Authorised by Relax Me Online Australia
“Tirar Pa’ lante”
By Vakero ft La Gran Mawon
© Copyright by Mayimba Music
Authorised by Mayimba Music
“Canción del Batey”
By Roberto “El Dominante”
© Copyright by Roberto “El Dominante”
Authorised by Roberto “El Dominante”
“Batey”
By Julio Franqui “El Rebelde”
© Copyright by Julio Franqui “El Rebelde”
Authorised by Julio Franqui “El Rebelde”
Special Thanks
Guillermo Aramburo
Marcos Barinas
Carles Bosch
Edouard Confidente
Manuel Gausa
Diego
Humberto García Muñiz
La Niña
Luis Alfonso “Güicho” Pieter
Víctor Lugo
Antonio Morcillo
James Pike
Research Interviews
Juan Bolívar Díaz
Roberto Cassá
Carlos Jaime Gómez Borbón
Genaro Encarnación
Ana Michel
Petronila Castillo
Nadal Walcot
Thanks to
Alessandro Vincenzi
Antoni Traveria
Beberley Borrome
Bruno Zapata
Carlos Zapata
Catalan Films
Càtia Pino
Danilo de los Santos
David Arbona
Docs Barcelona
Edwin Espinal Hernández
Fabiola Mancinelli
Festival REC
Gagá de Batey Las Cejas
Grupo Apoyo Solidaridad Haiti (GRASH)
Hector Daslin
Israel Junior Núñez Rivera
Jean Guerra (Guerra Films)
José Ramón Zapata
José Valenzuela
King La Jarra
La Poderosa
Lau Haizetara
Luis Chalas
Luz Divina Mora
Marc Guanyabens
Maritza Álvarez
Martha Chávez Richards
Melanie Theodosopoulou
Melisa – La Selva
Mercedito Mártir Delbus
Mónica de Moya
Pablo Gómez Borbón
Paola de Grenet
Pau Matheu
Rafael Emilio Yunén
Ramaris Zapata
Raymond Jean Julien
Rompebocinas
Rosemary López
Samuel Martínez
Silvia Banchini
Sthefany Borque
Supersudaca
Tato Vargas
Victor Alonso-Berbel
Vincenzo Leombruno
www.empoweredsleepformula.com
Yan Dayon