Rio de Janeiro-based Habanero Film Sales has snagged world sales rights to the Spanish-Dominican co-production “Under the Same Sun” (“Bajo el mismo sol”) ahead of its Sept. 11 Toronto Film Festival (TIFF) world premiere.
The period drama set in the hinterlands of the Dominican Republic is the second collaboration between director Ulises Porra and writer-producer Ulla Prida who co-wrote Porra’s multi-award-winning pic, “Carajita,” co-helmed with Silvina Schnicer. This is the solo debut feature of the Catalan-born filmmaker.
Set in 1819 Hispaniola, just prior to the Dominican Republic’s push for independence, the drama centers on an unexpected trio – a young Spanish noble, a skilled Chinese silk artisan and a Haitian soldier who’s abandoned his post. Together, they strive to build a silk factory deep within the island’s rugged interior, facing untamed landscapes, simmering colonial conflicts and the delicate thread of trust that binds them.
The deal was negotiated between Habanero Film Sales CEO Alfredo Calviño and Prida of Wooden Boat Productions.
“We were immediately struck by Ulises Porra’s bold vision and the film’s rich storytelling, which speaks to both the past and today’s global realities,” said Calviño who expressed confidence that this “powerful and ambitious work” would resonate worldwide among audiences, programmers and distributors.
“More than just a contract, we see in this alliance an opportunity to build bridges across cultures and connect with new viewers. With Habanero’s experience and vision, we are confident the film will reach a truly global stage,” said Prida, who also produced “Carajita.”
“This agreement with Habanero Sales marks a key step in the journey of ‘Under the Same Sun.’ It is a Dominican film directed by a Spanish filmmaker and brought to life by a diverse cast with Haitian, Asian and Latin American roots. For us, it is essential that the film reaches equally diverse audiences,” said producer Alexandra Santana.
The shoot was not without its challenges, according to Prida. Just two days before filming began in the northwest regional province of Santiago Rodriguez, a powerful storm swept through the Dominican Republic, flooding the ground floor of the production office and bringing much of Santo Domingo to a halt. The crew, spread across various locations for final tests, was caught off guard. One group, including several actors and Prida, was waist-deep in a river testing canoes for the film’s opening scene when the water began to rapidly rise. They were forced to abandon the site immediately as the flooding intensified.
David Castillo and Jean Jean (r) in ‘Under the Same Sun,’ Credit: Sebastián Cabrera
From that point on, they faced constant challenges: relentless rain, thick mud and difficult access to the remote filming site deep in an underdeveloped part of the island. But fortunately, those hardships brought the team closer.
“Being far from the city, we lived and worked side by side every day. After shooting, we’d gather in the only nearby town for dinner. It created a sense of community – almost like an adult summer camp. We’d take breaks by the river, people set up hammocks, and the mood, despite the chaos, was collaborative and calm. Everyone pitched in, even across departments. It was tough, but the spirit on set made it incredibly special,” she recalled.
Their leads include Dominican newcomer Valentina Shen Wu, who had to be persuaded several times to take on the role of the Chinese silk maker, Mei. “She nailed her part on the first try,” said Prida.
Valentina Shen Wu in ‘Under the Same Sun’ Credit: Sebastián Cabrera
Shen Wu plays opposite Jean Jean, best known for his role in “Woodpeckers,” and Spain’s David Castillo (“Something Is About to Happen”) as the Spanish noble, Lázaro.
Under Porra’s direction and through Sebastián Cabrera’s painterly cinematography, the film conjures a vivid and haunting portrait of the colonial Caribbean.
Reflecting on the through-line in her stories, Prida said: “In ‘Carajita,’ the young girl Sara bears a dark secret she keeps to herself and we watch as it slowly eats away at her from the inside. In ‘Under the Same Sun,’ with Lázaro, we see a man consumed by his insecurities, which ultimately get the best of him. Both films explore human nature – how people respond when life tests them, what they’re truly made of and what surfaces in those moments of pressure.” She is currently developing upcoming queer drama “Black Sheep, White Sheep” with director Flavio Florencio.
The film is produced by Prida, Porra and Santana with co-producers Adrià Monés at Barcelona-based Fasten Films, behind Cannes Camera d’Or winner “Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell,” and Gabriel Kaplan, who took a producer credit on the same film.
Prida and Santana are executive producers alongside Nicole Quiñones Butler, Ariadna Rodríguez and Claudia Calviño.
The production companies behind it are Wooden Boat Productions, Alta Isla Films, Fasten Films and Cobalt Films.
The 50th Toronto Film Festival began on Sept. 4 and wraps on Sept. 14.
