We Still Here/Aquí Estamos

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Wednesday, Nov. 10th was the opening of the International Puerto Rican Film Festival, IPRFF for short, at El Museo del Barrio in one of New York's Puerto Rican communities. One of the two films to open the festival is called We Still Here/Aquí Estamos and one of the producers of the film, Kahlil Jacobs-Fantauzzi was there to introduce the film and take questions from the audience. 

We Still Here/Aquí Estamos is a short documentary that focuses on the rebuilding and recovery process in Puerto Rico which in 2019 was devastated by Hurricane Maria. The effect of the devastation was to put into high gear a recovery process that continues to this day. It brought neighbors closer and forced a unity that was unseen on the island. 


We Still Here introduces the incredible youth of the town of Comerío, located just south of San Juan and towards the center of the island. Everyone in town is forced to navigate the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, a disaster that brought an unprecedented level of devastation to an island already in economic and political crisis. But at the same time it brought to the forefront the reality and necessity of building a sustainable Puerto Rico. People were forced to work together in order to survive from one day to the next, and to rebuild their homes, to take care of the already sick and injured since hospitals were without electricity... they were left to fend for themselves since the government was incapable of dealing with the disaster.

The film takes us to the lush mountains in the center of Puerto Rico, 24-year-old Mariangelie Ortiz leads a group of young residents determined to rebuild after the disastrous impact of the hurricane. They never thought they would become the leaders of their community, nonetheless find themselves traveling to Washington D.C. to protest in the halls of Congress. 

Follow them in this coming of age story to find their power and begin creating a sustainable future for themselves and their community.

WeStillHerePR.com to watch & learn more.

If you would like to screen the film contact: 

Kahlil Jacobs-Fantauzzi
Educator / Cultural Arts / Producer
kahliljf@yahoo.com

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