Chicago Premiere followed by a Q&A with director Johanné Gómez Terrero and Reception!
Showtimes
Sunday, June 7
6:00 PM – Screening
7:30 PM – Filmmaker Q&A
8:00 PM – Reception (Food & Drink provided)
Ticketing
$20 /General
$15 /Members
$40 /Sunday Pass
$70 /All-Access Pass
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All-Access Pass
Sunday Pass
SUGAR ISLAND
Dir. Johanné Gómez Terrero | Dominican Republic | Narrative | 2024 | 91 mins
Chicago Premiere
Sugar Island immerses us in the Dominican Republic’s sugarcane fields, where Makenya, a Dominican-Haitian teenager, navigates an unwanted pregnancy and the harsh labor that defines her world.
Director Johanné Gómez Terrero masterfully blends social realism, spirituality, and Afro-futurism to expose the enduring legacy of colonial exploitation. As Makenya confronts family burdens and the specter of displacement, the arrival of a mysterious theater troupe illuminates haunting connections between past and present struggles.
As Makenya fights for her future and her grandfather battles for justice, Sugar Island unfolds as a lyrical, visually rich meditation on identity, survival, and the enduring power of cultural memory.
Premiered at the Venice Film Festival (Giornate degli Autori), where it received multiple awards, including the Edipo Re Award for Inclusion and Sustainability, and was named Best Film Directed by a Woman of Color at ADIFF New York 2025.
ADIFF CHICAGO 2026
The ADIFF Chicago 2026 film festival features a diverse lineup of 14 films, including several Chicago premieres, spanning documentaries, narratives, and short films. The festival is scheduled from Friday, June 5, to Sunday, June 7, 2026. View full festival.
