Habanero Films Sales Picks up TIFF Title ‘Under the Same Sun’

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…