An American teenage girl visits her family in Jamaica and uncovers a secret that changes the way she sees the people she loves. This film explores the culture of silence amongst women, the kinds of secrets we keep and who they’re actually protecting.
Screening in: Rambutan Shorts
Bio
Sontenish Myers is a Caribbean-American writer-director based in Harlem, NY and a 3rd year at NYU’s Grad Film program. Sontenish has written and directed 4 short films to date. In her work, racial identity, womanhood, power dynamics, and the heroic journey are often. She is particularly interested in doing so across genres, from dramas, science fiction/fantasy, to dark comedies.
Her most recent short film, Cross My Heart, follows an American teen who upon visiting her family in Jamaica, discovers a secret that changes the way she sees the people she loves. She’s faced with the choice of staying silent or speaking up, knowing whichever she chooses will ultimately impact everyone. Set in Kingston, Jamaica, the film explores coming of age and family dynamics up against secrets and cultural taboos. The film world premiered at East End Film Festival in London and made its North American Premiere at Seattle International Film Festival. Sontenish was also awarded the Alexis Award for Best Emerging Student Filmmaker at Palm Springs International Shortfest for Cross My Heart, which was also included in Refinery29’s list of The Most Exciting Woman-Directed Films At 2018’s Palm Springs Shortfest
Sontenish was awarded a 2017 “30 Under 30 Caribbean American Emerging Leader” by the Institute of Caribbean Studies as well as selected by NYU as a 2017 Martin Scorsese Scholarship recipient.