Alumni Spotlight: Alexandra Santana Padilla

HERE WE ARE, A Documentary Exploring the Power of Citizen Activism

Nothing makes us happier than celebrating the successes of our alumni. Alexandra Santana Padilla (Minervas Films), alumna of our Sustainability Management Programme (2024), has achieved international recognition for her work as a producer on Here We Are. Here We Are is the first Dominican feature film to adopt sustainable practices.

The documentary explores the struggles and growth of recent Dominican social movements, offering a fresh perspective on the challenges Dominican citizens face in their pursuit of justice and social change. As co-writer and producer, Alexandra Santana reflects on the impact of the project, sharing:

“The festival screening and the private screening we were invited to at the Borough of Manhattan Community College, CUNY, were truly magical experiences. We could never have imagined that the documentary would resonate so deeply with such a diverse audience, sparking meaningful debates and dialogues about the political realities of our countries.”

Dominican filmmakers and communicators Alexandra Santana (producer), Violeta Lockhart (director), and Virginia Antares (screenwriter) follow the journey of five activists who choose to enter electoral politics, taking on the challenge of creating impactful, citizen-driven campaigns. Violeta Lockhart adds:

“The screenings were special. The reaction of the audience towards the political reality at the Congress of the Dominican Republic shown in the documentary was genuine. The conversations and questions around the importance of this kind of narrative in the context of political changes the same week of the American election made me reaffirm that we are not alone and that every story told makes us feel as one, no matter the distance.”

Here We Are was screened at the renowned Dominican Film Festival in New York at the Leonard Nimoy Thalia, located at 2537 Broadway. It was one of 14 projects selected by the Ibermedia Program to participate in the “Cinematic Projects of Atitlán” workshop. It was also chosen to represent the country at the Marché du Film in Cannes 2021.

Who is the team?
Who is the team? Minervas Films is a women-led collective from the Dominican Republic dedicated to telling impactful stories that focus on social justice, gender, and politics. Their mission is to amplify underrepresented voices and create spaces for meaningful dialogue.