SHE PARADISE New Auteurs

World Premiere

Following the film, AFI FEST Senior Programmer Claudia Puig leads a conversation between filmmaker Maya Cozier, writer Melina Brown and actor Onessa Nestor.

A film about sisterhood and dance that celebrates the sheer joy of movement, SHE PARADISE is an engaging coming-of-age tale. Audiences get a potent sense of life in Trinidad and the fresh energy and allure of Soca music, which stands for “soul of calypso” and combines elements of African and Caribbean styles. Seventeen-year-old Sparkle spends her days taking care of her grandfather when she discovers a free-spirited dance troupe. Initially shy and tentative, Sparkle soon lives up to her name, forming strong friendships, surrounding herself with vibrant music and earning more money than she ever has, performing in music video shoots. She also endures a traumatic experience that helps her grow into a strong woman who stands up for herself. Trinidadian director/writer Maya Cozier expanded the story from an earlier short film she made. –Claudia Puig