Private Project

Our Island

A young man that is losing his sight due to a congenital condition does everything in his power to avoid being a burden to his loved ones.

  • Cristian García Zelada
    Director
    One-to-one, Imperfect, Claustrophobia
  • Cristian García Zelada
    Writer
    One-to-one, Imperfect, Claustrophobia
  • Cristian García Zelada
    Producer
    One-to-one, Imperfect, Claustrophobia
  • Sebastián Cáceres Olivos
    Producer
  • Joseph Tenazoa
    Key Cast
    "Miguel"
  • Daniel Menacho
    Key Cast
    "Ernesto"
  • Olga Acosta
    Key Cast
    "Laura"
  • Liliana Trujillo
    Key Cast
    "Mom"
    Rosa Chumbe
  • Lehabim Córdova
    Key Cast
    "Professor"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Nuestra Isla
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes 33 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 13, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    710 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Peru
  • Country of Filming:
    Peru
  • Language:
    Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Cristian García Zelada

Cristian García Zelada was born on July 11, 1992 in Trujillo, Peru. He is a director, writer, cinematographer and producer known for One-to-one (2018), Claustrofobia (2020) and Imparfecto (2019).

He is the founder and director of BienAventurados Films, a Peruvian film company focused on sharing values through film.

In 2018, he won Il Pesce d'Argento, the award for the International Catholic Film Festival Mirabile Dictu, held under the patronage of the Pontifical Council for Culture. Since then, he has written and directed more than 10 short films and has been part of the Official Selection in more than 50 Film Festivals all over the world, receiving more than 15 international awards. Among the awards he has received, some highlights are Best Film on Disability on Woodpecker International Film Festival for his short film Imparfecto (2019), Best Screenplay on Festival Latinoamericano Cine Valor for his short film Mariana (2018) and Quarterfinalist on the ScreenCraft Feature Competition for his screenplay “Aftermath” (2023).

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I decided to write "Our Island" after talking with a friend that had lost his sight more than 20 years ago.

I originally wanted to write a story about an interesting experience he had just a couple years ago. However, as we spoke, he started opening up about how he still found it hard to accept that he was blind, even after all those years.

One thing found a deep echo in me: He didn't want to be a burden to his girlfriend by telling her how he felt.

As someone who has lived with an incurable disease for more than 15 years (in my case, one that affects my balance and hearing), I get what it's like to not want to be the "unsolvable problem" everyone has to deal with.

This film takes some elements from his experience and from my own, and lets the audience have a little dip into how it feels to lose one's sight.

I hope it helps build more empathy to those that have to carry this heavy burden.