Experiencing Interruptions?

Samland

A desperate immigrant accepts a marriage of convenience from an unscrupulous drug dealer to a young woman running from her past, blinded by her addiction. Together, they search for the “American Dream” that seems to allude them as they travel down a dangerous path filled with deception and death, as they seek the truth about who they are, and how they fit into America’s distorted landscape.

Tag Line: "Every dream has a crossroads"

  • Juan Pablo Reyes
    Director
    Alcatraz (short film)
  • Juan Pablo Reyes
    Writer
  • Karen Herzog
    Writer
  • Charles Leisenring
    Writer
  • William Garcia
    Producer
    The Shift, Followed, Amor y Frijoles, H8ters
  • Diego Osorio
    Producer
    Hope is Our Super Power (short film)
  • Michael Landrian
    Producer
  • Juan Pablo Reyes
    Producer
    Alcatraz (short film)
  • Carlos Montilla
    Key Cast
    "Paz"
    Space Command, Jane the Virgin, How to Get Away with Murder
  • Hanna Balicki
    Key Cast
    "Sam"
    The Beach Bum, Waves
  • Luis Fernandez
    Key Cast
    "J.J."
    Tamara, Dynasty, Humanpersons
  • Alejandro Patiño
    Key Cast
    "Nacho"
    Papi Chulo, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, Gentefied, Desperate Housewives
  • Mimi Lazo
    Key Cast
    "Aunt Lili"
    Liz in September, Emerald Heart, Tamara
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 27 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    April 16, 2021
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English, Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Full Bloom Film Festival
    Statesville
    United States
    September 10, 2021
    North American Premiere
    Best Narrative Feature Film
  • New York Latino Film Festival
    New York
    United States
    September 14, 2021
    East Coast Premiere
  • Silicon Beach Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    United States
    October 3, 2021
    West Coast Premiere
    Best Original Screenplay - Best Production Design
  • FirstGlance Film Festival Philadelphia
    Philadelphia
    United States
    October 17, 2021
    Best Director - Best Actor - Best Actress
  • Dunedin International Film Festival
    Dunedin, FL
    United States
    January 13, 2022
  • Santa Fe Film Festival
    Santa Fe, New Mexico
    United States
    February 4, 2022
Distribution Information
  • Gravitas Venture
    Sales Agent
    Country: United States
    Rights: Internet, Video on Demand, Pay Per View, Hotel, Airline, Ship, Video / Disc, Free TV, Paid TV, Console / Handheld Device
    Country: Canada
    Rights: Internet, Video on Demand, Pay Per View, Hotel, Airline, Ship, Video / Disc, Free TV, Paid TV, Console / Handheld Device
Director Biography - Juan Pablo Reyes

Juan Pablo Reyes is a Colombian-American filmmaker born and raised in Miami, Florida. Juan works part time as a Camera Operator on local T.V. productions in Los Angeles and is also a remote translator for a local immigration office in Miami. Juan sometimes gets ideas for the characters in his films, from his immigration experience. He is currently writing his next feature film set to go into pre-production by mid 2022. Reyes wrote and directed the short film, Alcatraz, in 2016, which was selected by five film festivals. Juan enjoyed his film classes in High School and has been hooked ever since. His dream is to direct a film starring John Leguizamo one day and is currently building his body of work. "Samland" is his feature film debut.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I directed this film, Samland, after my wife, Erika, married me for her Green Card. The main character in the film, Paz, has a similar experience to a much more dramatic result. In my personal experience, working part time as a translator at an immigration law office, I met several couples that married for convenience. This inspired me to create Paz' character arc. The character’s helplessness turns to regret, and later, into redemption. He attempts to help Sam through her drug dependency with compassion and (tough) love, instead of confronting her with indignation. We found the lead actress, Hanna, through a long casting process. Her audition tape was amazing; her performance in this film is so strong and emotional for me to experience. To this day, I am not sure what ever happened to the countless couples that inspired this story. Creating this film helped me understand the immigrant experience in a uniquely American way.

email: jpreyes305@yahoo.com, cell: 213/210-3784