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"
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Juan Pablo ReyesDirectorAlcatraz (short film)
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Juan Pablo ReyesWriter
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Karen HerzogWriter
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Charles LeisenringWriter
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William GarciaProducerThe Shift, Followed, Amor y Frijoles, H8ters
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Diego OsorioProducerHope is Our Super Power (short film)
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Michael LandrianProducer
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Juan Pablo ReyesProducerAlcatraz (short film)
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Carlos MontillaKey Cast"Paz"Space Command, Jane the Virgin, How to Get Away with Murder
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Hanna BalickiKey Cast"Sam"The Beach Bum, Waves
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Luis FernandezKey Cast"J.J."Tamara, Dynasty, Humanpersons
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Alejandro PatiñoKey Cast"Nacho"Papi Chulo, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, Gentefied, Desperate Housewives
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Mimi LazoKey Cast"Aunt Lili"Liz in September, Emerald Heart, Tamara
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Project Type:Feature
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Runtime:1 hour 27 minutes
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Completion Date:April 16, 2021
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:United States
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Language:English, Spanish
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:No
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Full Bloom Film FestivalStatesville
United States
September 10, 2021
North American Premiere
Best Narrative Feature Film -
New York Latino Film FestivalNew York
United States
September 14, 2021
East Coast Premiere -
Silicon Beach Film FestivalLos Angeles
United States
October 3, 2021
West Coast Premiere
Best Original Screenplay - Best Production Design -
FirstGlance Film Festival PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia
United States
October 17, 2021
Best Director - Best Actor - Best Actress -
Dunedin International Film FestivalDunedin, FL
United States
January 13, 2022 -
Santa Fe Film FestivalSanta Fe, New Mexico
United States
February 4, 2022
Distribution Information
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Gravitas VentureSales AgentCountry: United StatesRights: Internet, Video on Demand, Pay Per View, Hotel, Airline, Ship, Video / Disc, Free TV, Paid TV, Console / Handheld DeviceCountry: CanadaRights: Internet, Video on Demand, Pay Per View, Hotel, Airline, Ship, Video / Disc, Free TV, Paid TV, Console / Handheld Device
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.
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