Private Project

The Steady Hunter

A group of friends ventures into the Florida swamps in search of the legendary Skunk Ape. But this absurd and sincere journey becomes a reflection on faith, imagination, and the way belief brings the impossible to life.

  • Sisy M Gomez Peña
    Director
  • Sisy M Gomez Peña
    Writer
  • José Manuel Menéndez
    Producer
  • Sisy M Gomez Peña
    Written by
  • Sisy M Gomez Peña
    Edited by
  • Jose Manuel Menendez
    Key Cast
  • Dave Shealy
    Key Cast
  • Joan Menendez
    Key Cast
  • Gerardo Roly Garcia
    Key Cast
  • Kevin Cruz
    Key Cast
    "Héctor "
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    The Steady Hunter
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 5 minutes 25 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 2, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    17,000 USD
  • 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:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Sisy M Gomez Peña

I am Sisy Gómez Peña, a Cuban filmmaker. Born and raised in Cuba, I completed my education in dance, theater, and film directing. My career took a significant turn when UNICEF recognized my short film on psychological and gender-based violence. This award allowed me to move to the United States, where I faced the challenges of adapting to a new culture, overcoming language barriers, and navigating the demanding film industry in Miami, all without any family support.
Despite these obstacles, I remained determined. I have worked on various documentaries, music videos, and independent projects, each with a strong feminist perspective and a focus on gender issues and psychological violence. My dedication to my craft and unique vision have distinguished me in the competitive world of filmmaking.
In addition to my work in film and advertising, I founded an independent Cuban film festival called Jóvenes Frente al Espejo (Jofe). This festival has been featured at prestigious institutions such as the University of Miami, Columbia University in New York, and the University of Texas at Austin. It has also appeared in cultural spaces like the Centro Cultural Español de Miami and several art galleries in Miami.
My passion for storytelling from a female and feminist perspective, and my commitment to addressing psychological and social conflicts, especially those affecting women and the LGBT community, continue to drive my work. My journey is a testament to overcoming adversity and making a significant impact in the film industry.
**Summary of Qualifications**
Award-winning director and screenwriter with experience in over a dozen short films and documentaries. Graduated in Film and Television Direction from the University of the Arts of Cuba (ISA). Her works have been screened in cinemas and on television in Cuba and have participated in both national and international festivals, including Muestra Joven - ICAIC, Gibara Film Festival, and World Cinema Amsterdam - GoCuba.
In 2017, she moved to the United States and founded JoFE (Jóvenes Frente al Espejo), a platform for screening short films by Cuban filmmakers. In 2018, she established Sisyland Films, a production company specializing in branded narratives, working with figures such as Descemer Bueno and Aymee Nuviola.

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Director Statement

I didn’t set out to make a film about a creature. I set out to follow a friend who genuinely believes something—or someone—is out there. What started as a playful adventure in the Florida swamps slowly revealed itself to be a meditation on something much deeper: the human need to believe.

In Steady Hunter, the Skunk Ape is less a central character than an excuse. An excuse to explore the fine, fragile line between what’s real and what we need to be real. Between folklore and faith. Between friendship and ritual. José’s conviction, his unshakable belief, was not something I wanted to mock or glorify. I simply wanted to walk beside it. To let it take us somewhere unexpected.

This film exists in that strange and beautiful place where mystery, humor, and sincerity can coexist. Where laughter and belief are not contradictions. Where the search itself becomes more meaningful than what’s found—if anything is found at all.

Steady Hunter is not a documentary about a myth. It’s about the space we create around myths—together.