Private Project

sisters by water

A Caribbean-American coming- of-age story centering two best friends afraid of getting in the water. It is only through the intimacy of sisterhood that Ambar and Larimar can unearth and heal these generational fears.

This film was part of the 2023 LALIFF (Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival) Inclusion Fellowship sponsored by Netflix.

Shot and Based in Central Florida.

  • Ava Marie Threat
    Key Cast
    "Young Ambar"
  • Cristina Encarnación
    Key Cast
    "Adult Ambar"
  • Liliam Montilla
    Key Cast
    "Adult Larimar"
  • Amina Massai
    Key Cast
    "Young Larimar"
  • Shenny De Los Angeles
    Writer and Director
  • Vince Sanchez-Sambrano
    Producer
  • Amanda Morell
    Editor
  • Stefan Nachmann
    Director of Photography
  • Rose Rosen
    Casting Director
  • Kyle Rodriguez
    Composer
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    May 7, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    30,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English, Haitian, Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Andscape Studio (Disney & ESPN Launch)
    New York, New York
    October 19, 2023
    (Curated by Tribeca Programmers: Casey Baron and Faridah Gbadamosi)
  • Haitian Dominican Transnational Film Festival
    New York, New York
    October 12, 2023
  • New York Latino Film Festival
    New York, New York
    September 23, 2023
    New York Premiere
  • Queer Voices: NYC
    New York, New York
    March 26, 2024
  • Film Gate Festival
    Miami, Florida
    March 27, 2024
    Florida Premiere
Director Biography

Shenny De Los Angeles is a Dominican-American writer and filmmaker. Raised and based in Central Florida, Shenny is exploring the Afro- Caribbean lived experience here in the American South. Anchored in Black Caribbean folklore, her work excavates the beauty of being alive. Her docu-short, “the ritual to beauty,” is currently available to stream on The New Yorker. The film has gone on to be nominated by the British Film Institute, receive the Grand Jury Prize at SlamDance Film Festival, and receive the LOLA Award (highlighting the experience of the Afro Diaspora) at the Philadelphia Latinx Film Festival. Shenny has been a Playwright/Performance Artist in Residence at Harlem Stage, Mabou Mines Theatre, and Brooklyn Arts Exchange. She has also been commissioned by The Latinx Playwright Circle, Latina Magazine, and Ceremonia, to name a few. As a part of the 2023 Netflix and LALIFF Inclusion Fellowship, Shenny developed her narrative short: sisters by water. They’re current project: "looking for zora again", focuses on the state of Florida and the grief Black & Brown children are going through trying to access their own stories.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

A love letter to all of my fears.

I began dreaming up this film “sisters by water” because it took me twenty five years to face the ocean. I wanted to make a film for anyone who has a hard time looking at themselves. I wanted to make a film that younger me needed desperately. For all the times I skipped pool parties and beach invites.

I had spent so much time hearing “blood is thicker” and never quite felt that from my lived experience. Through the love of sisters, I discovered an element much stronger than blood. To be related to people by water feels like a miracle.