· De Espaldas al Mar·
Short Film · 2026· Original language Spanish · subtitles English
Written and directed by Francesca Willbrand, de Espaldas al Mar is a short film about resilience, personal struggle, and the search for hope in the face of the climate crisis, biodiversity loss.
Through the story guides us Rafael Fernandez, a passionate activist and diver from Caribean who, during a challenging period in his life finds a renewed sense of purpose through his connection with the ocean and the community that form around the ocean.
Through Rafael’s story, we discover how, out of necessity and desire to respond to the changing state of the ocean, he founded buceoEcológico — a growing community dedicated to coral conservation.
What begins as an individual response gradually becomes a collective effort.
Rafael and the team teach sustainable diving and marine ecology, while he and the group volunteers monitor, protect, and restore coral reefs.
Set between Santo Domingo and the coral reefs of Baní, Espaldas Al Mar is a story about finding strength through action and community.
De Espalda al Mar ·
DIRECTOR:
Francesca Willbrand
CINEMATOGRAPHER:
Josias Dominguez
UNDERWATER CINEMATOGRAPHER:
Andrés Miolan
UNDERWATERCAMMERA B:
Neury Laurencio
EXCLUSIVE PRODUCER:
Francesca Willbrand
PRODUCER:
Josias Dominguez
CAST:
Rafael Ferndandez
Sheyling Alvarado
Bani Rivero
Gilberto Calderon
Arianne Cordero
Sofía Toirac
Eliu Rijo
Paula Perez
EDITOR:
Francesca willbrand
DIT:
Josias Dominguez
ORIGINAL MUSIC:
Jalsen Santana
SOUND DESIGN:
Josias Dominguez
COLOURIST:
Francesca Willbrand
SCRIPT:
Francesca Willbrand
MADE FOR:
https://www.buceoecologico.com
LOCATION:
Dominican Republic
Santo Domingo & Bani
SPECIAL THANKS:
Jalsen Santana
Buceo ecologico
José Francisco Domínguez
Danauris Arredondo
Cathy LAW
Oma Hilde Willbrand
Filmemacher/in: Francesca Willbrand
Dauer/Jahr: 03:30min / 2026
Webseite: https://www.francescawillbrand.de
