Support this incredible Puerto Rican story at LALIFF!

Added: 2026-05-24

[00:00:00]There are stories of men and women who stood against impossible odds and refused to surrender their dreams of freedom. These stories exist across every nation in the world and Mataron a Pedro is one of those stories. And now with the help of Seed & Spark and a beautiful community, this film will have its premiere at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival on May 28th.

[00:00:21]Crowdfunding on Seed & Spark allowed us to tell our story, the why behind why we wanted to do the film. It allowed us to invite in community and other supporters to let them know that this story was coming to life and it was going to happen and really was only possible with their contributions. [music] >> Now, this film centers around Pedro Albizu Campos, but more than anything it's about memory, it's about resistance, it's about the cost of colonialism. Now, most people know Pedro Albizu Campos as a historical figure or a symbol, but what drew us to the project was the humanity underneath that history, the sacrifices, the relationships, the love for country, and the psychological weight carried by people who dedicate themselves to liberation movements. Seed & Spark really gave [music] us the catalytic surge that we needed to let the industry know that this story is wanted. Through this process, I learned that asking for [music] help is probably one of the greatest gifts you can offer someone else. I also learned that stories matter so much and legacy really carries on.

[00:01:29]There are a lot of people who wanted to see this story. [music] And it's people that help push this project forward, people who believed that Puerto Rican history deserves preservation and that cinema can help connect communities to memory. I am especially excited for audiences to witness the incredible work of Ismael Cruz Cordova and Juana Ortegón [music] who approached this story with so much intention and care. I would love for other filmmakers to not wait for permission. I think that we all have a story to tell or we've [music] heard a story that should be told.

[00:02:03]>> Don't underestimate the power of community because crowdfunding is about inviting people into the process >> [music] >> and making them also part of the story because sometimes community recognizes the importance of a story long before institutions do. To everyone that has supported Matar a Pedro so far, thank you. We really want this film to belong to the people and we can't wait to share more soon.