Alumnus Sam Zubrycki’s (Graduate Diploma in Editing, 2014) impressive debut feature documentary Miguelito – Canto a Borinquen has been embraced at every turn. After several appearances at international festivals, the feature is finally headed to Sydney for its Australian premiere at Antenna Documentary Film Festival.
Directed and produced by Sam and a crew of fellow 2014 AFTRS grads – including DOP Hanley Zheng (Graduate Diploma in Cinematography, 2014) editor Rolando Olalia (Graduate Diploma in Editing, 2014) and colorist Jarryd Hall (Graduate Diploma in Cinematography, 2013) – the feature travels through Latin America and traces the unexplained disappearance of an eleven-year-old Puerto Rican salsa singer in 1973 and the rediscovery of his life, his music and the world he inhabits decades later.
Miguelito had its world premiere in March at Cartagena Film Festival, Colombia, becoming the first Australian film to be selected for the festival. It has since screened at Raindance Film Festival in London, Margaret Mead Film Festival, NY Latino Film Festival and Oaxaca Film Festival in Mexico where it won Best Documentary.
In this time, the documentary has gained traction worldwide and has been compared to 2012 Oscar-winning documentary, Searching for Sugarman.
Before the feature, Sam Zubricky released his short documentary L’Artigiano in 2015, which was selected for competition at the Antenna Documentary Film Festival, Sydney. He has worked as an editor on productions like Driftwood Dustmites (selected for competition at the 65th Berlinale Film Festival) and short drama Mary in the Locker Room (elected for Cimmfest, Chicago, 2015). He has also worked at the Post Production house Solid State, the ABC and JOTZ Productions.
Miguelito will screen in Sydney on Friday 18 October, followed by a special Q+A featuring Sam Zubrycki. Check out the trailer and get tickets here.
MIGUELITO CREDITS
Director/producer/cinematographer/editor: Sam Zubrycki
Cinematographer: Hanley Zheng (Graduate Diploma in Cinematography, 2014)
Editor: Rolando Olalia (Graduate Diploma in Editing, 2014)
Colorist: Jarryd Hall (Graduate Diploma in Cinematography, 2013)
Sound: David McCarthy, Jules Wucherer