SYNOPSIS

“We Still Here” introduces the incredible youth of Comerío, Puerto Rico navigating the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, a disaster that brought an unprecedented level of devastation to an island already in economic and political crisis. In the lush mountains of Comerío, 24-year-old Mariangelie Ortiz leads a group of young residents who never thought they would become the leaders of their community, nonetheless find themselves traveling to Washington D.C. to protest in the halls of Congress and in front of FEMA. Follow them in this coming of age story to find their power and begin creating a sustainable future for themselves and their community.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi is an internationally-recognized and award-winning filmmaker. He is the founder of FistUp.TV, a media platform uplifting and telling stories from underrepresented communities across the world. His work has circulated through National Broadcast: Free Speech TV, Teaching Channel, and PBS. Online he has created content for Remezcla, OkayAfrica, TIDAL, and VIBE. Spike Lee is one of the reasons Eli became a filmmaker, and in 2019 he hired Eli to work on set with him as a photographer for "She's Gotta Have It Too." Eli is the co-founder of Defend Puerto Rico, a multimedia project designed to document and celebrate Puerto Rican creativity, resilience, and resistance. He is currently touring the world with his new film Bakosó: Afrobeats of Cuba and curating his 11th Annual Fist Up Film Festival. His dedication to his craft is deeply connected to his commitment to social justice and the belief in the transformative power of film.

WHAT WE STILL NEED

We are thankful for the help of our community and volunteers, who have gotten us this far. Right now, we are asking for support to finish the film at the level of quality this remarkable story deserves. I am honored to receive a grant from the East Bay Fund for Artists at the East Bay Community Foundation. They will be matching all funds up to $5K.

All funds will go to the following services:
Editing 
Color grading and correction
Graphic design
Music composition
Securing music rights
Sound effects and sound mix
Marketing and film festival expenses
Promotion
 

THE TIME IS NOW!

We have a tight timeline and need to raise money to bring this film to life! We believe in the power of community and hope it can be harnessed now to support us with the production. 

OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP
We appreciate every dollar, but if you are unable to make a financial contribution right now, please share this campaign with others:

Follow Eli on Instagram (@fistuptv) and on Facebook! Help spread the word

Bring Eli to your school or organization for a preview screening and filmmaker-led workshop or discussion. You can contact Eli at eli@fistup.tv for details.