Kristal Sotomayor 

TABLE SESSIONS: 

APRIL 29 - 30, 2026 • Bartram’s Garden

live music • MARIPOSAS GALÁCTICAS

          catering • CHEF CRISTINA MARTÍNEZ

Prime yourself for an ebullient evening with the boisterous sounds of the kumbia-klezmer-punk collective Mariposa Galácticas, whose music is inspired by their Ancestor’s shared roots in “radical joy.” Then sit forward for a screening of Kristal’s short film Expanding Sanctuary — the winner of the 2024 BlackStar Philadelphia Filmmaker Award — which flips the script on the current moment by telling the story of an immigrant mother’s triumphant fight for safety for Philly families. And, of course, leave filled not only with joy, but with a delicious dinner by the James Beard Award-winning Chef Cristina Martínez of South Philly Barbacoa.

Meet the Team Behind MIWA (The Film)

  • Lunise Cerin

    DIRECTOR/EDITOR/PRODUCER

    Lunise Cerin is a writer, Director, Editor, and Storyroducer from Port-au-Prince and Philadelphia. Cerin began her film career in Los Angeles at the SVOD Black and Sexy TV, producing short-form narrative content, and pivoted to documentary in 2018. She has worked as a feature documentary editor and story producer, the most recent being “The Fight For Haiti” (2024) directed by Etant Dupain. Cerin received an MFA in screenwriting from Columbia University in 2024. Cerin is currently in post-production for her directorial debut, the documentary film "Miwa" for which she received William Penn, NEA, and IPMF grants. Lunise teaches film in the Visual Studies Department at Haverford College in PA.

  • Leonica Pierre-Maintus

    PRODUCER

    Leonica Pierre Maintus est une artiste passioné, dotée d’une solide experience sur scène et a l’écran, et d’une grande capacité d’adaptation aux rôles variés. Enthousiaste, créative et professionnelle, avec une formation rigoureuse et un engagement profond dans l’art dramatique et la production cinematographique.

    Leonica Pierre Maintus is a passionate artist with extensive experience on stage and screen, with a strong capacity to adapt to various roles. Leonica is enthusiastic, creative, and professional, with rigorous training and a deep commitment to drama and film production.

  • Mélodie Cerin

    PRODUCER

    Melodie Cerin is a creative producer and grant manager, from Port-au-Prince, Haiti. As a grant manager, Melodie works with grassroots organizations in Haiti and the diaspora to find and manage funds for their activism, art, peace-building, and educational initiatives. Melodie is Co-editor at Woy Magazine, and the Grants Manager for Ayiti Community Trust. 

    Melodie has worked as a producer in narrative, documentary and music video projects shot in Haiti and in the Haitian diaspora. Her credits include production art buyer for the short film Victorine (2024) directed by Lunise Cerin. She has also contributed to other films like The Fight for Haiti (2024) by Etant Dupain and the documentary The Lisette Project (2022) directed by Jean B. Cerin as a translator and research assistant.

  • Thierry Prinston

    CINEMATOGRAPHER (HAITI)

  • Taj Devore

    CINEMATOGRAPHER (PHILADELPHIA)

  • ADDITONAL CREDITS

    Cinematography: Christian Hayden, Watson Balmyr, Morancy Enelson,  Wood-Jerry Gabriel, GK Fredericks

    Production Assistants: Wenderly Joseph, Tafari Robertson

    Assistant Editor: Patrick Nichols

    Post Production Sound and Production Sound Recorder: Charlie Raboteau

    Post Production Color: GK Fredericks

special thanks

Marcus Lolo, Mervin Toussaint, Carly Rapaport-Stein, The Cerin Family, The Jules Family, Timothy Belknap, Logan Cryer, Marla Burkholder, Television Farm, Tafari Robertson, Oliver Spencer, Vernon Jordan III, Cait Foster, Charlie Raboteau, GK Fredericks.

Lead funding for MIWA was provided by the William Penn Foundation, with additional support from the Independence Public Media Fund, and development support from the National Endowment for the Arts.