Tribeca Premiere of “The Tropic Sun and His Eyes” Marks Milestone for Haitian Cinema

The feature film *The Tropic Sun and His Eyes*, directed by Elisee Junior St Preux, opened the Tribeca Festival. Shot entirely in Haiti’s northern Cap-Haïtien region, it follows Ruben (Stevenson Jean) on a journey to reconnect with his estranged father, accompanied by a street-kid (Blangue Machiny). The screening is the first Haitian-produced narrative selected for the festival’s official lineup.

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St Preux’s short *Aurinko in Adagio* also bowed at Tribeca, paving the way for his debut feature. The film was produced by Lewis and Naturi Naughton-Lewis under Take Two Entertainment, with executive production by Calixto Chinchilla of NYLFF Cinematics and Warner Bros. Discovery OneFifty. Local crews supported the on-site shoot, reinforcing the film’s Haitian grounding.

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The narrative explores mental health, vulnerability, toxic masculinity and generational trauma within a Haitian family. St Preux says the film seeks to reclaim Haitian storytelling, presenting a human story that counters media focus on crisis and highlights resilience and shared humanity.

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St Preux described the Tribeca selection as a historic contribution to Haitian cultural visibility. Producers Lewis and Naturi Naughton-Lewis emphasized their aim to amplify underrepresented voices and to showcase a narrative centered on humanity, beauty and healing. Chinchilla called the film “quiet,” noting its invitation for audiences to reflect on personal relationships while offering a nuanced portrait of Haiti beyond stereotypes.

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• “It is an incredible feeling to come back five years later with my debut feature film. But this is more than just feeling seen for me. The entire Haitian culture gets to feel seen. I get to make a real impact with this film by being an official selection. To premiere The Tropic Sun and His Eyes at Tribeca is a direct contribution to history.” — Elisee Junior St Preux, Director

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• “As producers, we’re committed to championing filmmakers with unique voices and helping bring underrepresented stories to wider audiences. We saw an opportunity not only to support a remarkable film, but also to help elevate a narrative about Haiti that audiences rarely get to see—one centered on humanity, beauty, resilience and healing rather than crisis.” — Lewis and Naturi Naughton-Lewis, Producers

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• “It’s a quiet film that invites audiences to slow down, reflect, and examine their own relationships and experiences,” — Calixto Chinchilla, Executive Producer

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• “At the same time, it offers a rare and nuanced portrait of Haiti, moving beyond stereotypes to reveal the shared humanity that connects us all.” — Calixto Chinchilla, Executive Producer

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