THE PAINTER’S DREAM: A PHILOSOPHICAL LATIN AMERICAN POLITICAL DRAMA FROM NYC, NOW STREAMING WORLDWIDE ON RETINA LATINA

                  THE PAINTER'S DREAM (El sueño del pintor), is a political drama short film to screen on RETINA LATINA, a public digital streaming channel awarded by UNESCO as an innovative model to strengthen Latin American films distribution. This short has been chosen for the World Philosophy Day lineup on the platform on November 19th, 2026, and will play worldwide until November 2028. The film is directed by Broadway veteran Paul Stancato —A Bronx Tale, The Lion King and Flashdance—, in his directorial film debut. It is shot in NYC with art by Maestro Jaime Vasquez (an internationally acclaimed Neo-Symbolist Peruvian painter based in NYC), music by Venezuelan Gabriel Figueira (Latin Grammy Nominee for Best Folk Album). The film stars Brazilian actress Mónica Steuer (ACE & HOLA Awards Recipient, and a Philadelphia Theater Critics’ Awards Nominee, film credits include 200 Cartas, Total Recall and Destiny Has No Favorites), and Colombian American actor Fabian Zarta (also writer and producer, a Chita Rivera Award Nominee, cast of A Lothario’s Lament selected at the Short Film Corner—Cannes, Sofocados, Las cigarras and the feature film Mi nombre es Abraham).  

The plot centers on family issues and self identity. The painter and his muse interact in an existential political discourse that fuses theatrical prose and cinematic techniques as a poetic vehicle to tangle the lives and perspectives of these two "strangers". The painter grew up without a mother, and this encounter triggers a forgotten past. Art, a new presidential election, childhood abandonment issues, death and rebirth prelude the intricacies of this work. — Official Selection at The Pune Short Film Fest in India and exhibited at The Short Film Wire—Clermont Ferrand, France in 2023.  

Zarta is grateful to Retina Latina for giving this project a shot. He believes this work has something meaningful to share with the world. Its message is straightforward: The self, how we interact with society, and the quest for redemption. “It's a Gladiator's game and we are all in the Arena,” says The Painter. The crew and cast have shown such a commitment to the craft, mostly immigrants from different cultural backgrounds, united to keep marking an undeniable footprint in the Cosmopolitan NYC. He's humbled and honored that his work will be screened on Retina Latina, such an iconic platform for La Raza. "This proves once again that dreams come true — Believing, consistency and resilience make the difference. God's walking on your side if you let your light shine". It took him a few years to finish and find a home for this short film, but it finally sought light, and the wait was worth it.

Crew: Assistant Director: Paul Lewis Anderson, Cinematography: Joseph Chang, Editing: Aldo Buenaventura, Audio Mixing: German Fonseca, Sound Recordist: Christopher J. Leone, Production Manager and Production Design: Joonie Jang, Production Assistants: Izzy Lee and Raúl Jalube, First AC: Aram Sun, Second AC: Luis Marciliano, Gaffer: Adam New, Make-up and Hair: Rose Ripley, Graphic Designer: AJ Nawaz, After Effects: Giovamkt. 

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Streaming https://www.retinalatina.org  Website https://fabianzarta.com/the-painters-dream/

"Somehow, we all look for heroes; we want to pass on to someone else our responsability for the world." — The Painter's Dream, by Fabian Zarta

— Thanks for reading