News
Gemma at the First Literature and Culture Conference at the University of Hawaii at Manoa this April
03.04.25
Gemma will participate in a couple of panels. More info here.
Lourdes remembered at the 2025 Oscars!
03.03.25
My most favorite part of the Academy Awards yesterday was my mentor and film teacher Lourdes Portillo with the beautiful shot of Señorita Extraviada ! To this day I remember when we filmed that scene in Ciudad Juarez—forever in my heart.
Link to video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lqPivusE9nc
Gemma on HWIF Filmmakers Talk Story!
03.03.25
Gemma is invited to share her journey and creative process at Hawai’i Women in Filmmaking Talk Story in person event on April 9th from non to 1pm.
Audience response from Zurich Screening of The Island In Me
02.12.25
Sharing words and photos from the Paulus Akademie in Zurich this month.
“We have had a great evening watching your film with your special intro and speaking about the film, its genre and its topics. The audience was touched and impressed by the richness of the film, by its humor and deepness, by the different stories the film tells, by your honest role as director and involved woman at the same time and by the beauty of the pictures caught by the camera. We posted a review with a few pictures of the event on our webpage.”
https://www.paulusakademie.ch/the-island-in-me/
- The Programming Team
The Island in & Our Atoll Speak translated to German for World Day for Prayer
02.02.2025
In 1927 a World Day of Prayer was celebrated internationally for the first time by Christian women of different denominations. It was established in the United States out of a desire to create peace and build community. The women of the World Day of Prayer also established important signals for peace and reconciliation and I was told that they also fought for equal rights for women in church and society. These women of this event were among the first ones to campaign for environmental protection. They fearlessly stood up against racism and intolerance. This event is nowadays celebrated on the same date in March in more than 150 countries around the world. Every year a different country or region in the world will be featured and liturgy and spiritual materials as well as films will be offered to create dialogue. The women in their communities will be able to use these resources to create awareness and dialogue.
This year the country chosen is The Cook Islands and the organizers have chosen both films about Pukapuka to show to communities around the world.
To learn more about he World Day for Prayer Talcual Films and link it to this https://www.talcualfilms.com/2025/02/02/our-atoll-speaks-and-the-island-in-me-translated-to-german/
Talcual Films team begins the making of new documentary
06.01.2024
Gemma and her Talcual Films team begin the making of her new documentary—Emotions Revealed the life and work of Dr. Paul Ekman.
Check out the teaser trailer!
PBS Hawai'i Broadcast Premiere of Ottomaticake today at 8:30pm!
5.30.24
Watch the premiere broadcast of OTTOMATICAKE here!
We had fun at the test run of Ottomaticake!
05.24.24
Check out PBSHawai’i promo for Ottomaticake broadcast premier!
Join Ottomaticake PBS Hawai'i Virtual Screening
05.20.2024
Q&A with Otto and Gemma after!
RSVP here to get your link!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdQj0i3i-Au0iakHGOTr7IAE0JEuK9kYnCbvuV_SED8PgOWPQ/viewform
Ottomaticake on PBS Hawai'i!
05.15.2024
Broadcast Premiere May 30th at 8.30pm
For more information visit: https://www.pbshawaii.org/ottomaticake/
Next Screening In San Francisco
09.01.23
Next screening at the Roxie Theater in San Francisco on October 14th at 2:15 with the Green Film Festival of San Francisco.
Fun reunion of The Island in Me team at Cinequest
08.30.23
Wonderful Q&A and new connections for the film!
we got an article published in the HAwai’I reporter!
08.26.2023
Thank you Robert Kay for your generous piece in the Hawaii Reporter.
Read the article here.
Title Track for The Island in Me
08.20.2023
Enjoy The Island in Me Music Album's Titled Track composed by Todd Sickafoose.
Video edited by Varun Srikanth.
Watch video here.
Link to listen to The Island In Me Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.
Homecoming Song
08.15.2023
Enjoy the Homecoming song from The Island in Me music album composed by the Pukapukan people you will see in the video.
Video edited by Varun Srikanth.
Watch video here.
Link to listen to The Island In Me Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.
Director's album intro
08.15.2023
Director/ Producer Gemma Cubero del Barrio talks about the making of The Island In Me Original Motion Picture Soundtrack with composer Todd Sickafoose and the People of Pukapuka/ Nassau.
Read more here.
Watch Gemma’s interview on Vimeo.
Link to listen to The Island In Me Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.
Music Album Release
08.11.2023
The Island in Me Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is now available on major digital platforms. Take a listen and spread the word with loved ones!
You can listen on YouTube also!
CINEQUEST PICKS THE ISLAND IN ME!
02.14.2023
CINEQUEST will celebrate a virtual festival from March 1st–10th and its "in person" edition in San Jose, California, from August 15th–30th.
Join our screening on August 26th and 30th. Click on image to get your ticket!
Gemma scouting at Pixar Animation Studios as she prepares a trailer for a new documentary on emotions!
11.02.2022
Stay tuned for more!
Our Atoll Speaks screens in San Francisco at The South Seas Film Festival!
10.22.2022
The Island In Me team concluded a successful premiere in Aotearoa with sold out film screenings also in Christchurch and Wellington.
07.03.2022
Gemma and The Island In Me featured on New Zealand Public Radio’s Afternoons with Jesse Mulligan
07.01.2022
Listen to radio interview here.
Gemma participates in DocEdge Forum on “Authenticity and Identity” filmmakers panel
06.19.2022
Powerful opening screening of The Island In Me in New Zealand at DocEdge with Auckland – Pukapukan community blessing and singing!
06.18.2022
Watch the singing/blessing here.
Sold Out screening NZ premier at DocEdge one more screening added.
06.17.2022
Gemma talks to 531Pacific Days at New Zealand Public Radio about The Island In Me!
06.17.2022
Link to radio show!
The Island In Me premieres in New Zealand at DocEdge!
06.08.2222
Link to view trailer, screenings dates and times in three cities and to get your ticket: https://docedge.nz/festival22/film/the-island-in-me/
Gemma speaks to Khadidja Benouataf about the Island In Me
06.06.2222
Link to podcast:
https://bit.ly/397V4GX
The Island in Me wins Special Jury Prize at FIFO
02:12:2022
Link to Article: https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/polynesie/tahiti/polynesie-francaise/fifo-2022-comment-le-film-gagnant-a-conquis-le-jury-1229188.html?
Link to vIdeo: https://www.facebook.com/746934971/videos/413000000299199/
The Island In Me highlighted on French Polynesian TV during 2022 FIFO!
02.10.2022
Link to article and video: https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/polynesie/tahiti/polynesie-francaise/journal-du-fifo-2022-3-1227712.html
Gemma talks at FIFO's Insde the Doc
02.09.2022
Link to Conversation: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=235911742087037
Link to Article: https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/polynesie/tahiti/the-island-in-me-un-pelerinage-dans-les-souvenirs-de-pukapuka-1227640.html
2021 Coast Film MacGillivray Freeman Environmental Award
12.24.2021
Gemma wins 2021 Coast Film MacGillivray Freeman Environmental Filmmaker Runner-Up Award with Our Atoll Speaks!
THE ISLAND IN ME premieres in Official Competition Section at FIFO 19- Festival International du Film Documentaire Océanien!
02.05.2022
The Island In Me Review in Hawai’i Reporter
12.24.2021
Beautiful review of The Island In Me in Hawai’i Reporter! […]
The Island in Me poster
12.23.2021
Check out The Island in Me poster and words from viewers and critics after HIFF!
The Island In Me featured on Spectrum News
11.24.2021
The Island In Me featured on Spectrum News during HIFF world premiere! […]
Film For Thought
11.11.2021
Film For Thought Conversation with Gemma about the making of The Island in Me.
Premiere of The Island in Me
11.10.2021
The Island in Me premieres at the Hawai’i International Film Festival!
Documentary Filmmaking Panel
11.07.2021
Gemma participates in the Documentary Filmmaking Panel at 41 Hawai’i International Film Festival!
Santa Fe Independent Film Festival
10.13.2021
Southwest Premier of Our Atoll Speaks at the Santa Fe Independent Film Festival
Bend Film Festival
10.07.2021
Northwest Coast Premier of Our Atoll Speaks at the Bend Film Festival
Toronto International Films Festival
09.17.2021
Gemma invited to be the Chair of the NETPAC Jury at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival.
HER HEART IN DOCUMENTARY FILM Making
08.03.2021
Gemma is interviewed in María Mera’s “Stay Young At Heart” Show.
Watch here.
THE REDFORD CENTER PROGRAMS OUR ATOLL SPEAKS
05.14.2021
Our Atoll Speaks screens at the Redford Center as part of their Friday Night Film Program. […]
SPANISH COUNCIL IN LA SCREENS SHE IS THE MATADOR
03.12.2021
The Spanish Council in Los Angeles celebrates a virtual screening of Ella with the participation of Gemma and Maripaz Vega, one of the protagonists of the film. […]
OUR ATOLL SPEAKS IN PANEL AFTER WINNING AWARD
08.06.2020
Our Atoll Speaks wins the Coastal Culture Award at the International Ocean Film Festival. Watch here the Q&A on Participatory Filmmaking with the creative team. […]
GEMMA & THE MAKING OF OUR ATOLL SPEAKS
08.05.2019
Gemma is interviewed in Community Matters, a program of ThinkTech Hawaii. […]
OUR ATOLL SPEAKS PREMIERS IN NEW ZEALAND
07.23.2019
Gemma and Amelia speak about the making of the film at the New Zealand International Film Festival premiere during the Nga-Whanaunga Maori Pasifika Short Filmmakers Q&A. […]
GEMMA ON MAORI TELEVISION, NZ
06.02.2019
Gemma is interviewed by Maori Television at the Waiora Maori Film Festival premiere in New Zealand. […]
OTTO CAKE FILM ON MOVIEMAKER MAGAZINE
10.22.2018
Gemma is invited to write about the making of her documentary on Otto Cake. […]
Ottomaticake on Civil Beat
05.03.2018
Reporter Steward Yerton highlights Gemma’s documentary on Otto Cake as “a New Yorker piece in film.” […]
Ottomaticake in The Japan Times
11.24.2017
Ottomaticake is “outstanding” according to film critic Mark Schillings. […]
OTTO's FILM PREMIERES AT HAWAII FILM FESTIVAL
11.07.2017
Click to watch the Gemma, Otto and the Ottomaticake team at HIFF world premiere. […]
Cook Islands News feature
08.12.2015
An international team making a documentary entitled ‘Homecoming: A film about Pukapuk arrived in the Cook Islands just in time for the 50th Te Maeva Nui Constitution Celebrations. […]
SHE IS THE MATADOR PREMIERS IN SPAIN
04.17.2010
Ella Es El Matador premieres in Spain and wins Audience Award at SECIME. […]
SHE IS THE MATADOR NATIONAL BROADCAST ON PBS
09.01.2009
Ella Es El Matador has aired on PBS over the years since its initial national premiere broadcast on Emmy Award Winning Documentary Series P.O.V. Point of View in 2009. […]
ELLA ES EL MATADOR WINS BEST DOCUMENTARY AWARD IN SPAIN
11.09.2009
Celeste Carrasco and Gemma received Best Documentary Award for Ella Es El Matador at the 2009 Women in The Director’s Chair in Cuenca, Spain. […]
WINNER OF TRIBECA AWARD
04.25.2008
Gemma and Ella Es El Matador win the Creative Promise Award for Documentary at the 2018 Tribeca All Access Program of the Tribeca Institute. […]