Arleen Cruz-Alicea

Arleen Cruz-Alicea is a Puerto Rican film director, producer and national cinema activist. She directed “CUENTAS PENDIENTES”, “ANATOMÍA DE LAS CANAS,” and “HISTÉRICAS,” and produced “PERFUME DE GARDENIAS,” which premiered at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival.As a cinema advocate, Arleen champions initiatives that support national film production, especially for women. Her podcast, “MUJERES DEL CINE BORICUA,” highlights the contributions of women in Puerto Rican cinematic history. She serves as the Executive Director of “RUTA CRÍTICA,” a film project incubator, and was president of AdocPR, coordinating educational and lobbying efforts.Her short documentary “COMIDA PA’ LOS POBRES” is part of the HINDSIGHT PROJECT and premiered at AFI DOCS. Some of her titles as producer are “LA GRAN DESILUSIÓN”, a feature film, and the documentary films “DÍ CORAZÓN - SYLVIA REXACH” and “PSIQUIS: UN GRO DECOLONIAL”. She is also writing her next feature-length documentary, “AIDA & JOSSIE,” and developing projects like “CONTANDO A ELOÍNA”, “YO SOY LOLITA LEBRÓN”, “LA TRAMA IBEROAMERICAN” and the animation feature “LOA: KILL YOUR MASTER, a co production with Venezuela and France.

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ABOUT COMIDA PA' LOS POBRES

Comida pa’ los Pobres (Food for the Poor) follows Giovanni, a young Puerto Rican activist, as he confronts the island’s persistent crisis of food insecurity. Motivated by his childhood struggle with hunger, he seeks to inspire his fellow citizens to join a movement of solidarity-oriented work by feeding families and college students through mutual aid efforts – all while facing challenges from local authorities.