Trovadora
About the Film
Three women troubadours energize the tradition of improvised poetry as they reclaim the stage at the biggest cultural event in Puerto Rico—where women artists make up less than 10% of artist bookings. Victoria Sanabria, Lenny Jeannette Adorno, and Fabiola Méndez highlight women's legacy in the Puerto Rican trova as they perform at the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián. Sharing their talent and stories at the biggest cultural celebration in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean—where, according to journalist María Cristina Muñoz Vega, women soloists and bands make up less than 10% of artistic bookings—Victoria, Lenny, and Fabiola inspire young women like Alondra Sofía to dedicate their life to the performance, preservation, and revitalization of the international, centuries-long, Latin American tradition of improvised poetry.
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Tres trovadoras impulsan la tradición de la poesía improvisada al apoderarse de las tarimas de las fiestas de la calle San Sebastián en Puerto Rico—donde las mujeres representan menos del 10% de las contrataciones artísticas. Victoria Sanabria, Lenny Jeannette Adorno, y Fabiola Méndez acentúan el impacto de las mujeres en la trova puertorriqueña al presentarse en las Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián. Compartiendo su obra, talento y trayectoria en la celebración cultural más grande de Puerto Rico y el Caribe—donde, según la periodista María Cristina Muñoz Vega, las solistas y bandas femeninas representan menos del 10% de las contrataciones artísticas—Victoria, Lenny, y Fabiola motivan a jóvenes como Alondra Sofía a dedicarse a la revitalización de la centenaria tradición de la poesía improvisada.
Director: Paloma Sierra
Producer: Paloma Sierra
Puerto Rico // 2025 // Documentary// Los Shorts
10 minutes
About the Filmmaker
Escritora y directora que reimagina la poesía a través del cine y teatro. Oriunda de Puerto Rico, fue la trova y su fusión de música y poesía lo que la motivó a dedicarse a las bellas artes, y que, al día de hoy, sigue inspirando su arte. Paloma se dio a conocer con su videopoema I AM SOIL BREAKING OFF, cual se proyectó en más de 15 festivales internacionales, ganó el ¡Tú Cuentas! Cine Youth Fest, y le otorgó un nombramiento como la primera Poeta Laureada Emergente del Condado de Allegheny. Paloma ha producido musicales y óperas con Proyecto Olga Iglesias, Project Y Theatre, En Garde Arts, White Snake Projects, Berkeley Rep, y Theatre Now New York, entre otros. Conocida por apoyar a escritores emergentes y establecidos, Paloma ha colaborado con escritores de renombre como Roy Williams en el desarrollo de estrenos mundiales junto a Jermyn Street Theatre, Kennedy Center, y Edinburgh Fringe. Exalumna del Programa Fulbright, Fornés Playwriting Workshop, y NMI Musical Theatre Workshop, Paloma estudió en Carnegie Mellon y LAMDA.
Writer and director who reimagines poetry through performance. Hailing from Puerto Rico, it was the trova tradition—which marries poetry with music—that first got her into the Performing Arts, and what, to this day, continues to inspire her craft. Paloma first gained public attention with her award-winning videopoem I AM SOIL BREAKING OFF, which screened at 15+ international festivals, won the inaugural ¡Tú Cuentas! Cine Youth Fest Grand Prize, and earned her an appointment as the first Emerging Poet Laureate of Allegheny County. Paloma has produced musicals and operas with Proyecto Olga Iglesias, Project Y Theatre, En Garde Arts, White Snake Projects, Berkeley Rep, and Theatre Now New York, among others. Known for championing emerging and established talents alike, Paloma has worked with esteemed playwrights like Roy Williams to develop new works, leading to sold-out, world premieres at venues like Jermyn Street Theatre, Kennedy Center, and Edinburgh Fringe. An alumna of the Fulbright Program, Fornés Playwriting Workshop, and NMI Musical Theatre Workshop, Paloma trained in Carnegie Mellon and LAMDA.
