Robert W. Potter
Writer / Producer
Robert W. Potter is an American writer and producer. El Pinero is his second film produced on Cuba’s Isla de la Juventud. He’s a Florida native with a degree in filmmaking from Ringling College of Art and Design. He has worked in film and advertising for many years, both in Florida and Los Angeles. Many of his projects have been screened and won awards from various festivals and showcases, including the Telly Awards, the Experience Design & Tech Awards, and Lift Off Sessions.
Meilín Quilez Durañona
Director / Producer S
Meilín Quilez Durañona is a Cuban filmmaker born and raised on the Isla de la Juventud. El Pinero is her second collaboration with Robert Potter on the island. Holding a degree in Audiovisual Media Arts and as a graduate of the EICTV’s Low-Budget Filmmaking Workshop, she has worked in film, television, and advertising as a director, producer, and assistant director. Her short films have been screened and awarded at national and international showcases and festivals, including events organized by the ICAIC and Lift-Off. Her roots and relationships on the island are central to the film’s ability to tell this story authentically and with the trust of the community.
Gabriel Karrera
Cinematographer
Gabriel Karrera is a Havana-based cinematographer, director, and colorist with over thirteen years of experience across fiction, documentary, and commercial production. A graduate of the Universidad de las Artes de Cuba in Cinematography, he has collaborated with international production companies and worked extensively at the EICTV film school. He was nominated for the 2024 Premio Lucas and received the Premio Cubadisco 2023 for the documentary Sueños.
Jonathan Fernandez
Film Composer
Jonathan Fernandez is a Cuban-American multi-instrumentalist, pianist, and composer whose music blends orchestral, gospel, jazz, electronic, and Afro-Latin influences. Raised in a family of musicians and rooted in Latin American gospel traditions, he developed a passion for storytelling through music at an early age. With training from the University of Central Florida and Berklee College of Music, Jonathan creates emotionally driven scores that bring depth, atmosphere, and heart to visual storytelling. Drawing inspiration from a wide range of musical traditions, he is passionate about collaborating with filmmakers to craft memorable and meaningful cinematic experiences.
Saulo Adrián Fernández Gil
Sound Designer
Saulo Adrián Fernández Gil is a Mexico City-based sound designer specializing in direct sound and post-production for film and media. Trained at the Universidad de las Artes (ISA) in Havana and the International Film School (EICTV) in San Antonio de los Baños, his work has screened at the Berlinale, Cinéma du Réel, and the Beijing Film Festival. Recent credits include Fukuyama, Cábala, and Uterus, and he currently works as a studio operator at Lucerna Post.
Ava Abreu
Graphic Designer / Production Assistant
Ava Abreu is a Florida-based film student currently studying at State College of Florida, with a focus in directing, cinematography, and technical theatre. Ava has done work on several productions in both film and theatre, ranging from directing and assistant directing to production design and run crew. Her most recent work includes directing two PSA-style shorts for her film course, and directing for her college’s play festival, Mall Stories of the 80’s.