Melodrama is a 2026 Dominican romantic drama film co-written and directed by Andrés Farías. The film follows Sonia, a widow forced to shrink her life after her husband’s death. It had its premiere at the Miami Film Festival on 17 April 2026.
It was selected as the Dominican entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards.
Synopsis Sonia, a Dominican, gives up the home she lived in all her life and move into a tiny apartment by the Caribbean Sea after death of his husband. The change is too much for her at first, but everything shifts when she meets Aimé, a Haitian construction worker next door. They quickly grow close and start a romance that people around them strongly disapprove of. Now, with a chance to begin again, Sonia must choose whether to follow her feelings or give in to what society expects.
Cast Mercedes Morales as Sonia Jimmy Jean-Louis as Aimé Sarah Jorge León as Miriam Cyndie Lundy Adriana Zayas
Release Melodrama had its World premiere at the 47rd Havana Film Festival on December 2025.
Melodrama had its US premiere at the 43rd Miami Film Festival on 17 April 2026.
The film was also screened at the Festival de Cine Fine Arts in official selection on 29 May 2026.
It was released in Caribbean Cinemas, Dominician Republic on 2 July 2026.
The film closed the Dominican Film Festival in New York 2026 on 11 August 2026.
Accolades
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient Result Dominican Film Festival in New York11 August 2026 Best Film Melodrama Best director Andrés Farías Best Actress Mercedes Morales Puerto Rico Film Festival23 August 2026Best International Feature Film Andrés FaríasWon
See also
List of submissions to the 99th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film List of Dominican submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film
References
External links
Official trailer on YouTube