Fortnight Abroad
Documenting Global Challenges Through Local Stories in Miami
Over two immersive weeks at the School of Communication of the University of Miami, students from the Screen Studies and Global Journalism programs took part in a unique academic and creative experience.
In one of the most dynamic and diverse cities in the United States, students attended specialized classes focused on the global challenges deeply rooted in Miami's local reality: immigration, racial inequalities, climate change, housing, and urban development, among others.
Guided by professors and professionals from the University of Miami and the University of Navarra, the students will work in multidisciplinary teams, both global journalism and screen studies, to research, film, and edit short documentaries that capture these complex issues through staff stories. Each group chooses a specific topic and, through interviews, fieldwork, and visual storytelling, brings to light the lived experiences behind the headlines. The result is a collection of powerful, human-centered narratives that reflect not only the challenges of our time but also the resilience and identity of the communities shaping Miami today.
"Creatively, it's a chance for students to experiment with storytelling that is both rigorous and emotional, journalistic and cinematic."
María del Rincón, Screen Studies program coordinator
"This program allows students to analyze global issues in real time and a real place - to connect theory with lived experience."
Aurken Sierra, Global Journalism program coordinator
Los Apurados, "Those in a Hurry".
Little Havana, and its cultural identity, find itself challenged by the rising threat of gentrification. However, a little fruit market known as "Los Pinareños" defies the odds by staying loyal to its customers, heritage, and legacy. Los Apurados tells the story of Guillermina Hernandez and her sons, who, despite everything, refuse to leave their shop and their memories behind. This story was inspired by the visualization of redlining in Miami and how areas like Brickell are shifting and buying properties in towns like Little Havana, resulting in a loss of "mom and pop" businesses, thus creating a more commercial and less traditional environment. In essence, these smaller businesses sell their shops in order to gain money and are replaced by larger businesses looking to buy deeper into the territory. Los Pinareños is the personification of defiance against the phenomenon.
Members:
- Yasmin Maciel
- Maddi Aldaya
- Santiago Suarez
- María Olaizola
- David Borrero
3 out of 10
On May 19, 2025, the US Supreme Court revoked the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for over 350,000 Venezuelan migrants who are now facing possible deportation. This decision became the driving force behind "3 out of 10", a five-minute documentary that explores a particular global challenge: the economic disparity facing immigrants between their previous lives and their current ones in the context of forced migration.
Through the staff testimonies of Venezuelan migrants, now living in Miami, the film amplifies the voices of those individuals who once enjoyed economic stability and security in their home country but were forced to leave it all behind. Despite their efforts to pursue a better life, many argue that the difficulty of adapting to a new society in a new context highlights the economic challenges faced by immigrants.
Members:
- Alesandro Jose Luis Sevilla
- Carlota de Sousa Nunes Soares
- Fernanda de la Guerra Polar
- Isabela Oliveros Saavedra
- Wendy Amor Dávila López
Joe's Way
What truly motivated us to pursue this project was the parallel between two dualities: being both a barber and a singer, and living between his American and Cuban identities. This strongly reflected what we wanted to portray throughout our project and covered the topic we were assigned. We believed that narrowing our project to a single character would make it more staff and, hence, more appealing. Therefore, as soon as Joseph confirmed that he had no problem appearing in our short documentary, we focused on this particular story. Moreover, when we visited the barbershop, it became clear that we needed to show how this small space served as a gathering point for different cultures and races, and how, for Joseph, it became a home.
Members:
- Pablo Iranzo
- Sofia Santos
- Aitana Diaz
- Janetta Yuzbashyan
- Constança Kendall
Fading drums
Long before the construction of the huge skyscrapers and the nightclubs, Bahamians helped to build the soul of what Miami is today. Yet their legacy tends to be forgotten and faces erasure. As gentrification reshapes the city and Coconut Grove, especially the West Grove (also known as the Black Grove), this vibrant culture is fading away both physically and from the public memory. But far from resigning, with resilience and rhythm, Bahamians are reclaiming their space and keeping their heritage alive. At the heart of this cultural revival is the Goombay Festival, a celebration where the beat of the Bahamas perpetuates traditions through the streets of ever-changing Miami.
Members:
- Oihana Gonzalez
- Laura Linardi
- Ximena Lugo
- Kendra Monteiro
- Olivia Torre
Homeland and Life
How can someone who just arrived in the United States be celebrating the lives and deaths of millions of American soldiers, dressed in network, white, and blue, while speaking in Spanish? That is the reality many Cuban Americans experience during Memorial Day weekend. This documentary explores and tries to explain the phenomenon of American Patriotism in Cuban Americans. Whether they arrived here during the first wave of immigration, during Dry Foot-Wet Foot, or even during the Biden Administration, most Cuban-Americans express a deep gratitude to the United States that manifests itself in patriotism, such as attending one of the biggest Memorial Day Shows in the nation, in the heart of Miami Beach. With patriotism becoming more and more extreme in America, and the current skepticism of the current administration toward immigrants, Cuban-Americans represent a unique case that fits into the current context both as patriots and as immigrants navigating identity. At its core, this is also a story of cultural diversity; how an exile community redefines what it means to be American. Through flags, uniforms, and accents, this documentary asks: who gets to claim patriotism? and what does it look like today?
Members:
- Andrés Macía
- Natalia Cortina
- Daniela Gómez-Pimienta
- Lucía Dickens
- Javier Alas
Alma
Miami nowadays suffers from intense heat waves and sunlight with UV indices as high as 12, which is incredibly harmful for the human skin, as well as for species such as plants. Miami's most important consequence of climate change is heat. Thus, is why our documentary "Alma" is based on the impact of heat and extreme sunlight on plants, and how this affects the life of their caregiver, Alma.
After extensive research and talking with local people, we concluded that heat and sun are the two main problems that climate change has brought to Miami. This is why we decided to give it the importance it deserves. The flora in Miami, even though most have sunlight as part of their natural habitat, cannot even tolerate the intensity of the rays of the sun due to the city's current extreme climate state.
With this documentary, we seek to increase awareness on this topic, because as Alma says, one of the main causes is our laziness and selfishness, we can change it.
Members:
- Paula Peralta
- Vivienne Cherrez
- Andrés Muñoz
- Andrés Casal
- Astrid Funcke
Between Scylla and Charybdis
After leaving the country looking for a better future and opportunities for themselves and their families, Cubans found themselves in a situation of uncertainty. Through staff stories and experiences, the project explores the daily struggle immigrants face to build that "home" and identity in a reality in which they constantly feel like foreigners, regardless of territory.
Members:
- Ignacio Ramella
- Luis Valencia
- Manuela Menéndez
- Pablo Bergasa
- Paula Niebles