HARTFORD, Conn. — It’s lights, camera, action in Hartford as Emmy Award-winning filmmaker prepares to shoot his latest project, a haunting coming-of-age short film.

Pedro Bermúdez, a proud Hartford native and Wesleyan University professor, is adapting acclaimed author Carmen Maria Machado's short story, "Mary When You Follow Her," a powerful, emotional narrative centered around Maria, an 18-year-old Dominican American girl navigating the complexities of identity, womanhood and personal loss.

“I'm excited for folks to see, you know, areas in Hartford that they recognize and they love represented,” Bermúdez said.

Choosing Hartford as the film’s backdrop wasn’t just a creative decision, it was a personal one. Bermúdez sees the city not just as a location, but as a character in itself.

"

See Full Page