Dreams of Chonta follows the story of Diego Obregón, an Afro-Colombian musician who broke free from his destiny, came to the US as an undocumented immigrant in search of his dreams, and forever influenced the soundscape of New York.

This is not just another immigrant story focused on terror, inequity, and policy; this is the portrait of the struggles and sacrifices of a husband and father navigating the terrains of taking care of his family overseas and pursuing his dream. During the day, Diego worked at a cemetery; at night, he came to life in this little basement in Queens and in the underground Latin American music scene of New York City.

Diego may be undocumented but his devotion to the heartbeat of the Colombian Pacific Coast, Afro-Colombian music, knows no borders. His music is rarely heard outside of his region, so this Guapireño embarked into an unknown world to become an ambassador of his music and his culture in New York City. The viewer is transported on a journey of a man determined to change his life against all odds. Through his legacy, Diego honors the richness and waves of change that immigration produces.

“People have never been this close to the life of an undocumented immigrant whose struggles go beyond himself and his family to create a bridge between two worlds.”

– The Boston Latino International Film Festival