Movie 'Espinal' Opens in Dominican Theaters After Puerto Rico Success
The film about Puerto Rico Olympic wrestler Jaime Espinal, which won the audience award at the 2025 Puerto Rico Film Festival, held its special presentation in Santo Domingo on Oct. 13 and opens in theaters there on Oct. 15.
The short version
- N Digital reported the movie debuted commercially in Puerto Rico on Feb. 19 and won the audience prize at the Puerto Rico Film Festival 2025
- El Nuevo Diario stated the special presentation took place on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at Caribbean Cinemas Downtown Center in Santo Domingo with theatrical release on Oct. 15
- All three outlets said the film was directed by Colombian filmmaker Jaime Segura and produced by Karina Fernández with lead actor Xavier A. Morales
- Hoy Digital and the others noted the cast includes actors from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic such as Cheddy García, Fausto Mata, Mario Cimarro and Jeirmarie Osorio
Dominican Release Follows Puerto Rico Run
The movie "ESPINAL" held a special presentation at Caribbean Cinemas of Downtown Center in Santo Domingo on Tuesday, Oct. 13. It becomes available in Dominican theaters starting Thursday, Oct. 15. N Digital reported the film had its commercial release in Puerto Rico on Feb. 19 after connecting with audiences there and winning the audience award at the Puerto Rico Film Festival 2025.
The production tells the story of Jaime Espinal, who was born in the Dominican Republic and won silver in Olympic wrestling for Puerto Rico at the 2012 London Games. N Digital, El Nuevo Diario and Hoy Digital all reported that the film explores the challenges of poverty, violence and racism he faced before his athletic success.
What the sources posted
Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.
la importancia de llevar la película a la tierra natal del protagonista y compartir con los espectadores dominicanos el mensaje de superación que plantea la cinta
Our translation: the importance of taking the film to the protagonist's birthplace and sharing with Dominican viewers the message of overcoming that the film presents
The source's own statement, as quoted by N Digital. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Cast and Production Details
Xavier A. Morales plays the lead role and underwent specialized Olympic wrestling training for the part. The cast brings together performers from Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and other countries including Mario Cimarro, Cheddy García, Fausto Mata, Ana Isabelle, Modesto Lacén, Nicole Chacón, Jeirmarie Osorio and Jorge Pabón, known as "El Molusco". El Nuevo Diario and Hoy Digital listed additional actors such as Ricardo Álvarez, Sara Pastor, Aida Encarnación, Mónica Pastrana and Millie Ruperto.
The film was shot entirely in Puerto Rico. It features original music by Venezuelan composer Cosme Liccardo. Karina Fernández, the producer, told the audience at the Santo Domingo presentation that bringing the movie to Espinal's birthplace was important to share its message of overcoming adversity.
Where the sources differ
All three sources agree on the core facts: the film's Puerto Rico commercial release on Feb. 19, its audience award at the 2025 Puerto Rico Film Festival, the Oct. 13 special presentation in Santo Domingo, the Oct. 15 theatrical opening in the Dominican Republic, director Jaime Segura, producer Karina Fernández, lead actor Xavier A. Morales, and the cast that includes Cheddy García and Fausto Mata. N Digital adds details on the music composer Cosme Liccardo and Segura's prior television work. El Nuevo Diario and Hoy Digital contain nearly identical text emphasizing cultural ties between the two nations and list more supporting actors. The sources do not conflict on any numbers, dates or names.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state how much the film earned in Puerto Rico, exact box office figures for either territory, audience attendance numbers, or whether Jaime Espinal appears in the movie or attended the Santo Domingo presentation. They also do not mention the production budget, distribution company for the Dominican release, or any reviews from critics in either country.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Reporting La película “Espinal” debuta en RD tras conquistar al público de Puerto Rico
- Reporting Espinal la película, llega a RD tras rotundo éxito en Puerto Rico
- Reporting “Espinal” la película, llega a República Dominicana
How we checked this
N Digital, El Nuevo Diario and Hoy Digital all covered the Dominican rollout of the Puerto Rico-produced film. Details about the cast, the Oct. 13 presentation and the message of perseverance rest on the shared reporting of all three outlets while the composer's name and the director's television credits appear only in N Digital.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.