SHORT SYNOPSIS

On a remote cocoa plantation in West Africa, siblings Alita and Bunker endure a childhood shaped by fear, silence, and exploitation. Bound by an unbreakable bond yet forbidden to speak, they struggle to survive within a system where child labor has become an invisible part of everyday life.
As their lives unfold, their story reveals the hidden human cost of the global cocoa trade. Years later, Bunker becomes part of the very system that once stole his childhood, while memories of Alita continue to haunt him.

FULL SYNOPSIS

On a remote cocoa plantation in West Africa, siblings Alita and Bunker endure a childhood shaped by fear, silence, and exploitation. Bound by an unbreakable bond yet forbidden to speak, they struggle to survive in a world where violence, exhaustion, and hunger have become part of everyday life. The sound of cracking cocoa pods echoes across the plantation, a constant reminder of the system that controls every aspect of their lives.
As the siblings struggle to preserve their humanity, their story reveals the hidden human cost of the global cocoa trade. Driven by low cocoa prices and relentless economic pressure, exploitation becomes embedded in the lives of vulnerable farming communities. Some children are separated from their families with promises of education or opportunity, only to be trafficked and forced into labor on remote plantations far from home.
Years later, Bunker has become part of the very system that once stole his childhood. As he moves through a world shaped by exploitation, silence, and survival, memories of Alita begin to resurface. The bond they once shared becomes an inescapable reminder of everything that was lost, forcing him to confront a past he has spent years trying to bury.
Through fragmented memories and shifting perspectives, Remote Farms explores how exploitation extends far beyond childhood, leaving emotional scars that endure across generations. Rather than offering simple answers, the film invites audiences to witness the human stories hidden within one of the world’s most familiar industries, revealing the lasting consequences of a cycle that too often remains unseen.

Why this film now?

Millions consume chocolate every day without knowing where it comes from. Remote Farms brings audiences into a hidden world rarely portrayed on screen through the lens of an emotional survival thriller.

DIRECTOR STATEMENT

Remote Farms began with a simple question: What happens to a child who survives exploitation? Through Bunker and Alita, I wanted to explore memory, resilience, and the cost of survival. Although rooted in the realities of child labor, this is ultimately a human story about family, hope, and the choices that define us.

Status

✔ Proof of Concept Completed

✔ Feature Screenplay – First Draft Complete

✔ Seeking Producers, Financing & International Partners

Festival Recognition

Palm Springs International ShortFest 2026
Palm Springs, California, United States
Official Film Market Video Library Participant
Event Date
June 23–29, 2026
Website 

Vicoli Corti Cinema Festival (21st Edition)
Massafra, Italy
Official Selection
 
World Premiere
Screening: August 19, 2026
Festival: August 18–23, 2026
Website 

African Diaspora Cinema Festival (10th Edition)
Florence, Italy
Winner – Best Short Film
Screening: September 10, 2026
Festival: September 10–13, 2026
Website 

SAMA International Film Festival
Nacka, Sweden
Official Selection
Swedish Premiere
Screening: October 4, 2026
Festival: October 2–4, 2026
Website 

Festival International du Film Panafricain de Cannes (23rd Edition)
Cannes, France
Official Selection
French Premiere
Screening: October 22, 2026
Festival: October 21–25, 2026
Website 

Oxford Film Festival (24th Annual)
Oxford, Mississippi, United States
Award Nominee
Event Date
March 18, 2027

Following its festival run, Remote Farms is now being developed into a feature-length international thriller.