Nigrin: Tell us about the origins of your film A Way to Be Together and why you decided to make it.
Bardusco: In 2021, Hurricane Ida devastated our town, Lambertville, NJ. My work studio flooded; I lost everything. As a native Spanish speaker, I began volunteering—translating at FEMA tents and supporting Spanish-speaking residents at the library, which had become a crisis hub. Sitting beside Oaxacan mothers who had lost their homes, I felt as though I had stepped into a parallel universe I had never truly seen before—one where daily life and struggles unfolded in ways invisible to most of the town. Shortly after, the library commissioned me to develop an empowerment program for the women. That work sparked the first Oaxaca Festival that brought together 600 people. By 2023, the event had doubled in size. More than 100 white volunteers and Oaxacans worked side by side—building scenery, choreographing dances, and making 1,500 tamales. A new kind of presence—and pride—was born. The town began to awaken, and I started filming.
Nigrin: I never knew Lambertville had such a large Hispanic immigrant community. Why did they end up settling in this particular town in New Jersey?
Bardusco: One person came, we’re not sure why, and then families from the same towns in Oaxaca followed. There were plenty of work opportunities, and they were treated well by folks in the area who appreciate their strong ethic and skills that complement the area's needs. Most are from rural areas with a strong connection to the land where rivers cross, so they felt soothed by the Delaware River even though they are far from home. They love the peace. They are from just a handful of towns in the province of Costa Chica.
Nigrin: Your Oaxaca Festival footage which features prominently in your film is really quite beautiful. Was it difficult to film?
Bardusco: Thank you! I had full access because I had been working closely with the community for a couple of years. That said, we were a crew of two. I was producing the festival while making the film, which was challenging. My Director of Photography, Alex Stikich, is well-skilled at getting in the middle of the action, so he was able to capture some close-up shots. They trusted us, so their authenticity shines through. I am supremely grateful for that, but there wasn’t any time to waste, and we had a small margin for error, so that was always on the back of my mind.
Nigrin: Are there any memorable stories from making this film or any other info about your film that you can relay to our readers?
Bardusco: The most memorable moments were about how the festival came together. We had a very modest library budget, and contributions started coming in with little effort since we’re a ragtag team. Oaxacans and Latinos are very spontaneous, so we didn’t really know who would come through to help. They are not the RSVP type, but all of a sudden that morning, a crew of landscapers arrived, announced, tidied up the lawn, and hung piñatas and decorations. Followed by a white flower shop owner who showed up with 300 carnations that our Latinas expertly incorporated into their colorful artisanal decorations, and this spirit came through in the film. I wish I could have captured everything, but I only had one camera person who also handled sound, and I was directing and producing not only the movie but the festival as well. Everything was miraculous at every level which shows that when generosity is at the forefront anything is possible.
A Way to Be Together screens as part of the Short Documentary Program on Saturday, January 24, 2026 – Online for 24 Hours on this date and In-Person at 7PM in Voorhees Hall #105/Rutgers University, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901! Director Trina Bardusco will be doing a Q+A with the audience at the in-person screening! Get more info and buy tickets here.
The 44th Bi-Annual New Jersey Film Festival will be taking place on select Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between January 23-February 22, 2026. The Festival will be a hybrid one as we will be presenting it online as well as doing in-person screenings at Rutgers University. Most of the films will be available virtually via Video on Demand for 24 hours on their show date. VOD start times are at 12 Midnight Eastern USA. Each General Admission Ticket or Festival Pass purchased is good for both the virtual and the in-person when both are offered. Also, we will be offering two FREE Filmmaking Workshops! The in-person screenings and the filmmaking workshops will be held in Voorhees Hall #105/Rutgers University, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, NJ beginning at 1PM, 5PM or 7PM on their show date. General Admission Ticket=$15 Per Program; Festival All Access Pass=$120; In-Person Only Student Ticket=$10 Per Program. The Filmmaking Workshops are FREE and open to the public but have limited seating and require advance registration. To register email us at [email protected]
For more info go here: https://newjerseyfilmfestivalspring2026.eventive.org/welcome
