Acclaimed director Carlitos Ruiz-Ruiz (Lovesickness) returns to the Tribeca Festival for the World Premiere of his latest feature Summer of Three, selected for the U.S. Narrative Competition at the festival’s 2026 edition, taking place June 3–14 in New York City. A deeply personal father-son collaboration, the film is co-written, produced by, and stars Marcel Ruiz, best known for his role as Alex Alvarez in the Netflix series One Day at a Time.
A heat-soaked love triangle unfolds over the course of a nostalgic coming-of-age summer, as the film follows 17-year-old Javi, who returns alone to Puerto Rico years after leaving the island following his father's death, now for his grandfather’s funeral. What begins as a reluctant trip soon becomes an unexpected homecoming that compels him to confront his past and reshapes his understanding of belonging.
Back in his childhood home, the suffocating heat, buried memories, and chaotic surroundings convince him this will be the worst summer of his life. That changes when he meets Luife and Kiki, two larger-than-life misfits who pull him into their orbit. As the three drift through a vibrant, ever-evolving Puerto Rico, Javi becomes entangled in a tender yet volatile love triangle that challenges his ideas of love, friendship, and grief.
Set against the island's lush landscapes and contemporary cultural rhythms, Summer of Three reflects a generation navigating identity, belonging, and emotional awakening. Through an intimate and sensorial approach, anchored by naturalistic performances, the film immerses viewers in a portrait of teenhood shaped by music, intimacy, and the complexities of returning home. Its soundtrack—a curated blend of reggaeton classics and emerging voices from Puerto Rico’s indie scene—further roots the film in the island’s youthful energy.
Directed with warmth and sensitivity, Ruiz-Ruiz's latest feature is an ode to a new wave on the island and to its future, bringing together a cast that includes newcomers Kiki Montilla—who inspired her own character—and Paolo Schoene. Intimately lensed by Pablo Ascanio, Summer of Three offers an immersive and emotionally resonant portrayal of adolescence in Puerto Rico, capturing the fragile space between friendship, desire, and self-discovery during a transformative summer.
